Australia's Favourite Flicks

Local News, By Christian Taylor, 20th October, 2008

The Australian Film Institute (AFI) today announced the results of an online poll, run as part of the 50th anniversary of the AFI awards. Australians voted for their favourite homegrown films of all time, and while the results are a little predictable, it’s easy to see why the winning films are all close to our hearts.

The top five films in no particular order are Muriel’s Wedding, Gallipoli, Lantana, The Castle and The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert. The film that received the highest number of votes will be announced at the 50th AFI awards, which take place in Melbourne on December 6.

It’s a pretty gay list. Priscilla takes the cake, for obvious reasons. The 1994 film ranked number 11 in American GLBT cable channel Logo’s 50 Greatest Films, it played a key role in the 2000 Olympics Closing Ceremony and has gone on to become a successful stage musical.

Muriel’s Wedding is one of those films that most gay Australians (and straight ones for that matter) can quote verbatim. Also released in 1994, it made ABBA cool again, it’s jam packed wth high (and low) camp, and anyone who ever left their country town behind to fulfill their dreams in the big smoke can relate to Muriel’s story.

Lantana is another gay favourite. The 2001 film looked at love and loss from a number of angles, and touched on some gay issues through the character of Valerie (Barbara Hershey), a therapist mourning the loss of her daughter who’s disturbed by a session with a gay client, Patrick (Peter Phelps), who is having an affair with a married man.

Australia Post is getting in on the act, issuing a series of commemorative stamps of the five films.

Nominees for this year’s AFI awards will be released on October 29.

Which one is your favourite? Vote here in the forums.

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Your Thoughts

Christian Taylor

said ages ago

OMG jade - i LOVE houseboat horror! i love that you mentioned it! i saw it on tv late one night and i seriously WET myself the whole time! (and not out of fear!)

dreadcircus

said ages ago

hahahahaa my fave line in Houseboat Horror is by Gavin Wood.. "Come up here and check out the view... You'll bar up!!!" Total Gold!

Christian Taylor

said ages ago

my god - another one of my all time favourites! i LOVED josephine byrnes in that. she was absolute heaven.

Bunblebees Bride

said ages ago

"stick your drink up your arse tanya, i would rather swallow razor blades than drink with you. and i'm not alone, i'm with muriel." I heard someone quote this on the weekend except they replaced "drinks" with "G" hilarious

alyce_21

said ages ago

i loved priscilla, it was so so so funny and guy pearce plays gay so well!

par3182

said ages ago

I'd rank that list 1. Gallipoli 2. Muriel's Wedding 3. Lantana 4. The Castle 5. Priscilla (I hated the film but I loved the stage show) but I'd put 'Picnic at Hanging Rock', 'Strictly Ballroom' and 'Love Serenade' above them

CeeJay

said ages ago

From that list, probably Muriel's Wedding. I also love most of the films mentioned. Can I also add Head On and Walking on Water ? I agree, the stage version of Priscilla fixed quite a few of the problems I have with the film. Stephan Elliot's new film looks like fun though (even if it's a bit 'spot the cliche' - maybe that's intentional?)... and a strangely familiar voice on the soundtrack singing "Let's Misbehave" :-) http://www.youtube.com/v/7eEaYXharZo&hl=en&fs=1

taylor-dayne

said ages ago

OMG WALKING ON WATER is the best movie ever.

Asherbella

said ages ago

Australians love the 'loser but loveable dag/underdog down on his/ her luck then triumphs in the face of adversity' theme. That's why Muriel's Wedding, Priscilla,Queen of the Desert, Strictly Ballroom, Crocodile Dundee & The Castle are considered our favourites. The main characters of all these films I've just listed have : (a) always been considered outcasts by the mainstream (b) have only one or two secondary characters who truly understand them (c) beaten the odds and won a prize, got married, toured the outback, won a dance tournament, conquered a foreign culture or won a court case If you want to ensure a cult Aussie film, make a film about a suburban loser with a heart of gold who makes it big!

weathervain

said ages ago

Ok Best Ever which I forgot to include "Ocassional Coarse Language" don't think you can get it on DVD though

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