The Best Movies to Watch at Shimmerlands this February

It's summer in Melbourne, which means moderate weather but extreme good times. Mainly in the form of festivals like Shimmerlands, which is bringing live music and an open-air cinema to the University of Melbourne's leafy grounds for two whole months.

With the February film program in full swing and plenty of flicks to choose from, here are our absolute VICE must-sees. And if you went too hard with your wallet in the first half of summer, never fear—we're also giving away tickets. Scroll down for info about how to enter below.

Miss Sharon Jones

Sharon Jones was an Australian festival circuit icon, and she's sorely missed both here and abroad. The dazzling soul musician who was once told she was "too black, too fat, too short and too old" forged an incredible late-in-life career as a singer alongside her band The Dap Kings. This documentary follows Jones' final year before succumbing to pancreatic cancer, tracking the recording of her sixth studio album. But the doco is far from gloomy—just as it's hard not to smile with a Sharon Jones record on your stereo, it's impossible not to when you're watching this thoughtful celebration of her life. RIP.

The Bodyguard

Valentine's Day is coming up, and don't you dare for a second go and see bloody La La Land with your Tinder date because Shimmerlands is hosting a special screening of this 1992 classic, which stars Kevin Costner as a secret service agent and Whitney Houston as the troubled popstar under his protection. Needless to say, it is a flawless piece of cinema with an extremely potent soundtrack, and is guaranteed to get you to at least first base. Gosling is basic, Costner is forever. Remember that.

American Honey

I truly can't overstate how real American Honey feels. Everything—from the soundtrack (I LOVE MAKONNEN mixed with Will Oldham) to the actors (most of whom are real teenagers who were plucked off the street and cast in the film) to the dialogue (which feels so fluid and off the cuff that you can't help feel it was mostly improvised) will be familiar to you and your friends, even if you're not a gang of runaway Midwest teens selling magazines out the back of a van. This a gorgeous road trip movie minus the cliches, and the perfect flick for a restless summer night. To whet your appetite, check out the VICE interview with lead actor Sasha Lane here.

Paterson

Paterson tells the story of Paterson, a bus driver who lives in a small New Jersey town called Paterson. He's also a big fan of the William Carlos Williams poem 'Paterson'—so you can see where the movie's title comes from. The combination of Jim Jarmusch and brooding-man-of-the-moment Adam Driver makes a lot of sense, and although this film didn't win the Palme d'Or at Cannes, it did pick up the alternate accolade of the Palm Dog Award—awarded to the best canine performance of the festival. So there's that.

Everybody Wants Some!!

How good is Richard Linklater? Boyhood, the Before Sunrise trilogy, Dazed and Confused, School of Rock. As a director he's lots of things, but foremost a master of nostalgia—and Everybody Wants Some!! only serves to cement that title. It's set in a very stereotypically 1980s frat house, which feels a little strange and offbeat in an era where frat bros routinely make headlines for all the wrong reasons. Still, a college campus movie is hard not to love—and this one is a particularly lovingly crafted homage to toga-and-solo-cup culture.

Lucky for you we're giving away a few double passes to our favourite films at Shimmerlands Outdoor Cinema. Email which one your keen to see and your full name to aucomps@vice.com for your chance to win. Click here to absorb the full program.

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