It was an amazing year for Australian Cinema, with each film I saw knocking it out of the park. There were intimate documentaries, films that held up a mirror to society, and those that brought action to a new level.

It was also a great year for overseas films made in Australia like Aquaman, but in this list, we will be looking more at the locally made Australian productions/co-productions.

So without further ado, these are the best of Australian Cinema in 2018. Be warned that there will be some big spoilers ahead for the films in question. 

Cargo

This is a film that shows off the best and worst of Australia, our tendencies for exploitation and dehumanising people, but also the strength of community. It is also set along the Murray River, so you see all the glory of the Australian countryside in-between all the zombies and death.   

Directed by – Ben Howling & Yolanda Ramke
Written by – Yolanda Ramke
Full Review Here

Ladies in Black

Welcome to 1950s Australia, where the fashion was high, the dresses were black, and we didn’t quite know how to deal with the shifting nature of post-war immigration and shifting gender roles. It is a film very much set in its time but also deeply relevant for the world today.      

Directed by – Bruce Beresford
Written by – Bruce Beresford & Sue Milliken 
Full Review Here

Gurrumul

This is not a fictional story like the other entries, as this charts the life of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu one of Australia’s best musicians. It is a life of contrast between rural and urban life, traditional requirements and global fame. It is an emotional and powerful look at a man that shaped the musical language of a nation.    

Directed by – Paul Damien Williams
Written by – Paul Damien Williams
Full Review Here

Sweet Country

If someone was banging at your door, drunk, with a gun threating to kill you, you would be completely justified to defend yourself. However, if he is a white man and you are Indigenous, then it is not that simple in 1920s Australia. This is a look at the injustices of structural and personal racism and the damage that can do to people and the notion of justice.

Directed by – Warwick Thornton
Written by – David Tranter & Steven McGregor
Full Review Here

Upgrade

Can Australia make captivating action films, well if Mad Max: Fury Road didn’t tell you we could then can I introduce you to my friend Upgrade. Would you let an AI controlled chip be inserted into your spine so you can walk again? Well, what happens when you let that chip have full control?  

Directed by – Leigh Whannell
Written by –  Leigh Whannell
Full Review Here

And the Winner is!!!!! – Upgrade

Now to be perfectly honest, when I put together my top film list, some of these entries may end up higher than Upgrade. However, I think Upgrade shows the amazing talent and potential of Australian cinema. You have the technical achievement of so many different professionals from stunts, cinematography, set designers, direction, production, and design, well look just everyone. As well as this, Upgrade shifted the language of action films with its creative framing, camera movement, and acting. Oh and all of this was filmed on only a 5 million dollar budget.         

By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2018?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studio and artist of each film