Film Screening 10th June, 2006

Poster for Wrong Way Butch

Wrong Way Butch 

8:00 PM, 10th June, 2006

  • G
  • 10 mins
  • 1950
  • Dave OBrien
  • Julian Harmon, Dave O'Brien'
  • Pete Smith, Dave OBrien'

A How-Not-To Guide to workplace safety, featuring the lame-brained, lucky-to-be-alive Butch. Nominated for an Oscar (Best One-Reel Short).

Poster for Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room

Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room 

10:45 PM, 10th June, 2006

  • M
  • 105 mins
  • 2005
  • Alex Gibney
  • Alex Gibney

Enron is seen as one of the largest corporate failures, going from being the sixth largest corporation in the world to being bankrupt in less than a year. This documentary looks behind the scenes at what happened to cause this company to be seen as successful and then inevitably shown up for its fraudulent behaviour.

Based in Texas, this power and technology company was up to all sorts of questionable activities, such as causing a power crisis in California to increase share prices and offloading millions of dollars into their pockets and eventually declaring themselves bankrupt. This beats any kind of horror movie: here we see evil people at work in real life and affecting real people in a horrible way. Only there is no superhero saving the day this time!

This is a must see for anyone with an interest in commerce, finance or business. It shows what can go wrong when running a business and what kinds of dishonest and criminal activities people can get up to. It will also show potential auditors of the future what they need to look out for, although it may make others choose a different career path.

Richard Rowe

Poster for On the Waterfront

On the Waterfront 

10:48 PM, 10th June, 2006

  • PG
  • 108 mins
  • 1954
  • Elia Kazan
  • Budd Schulberg
  • Marlon Brando, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger

Terry Malloy is an ex-fighter who now works on the waterfront for Johnny Friendly. When he is involved in the death of a rebellious co-worker, he starts to question his life and what he has become, particularly through relationships with the dead co-workers sister and his own crooked brother.

On the Waterfront is one of the classics of American cinema, adored by both critics and the public. Director Elia Kazan had already made the wonderful Gentleman's Agreement (screened at ANU Film Group a couple of years ago), but his best was yet to come. Waterfront also represents career best performances from Marlon Brando (as Molloy), Lee J. Cobb (as Friendly), Eva Marie Saint (in her debut role as Brando's love interest), and Karl Malden who should have won his second Oscar for his performance as Father Barry, a dockland priest who helps defy the racketeers. All up Waterfront won eight Oscars, including Best Picture, Director, Actor and Supporting Actress.

If you've never seen Waterfront before, then I envy you - you have the chance to see it for the first time on the big screen. So I urge you to take this opportunity to enjoy a classic!

Travis Cragg