I was blown away by this gritty and intense French film ...Naomi Rossdeutscher

What an extraordinary film POLISSE is, a must see in my book and one of my favourite films screened at the Sydney Film Festival. Now I want to see more of Maïwenn's films

POLISSE

'NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN is a raunchy, Aussie rom-com, well suited for the youth of today and great fun to watch, I highly recommend it' ... Naomi Rossdeutscher

On my way to the red carpet, Australian premiere of Disney PIXAR's new animated film BRAVE, I was blessed with time to spare. The heavens had opened attempting to wash the scum from our streets and as I paused a moment I seemed to be lured into a store by shiny red, ankle high Wellies with a small heel. Red shoes for the red carpet, all sense is abandoned and I make a rash purchase... 'so good for rainy days, gardening and trudging across the English countryside - who knows where they may take me'

I arrive at the red carpet with time to kill, secure a posi and chat to a couple of photographers. Bag Pipes whine desperately and small girls in curly red wigs begin a jig - cute. The kiddies are beaming.

Then suddenly the white haired man himself, BILLY CONNOLLY, has arrived apparently coming from a junket in New Zealand and he's in high spirits, joking to everyone and no one, while posing for photos. He flexes like a body builder and laughs. He talks to himself or to us, I'm not sure, but he's cracking jokes on the run

'Mikkel Boe Folsgaad is riveting playing the mad King, the detailed story is engrossing and I'm left wondering what Frederik, the Crown Prince thinks' ...Naomi Rossdeutscher

This film ignites the brain, especially from a writers perspective. The story briskly advances as the protagonist unravels - there's never a dull moment ...Naomi Rossdeutscher

EWEN LESLEY and MARTON CSOKAS in DEAD EUROPE

At the Ian Macpherson Memorial Lecture, a Sydney Film Festival event, David Stratton interviewed Bryan Brown about movies & movie making & this is what I discovered...Naomi Rossdeutscher

BRYAN BROWN grew up in Bankstown, in State Housing with his mum. As a child he used to watch Westerns and Tarzan and during interval at the movies he'd swap comic books.

He joined AMP, training to be a mathematician but ended up working as a salesman, hoping to meet girls & have a beer. But it was the AMP drama club that won his heart. He auditioned for the end of year revue, was accepted & discovered a great passion, finding rehearsal utterly thrilling & emotionally overwhelming, feeling alive like never before & compared the feeling to scoring a tri at football.

Later, Brown joined an amateur theatre group and performed until he was 25, but at the time all he saw was American or English plays, so he travelled to England and hit the boards in search of experience.

"I wanted to see more of Jon Hamm's character, but I enjoyed it anyway" ...Naomi

Kristin Wiig & Jon Hamm in FRIENDS WITH KIDS

WHAT'S IT ABOUT?

A rom-com drama, about two best friends who decide to have a baby together, while they still can, and also keep their relationship platonic so they can remain available to find 'the one' (someone else) The plan is to avoid killing their loving relationships by avoiding the mess involved with being parents. It's done nicely, with an interesting cast.