MIFF NOTES: Operation Avalanche (2016, Dir. Matt Johnson)

Taking the lo-fi, micro-budget aesthetic in to the high concept space, Matt Johnson's Operation Avalanche springboards off the Kubrick moon landing conspiracy and gives it the undercover found footage documentary treatment.

Johnson's talent as a conceptualist far outpace his ability as an actor/director, so while his film gets generous nods for reimagining a perky espionage drama around the Apollo missions and for some wonderfully recreated set pieces, which will have film buffs drooling, the tension and tone is severely wanting. And when pacing and believable motivation also fall by the wayside, the film in general and Johnson in particular start to grate.

Much like the dramatised film crew, Operation Avalanche does well with the tools at its disposal but falls foul of a director who's still to recognise his front-of-camera limitations. Were someone with a handle on character guiding us through this, it could have been a real winner.

★★☆

Trailer:

Operation Avalanche screened as part of the Melbourne International Film Festival 2016.

You can check out other films from the festival here.