Absolutely Fantastic

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

Mostly, the movie is committed to the value of a good time.

If you've ever wanted to be a musician, be in a band or generally be involved in the music industry, then local Aussie doc Meal Tickets might be enough to sway you away from such a career path.A passion project that was filmed over the period of more than a decade, West Australian born director Mat de Koning's dedicated himself to following the journey of his school mates turned wannabe Rock N Roll superstars The Screwtop Detonators on their bumpy road through their music careers, as they attempt to break into the crowded American scene, while making their marks in the local Australian market.De Koning's film offers a raw and uncompromising look at the trials of such lofty goals, there's nothing glamourous about the early stages of attempting name brand recognition; back ally bars, crowded hotel rooms and multi-hour road trips the order of the day and with that unblinking eye ,Meal Tickets becomes a real and recognisably human portrait that we can all relate to concerning the attempt to mould our dreams with the more harsh realities of everyday life.The Screwtop Detonators themselves might be a bit of a mixed bagged, filled with loveable larrikins and more self-absorbed slackers but their always shown in their warts and all glory and their often unwavering attempts to crack the big time ring in memories and comparisons of other music doc figures like the great Anvil.De Koning's film also offers a look at one time Screwtop roadie turned solo act Will Stoker who briefly flirted with mainstream success in the mid 2000's supporting the likes of British group Kasabian and by following this complicated artist's trials and tribulations, De Koning's film encompasses a wider reaching range of material that shows very much so that the Screwtop's are just a drop in the ocean of bands who have tried in earnest to climb the pinnacle, yet remained stuck at base camp until it was too late.Final Say - Meal Tickets may be rough around the edges and unpolished just like its subject matters but De Koning's documentary is an often eye-opening and humanly real examination of what it takes to make it in the music business and a must-watch for fans of the Australian music scene.3 ½ broken down vans out of 5