As a film lover, I have seen surprisingly few films I really don't like. I tend to choose films to watch that I think I will enjoy and for the most part that keeps me away from bad movies. Force of Destiny has now joined the top of the list of movies I hate. With a decent premise, it had some promising aspects on paper, but the final product is lacking charm, interesting characters, or any redeemable qualities. The story revolves around a sculptor who is diagnosed with liver cancer and given six months to live. He has a troubled relationship with his ex wife and finds comfort in spending time with his daughter. He falls in love with a much younger Indian woman shortly after being diagnosed and has to deal with the fact that he has finally found a happy place while preparing to die. It is based on the life story of Paul Cox, who is also the writer/director, (spoiler, he doesn't die) and it was clear he thought he had a great story everyone should hear. The problem is, his story is not that interesting or unique and he definitely was not the person to tell it. The problem with someone telling their own story is that they may not realize when they reference something the audience won't understand. For example the Indian woman keeps mentioning that she will have to leave soon, but it isn't explained where or why she is going until she ends up leaving. As the writer, Paul Cox didn't catch these moments because they already connected in his head. That is not the only problem with the script however. The whole film has a voice-over that does not add anything to the film. It is more of the main character's stream of consciousness and does not add any depth to him. It consists mainly of his observations and frustrations he had during the day. It does contain a few moderately funny remarks about his frustrations, but that is it. It also goes away about halfway through the film and doesn't reappear until the end. Even more confounding than that, there was one scene with a voice-over by a random person who is never explained and I couldn't begin to guess whose voice it was. The script also calls for the characters to have over the top and puzzling reactions. In one scene the daughter gets slightly upset with her mother in the car, so she slams on the brakes and then gets out of the car screaming. There was no build up to this moment; it was just a random burst of emotion. Dream sequences fill the film and are entirely unnecessary and do not convey anything important. There must be over a dozen and they get seriously repetitive as the film drags on. They are not even well done and feel out of place in the film because they all look like old found footage with a sepia tone consisting of random imagery that doesn't apply to the film. These are utterly confounding and add nothing to the story other than more time. A number of these dream sequences are even incorporated into the narrative of the film. For example a door will open up on its own with magical music playing in the back ground, but then out of nowhere the characters just walk through it like nothing happened and the scene will continue. My favorite though has to be when the main character looks into someone's telescope and the POV shot is an old grainy image of a bird flying around, but then cuts right back to him looking into the telescope. That must be a weird telescope! There is also a scene where the characters walk into a room with weird sculptures and mosaics on the wall, but are only lit by one spotlight. It is as if someone is standing behind the cameraman shining a flashlight on the characters. At first I didn't even realize this was a dream sequence and it honestly may not have been, but after the film someone told me he thought it was. Another puzzling aspect of the film that didn't fit into the tone was how graphic it was. Up to a certain point, it felt like a family friendly movie about coping with hardships, but then out of nowhere there is a terrifying dream sequence (though not actually effective) of his liver transplant. It was cheesy, ridiculous, and didn't fit in the film at all. Then when he actually goes through with the liver transplant, it shows actual footage from a surgery without holding back. On top of these scenes was one quick scene with nudity that was laughable at how awkward it felt. All in all there is virtually nothing I can recommend in this film. The script, the acting, the random dream sequences, the voice-over, and everything else are all atrocious. I should have taken a tip from the rest of the audience members and taken a nice nap during the film as it dragged on, but unfortunately I was too busy actively hating everything on screen.Force of Destiny (2016) Directed by: Paul Cox Screenplay by: Paul Cox Starring: David Wenham, Jacqueline McKenzie, Shahana Goswami Run Time: 1 hour 32 minutes

A rather long winded/over long affair about the crucial importance of organ donating (amongst other things). We went to this movie with high hopes of something special, alas both my partner and I were looking at our watches long before the end credits came up. The pacing was at a snails pace, the symbolism of life/death thrown at you every few minutes, if I had seen another image of water/rain I was going to go out and buy an umbrella, credit the audience with insight and intelligence please. At times the continuity seemed out of whack as well, was Robert in India with Maya or was this an Indian community in Australia, this made no sense and had no explanation. I realise this was very personal movie for Paul Cox but I think he dropped the ball with one.

I have been a Paul Cox fan since 1982's AFI Best Film winner 'Lonely Hearts' with the late Norman Kaye and the beloved actress to whom this film is partly dedicated: Wendy Hughes. That movie made such a huge impact on me both emotionally and creatively as I considered a potential career in the film and television industry. 'Force of Destiny' may not end up as one of Paul's great films, but once again his unapologetic style and vision is on display here with David Wenham depicting a version of Cox's journey after a cancer diagnosis and liver transplant process several years ago. All of Paul's movies have a moody, sometimes maudlin quality, and true enough to his approach and the sobering truths contained in the screenplay, 'Force' is a mature and considered elegy on life, death, children, love and spirit. The requisite home movie flickers and vignettes that punctuate this at times weighty narrative give an ethereal and contemplative element to the structure. Wenham, as ever is solid, and imbues the character with depth and wry humour. Jacqueline McKenzie is always a welcome addition to any film (when is this superb actress going to get another leading role?). Shahana Goswami has a lovely presence and Hannah Fredericksen provides much heart and grounding for this often distressing tale. It is not for everyone and it is disturbing at times. Facing grief, loss, trauma and mortality are difficult subjects to cover. Paul Cox does it his way. He always has; always will.

Paul Cox is a perennial favourite of the Melbourne International Film Festival. His 1979 feature Kostas was the first Australian film to open the Festival. The auteur's 47th feature fittingly opens the 64th MIFF. Force Of Destiny is his most personal and intimate film to date as it draws upon his own experiences while undergoing a life saving liver transplant a few years ago. Cox draws inspiration from his book Tales From The Cancer Ward, a diary in which he recorded his fears and confronted his own feelings of mortality. Cox's surrogate here is Robert (played by David Wenham, a regular in his films), a sculptor who is diagnosed with liver cancer and given six months to live unless a donor organ can be found. While he waits, Robert reconnects with his family on a deeper spiritual level. He also finds a second chance at love and happiness with Maya (Shahana Goswani), a marine biologist who works at the local aquarium and is fascinated with Robert's work. In a parallel subplot Maya's beloved uncle back home in India is also dying of cancer. Wenham delivers a subtle and nuanced performance as a man confronting his mortality. Force Of Destiny explores themes of death and mortality, which gives it a sombre note. This also makes it a bit of a downer, especially for an opening night film. But many of Cox's familiar preoccupations - the beauty of art, relationships, love, spirituality, humanity - are all very much in evidence. But there are also a number of stylistic flourishes and impressionistic touches that unnecessarily stretch the material out by 20 minutes or so. Cox's films have always been something of an acquired taste, and Force Of Destiny is something of a dour and bleak experience that is unlikely to win him any new admirers.