Staff Picks
Our Library staff have chosen four (4) recommendations, with some words explaining each pick.
They include everything from films and TV series to books, podcasts, music and beyond.
They can be accessed either online or from the Library's physical collection (for AFTRS staff and students only).
Frazer
Collection Development Librarian
Raquel
Outreach and Engagement Librarian
Alison
Research Support Librarian
Hayley
Library & Information Services Manager
Cathie
Information Officer
Victoria
Assistant Librarian
Frazer
YI YI
Dir. Edward Yang (2000)
A turn of the century masterpiece. This intimate epic follows a family in Taipei over the course of a year, in a story filled with warmth, drama, sadness and joy. Yang-Yang, the nine-year-old son obsessed with photography, is one of my favorite film characters ever.
EDEN
Dir. Mia Hansen-Løve (2014)
One of my favorite films of the past ten years. This follows a fictional DJ as he navigates the French electronic music scene of the late 90s and early 2000s. Beautifully captures a spirit of youth with its highs, lows and passionate love of music. Play it loud.
MR. INBETWEEN
Dir. Nash Edgerton, Writ. Scott Ryan (2018-2021)
Deserving of all the praise it has received. Wonderfully written and directed, with great performances from the whole cast. This effectively combines a deceptively casual style that then blossoms into ambitious and exciting cinematic set pieces.
GOODBYE, DRAGON INN
Writ. Nick Pinkerton and Noel Pinkerton (2021)
This well researched book-length reflection on Goodbye Dragon Inn (dir: Tsai-Ming liang, 2003) elegantly uses the film as a jumping off point to discuss all kinds of associated topics: from 21st century movie culture, the act of filmgoing, cinemas as collective communal spaces and a personal history of Taiwanese cinema. Pinkerton keeps it all moving with intelligence and wit.
Raquel
GHOST WORLD
Dir. Terry Zwigoff (2001)
I saw this at the movies! This is a movie I could watch every week and never get bored. It never gets old. Every cynical, disaffected young woman can relate to our heroines, best friends Enid and Rebecca, fresh out of high school and trying to figure out what to do next. Originally a comic book by Daniel Clowes, I will never understand how a grown man was able to so perfectly capture a very specific mood of adolescent female friendship. The cast also includes Steve Buscemi (love) Brad Renfro (RIP).
THE BEACH BUM
Dir. Harmony Korine (2019)
The ultimate stoner film. This is a perfect double feature with The Muppet Movie.
CRAZY LOVE
Dir. Dan Klores and Fisher Stevens (2007)
One of my all-time fave docs. This story is so CRAAAAAZZZZZZY! It’s the 50s and this older man is pursuing this beautiful young woman. They go on dates but she finds out he lied about being divorced. She breaks it off and becomes engaged to someone else. So he hires some bum to throw acid in her face. She’s blinded, he goes to jail. While in jail he becomes even more obsessed with her, writing her letters. And after 14 years when he gets out, they get married!!! No I didn’t spoil it all for you. Trust me.
BEHIND THE CANDELABRA
Dir. Steven Soderbergh (2013)
Sometimes a movie comes along that was made just for you. This is one of those for me (and there are many!). Based on the memoir by Scott Thorson, Liberace’s lover who he adopted as his son and made him get plastic surgery to look like him. So beautiful.
Alison
BRING IT ON
Dir. Peyton Reed (2000)
Brrrrrrr! It’s COLD in here!!!
Need I say more?
2012
Dir. Roland Emmerich (2009)
This is the ultimate disaster movie!
There are solar flares, earthquakes, fireballs, and a megatsunami.
John Cusack brings the action. Woody Harrelson brings the conspiracy. Danny Glover is the President of the United States.
This implausibly preposterous film is one I will watch over and over and over again.
MELANCHOLIA
Dir. Lars von Trier (2011)
Another film I could watch over and over. And a very different side to Kirsten Dunst. Visually stunning, with the perfect score. This film has an eeriness to it that will make you see the world differently.
BROAD CITY
Dir. Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer (2014-2019)
This is a series someone recommended to me a could of years ago, and I binged the entire thing in a week. Starting off as a web series, and moving to TV under the mentorship of Amy Poehler, it is high energy and hilarious. Don’t miss Abbi’s naked dance to The Edge of Glory. It is something else.
Hayley
EUREKA
Created by Andrew Cosby and Jaime Paglia (2006-2012)
This is a cute sci-fi comedy that has a mystery to solve in each episode. As the series progresses you get to meet more and more of the residents of Eureka as you follow the life of Sheriff Jack Carter.
JUSTIFIED
Created by Graham Yost (2010-2015)
Who doesn’t love watch Timothy Olyphant going around shooting people? This is a different type of police procedural drama series. If you like your police procedural with a side of westerns, this is a must watch.
DOCTOR WHO
Created by Sydney Newman (2005-)
The Doctor Who reboot is the reason I started watching this iconic series, but my favourite pairing was David Tennent and Catherine Tate in season four (4). A must watch for any sci-fi fan, this series will have you hooked, and exciting for the upcoming Christmas special!
ONCE UPON A TIME
Created by Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis (2011-2018)
This series takes the fairy tales we all know and love and gives them a modern twist with a side helping of amnesia. If you are a Disney fan, this is a must watch!
Cathie
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JUMANJI: WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE
Dir. Jake Kasdan (2017)
This is one of the few remakes that works. The cast are hilarious. This movie is just great fun. It's on my watch again list. Adventure and comedy, what more do you need?
DUNE
Dir. Denis Villeneuve (2021)
This film was able to capture the essence of the book superbly. The visuals are stunning from beginning to end. This is a worthy adaptation of a very complicated and nuanced piece of literature. The talented filmmaker and cast have done it justice.
SIN CITY
Dir. Frank Miller and Robert Rodriguez (2005)
Sin City is a visually stylish and unique film. Shot almost entirely in black and white with occasional flashes of brilliant colour. This combination makes for an unnerving yet exciting experience. A great way to bring a comic book to life.
DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF MADNESS
Dir. Sam Raimi (2022)
This storyline, character development, visual effects, the emotional depth and pace was executed to perfection. This is a very unique and different Marvel film.
Victoria
SPIRITED AWAY
Dir. Hayao Miyazaki (2001)
Ten-year-old Chihiro takes a wrong turn that lands her in a world inhabited by spirits and a grumpy sorceress running a bathhouse. She must fend for herself as she tries to reunite with her transformed parents and get back to the human world.
LEGALLY BLONDE
Dir. Robert Luketic (2001)
Elle goes from sorority queen to Harvard Law student as she tries to win back her ex-boyfriend. With style and smarts, she begins a fight for love, justice and respect.
PAN'S LABYRINTH
Dir. Guillermo del Toro (2007)
In Falangist Spain of 1944, young Ofelia moves into the house of her sadistic army stepfather. From this, she seeks refuge in the eerie labyrinth where she meets the creature Pan, who reveals she is the lost princess of a magical kingdom. To prove her royalty, she must accomplish three dangerous tasks.
THE FAVOURITE
Dir. Yorgos Lanthimos (2018)
A cunning display of power as new servant Abigail rivals Lady Sarah for the position of favourite to ill-tempered Queen Anne. Wickedly funny and viciously entertaining.