HOTEL COOLGARDIE(director: Pete Gleeson; cinematographer: Pete Gleeson; editor: Pete Gleeson; Runtime: 83; MPAA Rating: NR; producers: Melissa Hayward/Kate Neylon; Raw and Cooked Media; 2016-Canada)
“My caveat is to avoid such unappealing bars, there’s nothing there that matters.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Aspiring filmmaker Pete Gleesondirects this raw Australian documentary that mocks the country for its dark side. It features a mining town and a seedy bar, Coolgardie’s Denver City Hotel. The bar patrons are mostly drunks and undesirables. Stephie and Lina are Finnish girls on an extended backpacking trip who need the money to continue their vacation through Australia. They make it a working holiday by getting barmaid jobs for three months in this remote outback hotel. Their working holiday becomes a test of endurance for the two lovelies, who the locals consider the latest batch of “fresh meat.” The seedy bar owner harasses them, the drunks get increasingly belligerent as the evening wears on and, if we’re watching this one to the end, the only thing to stay around to see is if the girls are at least not harmed. My caveat is to avoid such unappealing bars, there’s nothing there that matters.

REVIEWED ON 12/22/2016 GRADE: C+

Dennis Schwartz: “Ozus’ World Movie Reviews”

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