Showing posts with label Australian Film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Australian Film. Show all posts
South Solitary Review
Posted by Should I See It
on
Thursday, September 2, 2010
, under
Australian Film,
Barry Otto,
Miranda Otto,
South Solitary
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Film: South Solitary
Directed By: Shirley Barrett.
Starring: Miranda Otto, Barry Otto, Marton Csokas and Essie Davis.
Plot: A woman accompanies her uncle, a lighthouse inspector, to the Island of South Solitary.
Rating:
This year has seen the release of a number of wonderful Australian films. Unfortunately, South Solitary is not one of them.
Within the first half hour of the film, I found myself wanting the film to be over (not a good sign). Even though the running time was under two hours, it felt closer to three. South Solitary was incredibly slow paced- and dare I say it (even at the risk of sounding unintelligent)- BORING. I can’t help but think that the material would have been more suited to a short film, at least then it wouldn’t have dragged.
As a viewer, it is frustrating to have characters who don’t learn from their mistakes. It is incredibly difficult to emotionally invest in Meredith, since she seems to have no powers of reasoning or any critical judgement. Meredith is an incredibly weak, incredibly flawed character, who annoys more than intrigues. Part of that has to do with Miranda Otto’s performance. The girly high pitched voice and attempts at wide eyed innocence do not convince, and only add to the frustration towards the character.
Barry Otto as the uncompromising head Lighthouse keeper is the only breath of fresh air in the otherwise stale film.
The resolution of the narrative with the relationship between Meredith and fellow lighthouse keeper, Fleet, feels forced and inorganic.
The scenes where Meredith has to run the lighthouse by herself show potential, but they are over far too quickly to alleviate the monotony of this film.
The beautiful score and beautiful location (shot at Cape Nelson and Cape Otway) can’t make up for the lacklustre script and poor pacing of the film.
South Solitary is a lot like life as a lighthouse keeper: Long and incredibly dull.
Should I See It?
Don’t waste your time!
South Solitary Official Site here.
Animal Kingdom Review
Posted by Should I See It
on
Sunday, June 27, 2010
, under
Animal Kingdom,
Australian Film,
Ben Mendelsohn,
Crime drama,
David Michod,
Gang,
Guy Pearce,
Jackie Weaver,
Luke Ford,
Sullivan Stapleton,
Sundance Film Festival,
Underbelly
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Film: Animal Kingdom
Director: David Michod
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Sullivan Stapleton, Jackie Weaver, Luke Ford and James Frecheville.
Plot: Tells the story of seventeen year-old Josh as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.
Animal Kingdom is the latest offering in Aussie Cinema. It comes highly recommended, having won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival this year. There's no doubt that Animal Kingdom is going to sweep the Australian Film Institute Awards at the end of this year, but gven it's Sundance win, I will be very interested to see how it fares in the international circuit.
Gang dramas have never really been of much interest. Yet Animal Kingdom intrigued me. It is not nearly as glossy, far grittier and dare I say better acted that it’s television counterpart, Underbelly. (I have never had much time for the Underbelly ‘Phenomenon’ as it glamorises Australian Underworld and don’t even get me started on the way it objectifies women.)
Animal Kingdom is based on the Walsh Street Police Killings that occurred in Melbourne in the 1980s, however the film never pretends to be a true account of the events or the Cody clan, the family at the centre of Animal Kingdom. The film is clearly fictionalised, made most noticeable by updating the story to the present day. However, that doesn’t make the film any less intriguing.
Animal Kingdom is a dark film. I was wary of how violent the film would be, however most of the violence is implied or occurs off screen. The darkness comes from the characters and their motivations. For example, when one family member is shot by another, no one blinks an eye. Rather it’s accepted as part of ‘the life’ they lead. Similarly, the opening sequence that shows Josh watching Deal or No Deal, calmly waiting for the paramedics to arrive to treat his mother who has overdosed on heroin, tells you everything you need to know about his life and the world he lives in. Frecheville, making his film debut here, is particularly good.
Performances are great all round. Ben Mendelsohn as Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody is a particular standout, and Luke Ford is thankfully less embarrasing than he was in The Mummy III.
Jackie Weaver plays the creepiest grandmother you will ever see on screen. I have heard her compared to Lady Macbeth; however, I think she is far more evil. Unlike Lady M, Janine Cody is very maternal. It’s just that her maternal instincts verge on the border of obsession. She insists her sons kiss her on the lips, and is willing to sacrifice the life of her grandson in order to get her sons out of jail. Jackie Weaver’s performance is unashamedly brilliant.
To be honest there are a few issues in the film that could have been addressed: a second lawyer shows up without any introduction, and the scenes featuring Detective Leckie's (Guy Pearce) disabled daughter feel as though they might go somewhere, but never actually do. For the most part though, David Michod directs the feature with a skilled hand. Michod has a clear grip on his characters and does the film justice.
You may need to do something happy after seeing this film; I thoroughly recommend a good dose of chocolate. Though there is an upside to seeing a film like this: After spending two hours with the crazy Cody’s, your family will seem like the Brady Bunch in comparison.
Though, to be completely honest, the most disturbing thing about the movie would have to go to Guy Pearce’s moustache.
Animal Kingdom Official Site here.
Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Guy Pearce, Sullivan Stapleton, Jackie Weaver, Luke Ford and James Frecheville.
Plot: Tells the story of seventeen year-old Josh as he navigates his survival amongst an explosive criminal family and the detective who thinks he can save him.
Animal Kingdom is the latest offering in Aussie Cinema. It comes highly recommended, having won the Grand Jury Prize for World Cinema at the Sundance Film Festival this year. There's no doubt that Animal Kingdom is going to sweep the Australian Film Institute Awards at the end of this year, but gven it's Sundance win, I will be very interested to see how it fares in the international circuit.
Gang dramas have never really been of much interest. Yet Animal Kingdom intrigued me. It is not nearly as glossy, far grittier and dare I say better acted that it’s television counterpart, Underbelly. (I have never had much time for the Underbelly ‘Phenomenon’ as it glamorises Australian Underworld and don’t even get me started on the way it objectifies women.)
Animal Kingdom is based on the Walsh Street Police Killings that occurred in Melbourne in the 1980s, however the film never pretends to be a true account of the events or the Cody clan, the family at the centre of Animal Kingdom. The film is clearly fictionalised, made most noticeable by updating the story to the present day. However, that doesn’t make the film any less intriguing.
Animal Kingdom is a dark film. I was wary of how violent the film would be, however most of the violence is implied or occurs off screen. The darkness comes from the characters and their motivations. For example, when one family member is shot by another, no one blinks an eye. Rather it’s accepted as part of ‘the life’ they lead. Similarly, the opening sequence that shows Josh watching Deal or No Deal, calmly waiting for the paramedics to arrive to treat his mother who has overdosed on heroin, tells you everything you need to know about his life and the world he lives in. Frecheville, making his film debut here, is particularly good.
Performances are great all round. Ben Mendelsohn as Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody is a particular standout, and Luke Ford is thankfully less embarrasing than he was in The Mummy III.
Jackie Weaver plays the creepiest grandmother you will ever see on screen. I have heard her compared to Lady Macbeth; however, I think she is far more evil. Unlike Lady M, Janine Cody is very maternal. It’s just that her maternal instincts verge on the border of obsession. She insists her sons kiss her on the lips, and is willing to sacrifice the life of her grandson in order to get her sons out of jail. Jackie Weaver’s performance is unashamedly brilliant.
To be honest there are a few issues in the film that could have been addressed: a second lawyer shows up without any introduction, and the scenes featuring Detective Leckie's (Guy Pearce) disabled daughter feel as though they might go somewhere, but never actually do. For the most part though, David Michod directs the feature with a skilled hand. Michod has a clear grip on his characters and does the film justice.
You may need to do something happy after seeing this film; I thoroughly recommend a good dose of chocolate. Though there is an upside to seeing a film like this: After spending two hours with the crazy Cody’s, your family will seem like the Brady Bunch in comparison.
Though, to be completely honest, the most disturbing thing about the movie would have to go to Guy Pearce’s moustache.
Should I See It?
Yes, Absolutely.
Animal Kingdom Official Site here.
Beneath Hill 60 Review
Posted by Should I See It
on
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
, under
ANZAC,
Australian Film,
Beneath Hill 60,
Jeremy Sims
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comments (0)
Film: Beneath Hill 60
Directed By: Jeremy Sims
Starring: Brendan Cowell, Gyton Grantley, Harrison Gilbertson.
Plot: The extraordinary true story of an Australian mining division on the Western Front during World War I.
Beneath Hill 60 is actually a better film than I thought it was going to be. Actually, let me clarify. I really didn’t know what to expect, apart from the fact that it is a war film, and I wanted to support the local film industry.
But despite my expectations, (or lack thereof) Beneath Hill 60 is a remarkably well made film which engages the audience from start to finish.
It is very violent and graphic. There is a real sense of danger and death always feels as though it’s lurking just around the corner. I mean it is a war film. The violence and brutality forms so much of the environment of risk and danger that it can’t really be done without.
But even out of the horror of war, in true Australian fashion, come many moments that are as funny as they are endearing.
I am not as against the use of flashbacks in the film as some of my fellow film critics have been. To be honest, I do understand their criticism. The flashbacks do feel as though they have come out of another film. However, they provide a necessary escape from the brutality of war. The light, colour and air of rural Australia allow for temporary relief from the bloody battle front. And it also allows the audience to be privy to the wonderful dynamic of William and Emma Waddell (Gerald Lepkowski and Jacqueline McKenzie).
Performances all round are engaging. As an audience, you care about the characters. It is genuinely distressing when SPOILERS *some* of them die END SPOILER. Brendan Cowell as Oliver Woodward, the captain of the mining unit, is a solid lead. The ensemble are terrific. Particular standouts were Alan Dukes and Alex Thompson as father and son fighting side by side, and Harrison Gilbertson as young recruit Tiffin.
The only notable exception to otherwise exceptionally strong cast is Bella Heathcote as Oliver Woodward’s love interest, Marjorie Waddell. She is wooden and unnatural, and she made me cringe every time she came on screen. The ‘romance’ troubled me greatly in this film. Oliver seems far to old for Marjorie, who is only sixteen at the beginning of the film. I couldn’t see his interest in her to be anything more than loyalty to her dead brother.
Aside from that misstep, the film does provide same interesting moments: such as Oliver’s interaction with a sixteen year old stretcher bearer, the insights behind the German lines (all done in German too!) and seeing the men return from the war.
Ultimately, this is a really solid entry into Australian filmmaking. Beneath Hill 60 brings to light an aspect of Australian History that has not been widely known. This film is a worthwhile contribution to the cinematic ANZAC legend. While it won’t exactly leave you on an ‘upper’, making the effort to support the local industry is definitely worth it!
Should I See It?
Yes, Absolutely!
Beneath Hill 60 Official Site here.
Beneath Hill 60 Official Blog here.
You can also check out some great behind the scenes footage on the Beneath Hill 60 YouTube channel.
