| Author | Message | ||
     Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 164 Registered: 05-2005 |
Mark Tuffield asked me and Donat about Australian films elsewhere on this board, but I thought I'd put it into another thread. Mark, the state of play is that most Australian films in recent years have been utter rubbish. Most of them (and it's not an exaggeration to say most) have been variations on the theme of "little guy takes on authority and eventually triumphs". They are all copies of a formula that worked for The Castle but has failed miserably every time since. The nadir was the truly execrable The Nugget - comfortably the worst film ever made. However, the "little guy" pics have finally dried up and there have been some great Australian films in the past couple of years. Somersault is one of the best coming of age films I have ever seen. The Proposition (written by Nick Cave) is a terrific western set in the outback in the 1800s. My enjoyment of it was greatly enhanced by the main characters all doing very good Irish accents (they were Irish criminals transported to Australia). Wolf Creek is a brilliant, genuinely scary, outback psycho killer film. (Interestingly, both Wolf Creek and The Proposition were pretty much ignored by the various Australian film awards. The Proposition got one gong I think but Wolf Creek was not even nominated for any of the big awards. Someone with insider knowledge of the Australian film business will have to explain that one to me one day). A couple of other great Australian films of recent years: Australian Rules (2002), which is a very moving coming of age drama about a white boy, a black girl and all the grief that comes with that in a rural town. I bought the DVD - a sure sign for me that I loved the film. Tom White (2004), which is about a homeless man's life; what he does and how he got there. It is also very moving and quite brilliant. It is not very cinematic though and would probably have garnered a bigger audience as a TV movie. Hope this helps Mark. | ||
| Peter Azzopardi Member Username: Pete Post Number: 141 Registered: 09-2004 |
Don't forget "Look Both Ways" of last year and "Lantana" of a few years back. The latter is Altman-esque in its interwoven-narrative construction, the former concerning itself with profound questions of mortality. Padraig, although I've yet to see any of the films on your list (I've spent the last year tracking down old film noir flicks and generally ignoring the cinema) it finally seems the Australian film industry is coming out of its creative slump. I don't understand why a country that produces such great music invariably produces such crap films and television. I surmise it's merely a question of industry... | ||
| XY765 Member Username: Judge Post Number: 11 Registered: 01-2006 |
Bad Boy Bubby | ||
| Peter Collins Member Username: Tyroneshoelaces Post Number: 65 Registered: 05-2005 |
Just out of interest, and I may be being totally ignorant and stupid here, can anyone tell me why Lantana (a great film, by the way) was actually called Lantana? It didn't appear to be the name of a character or a place,so I'm a bit confused. | ||
| Mark Tuffield Member Username: Mark_t Post Number: 10 Registered: 05-2005 |
Hi Pádraig, Yes it does help many thanks. I’ve checked some of the films against on-line retailers and am pleased to see that a few are available, so I hope to be looking into them soon. Thanks also to Peter Azzopardi and XY765. As for Lantana, Peter, I was also bemused by this until someone told me that it is the white flowering, bush like, plant (or rather weed) that features both literally and metaphorically in the film. | ||
| David Matheson Member Username: David_matheson Post Number: 47 Registered: 12-2004 |
Lantana Alexandra's Project Rabbit-Proof Fence The Interview The Castle | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 83 Registered: 09-2004 |
Look Both Ways Little Fish Japanese Story Dirty Deeds The Bank Rabbit Proof Fence Mullet Australian Rules Lantana Beneath Clouds Walking on Water Two Hands Bad Eggs all spring to mind, but not sure how recent you wanted to be | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 54 Registered: 05-2005 |
Lantana's an insidious weed in Australia that was brought out here to make nice english gardens. However, it got out, became feral, and is particularly known to smother all other plants. It's flowers are purple and white when domesticated but are pink through to yellow when feral. Its tough to cut down as it also has small needles on the stems. when cut,it can remind one of the smell of bad mangoes. Maybe this has something to do with the metephorical name of the movie. I still rate "Young Einstein" by the way. It was very funny when it came out and with the Stems "At first Sight" among others, it has a great soundtrack. | ||
| Mark Tuffield Member Username: Mark_t Post Number: 11 Registered: 05-2005 |
Geoff – you sound just like my Dad as he said much the same when I mentioned a film I’d been to see called Lantana to him. Though not sure it would grow in an English, english garden – he mentioned it being brought over to Aus. from India, but he could just have been talking about himself !! Thanks for the additional suggestions guys; I hope to be visiting a well known emporium on Oxford Street on Friday with a copy of this thread in my clammy hands. Incidentally, I saw Walk the Line on Saturday (I know wrong thread) and the trailer accompanying it included The Proposition – a must see methinks. | ||
| Randy Adams Member Username: Randy_adams Post Number: 192 Registered: 03-2005 |
I have some lantana growing in my yard in Los Angeles. It requires absolutely no care except cutting. Welcome back, David. | ||
| Peter Collins Member Username: Tyroneshoelaces Post Number: 76 Registered: 05-2005 |
Thanks for all the Lantana guidance. | ||
| Michael D Member Username: Michael_d Post Number: 9 Registered: 06-2005 |
Damn we do make some terrible films, I recall trying to will myself into a coma watching Horseplay a few years ago. On the upside, The Year my Voice Broke (1987), one of the best coming of age films made. Anywhere. | ||
| david nichols Member Username: David Post Number: 84 Registered: 09-2004 |
Every country makes terrible films. I liked Flirting more than Year My Voice Broke. But I am a huge John Duigan fan. | ||
| Todd Slater Member Username: Todd_slater Post Number: 31 Registered: 01-2005 |
The Year My Voice Broke was a great film that has only been rivalled by 'Somersault' in recent times. It was also a launching pad for many actors most notably Noah Taylor, Ben Mendhlson, Loene Carmen amongst others. Does anyone know if it has had a DVD release ? Moving forward to now, Ray Lawrence of 'Lantana' fame has a new film due this year called 'Jindabyne'. The other anticipated Australian film this year is Margaret Fink's & Neil Armfield's 'Candy' which is an adaptation of Luke Davies book, and has Heath Ledger & Abbie Cornish (girl in somersault) starring. One more local film that I loved, but going back a few years now was 'Praise', it encapsulated the tropical torpor that is Brisbane in summer complete with a wailing Dirty Three soundtrack. | ||
| Todd Slater Member Username: Todd_slater Post Number: 32 Registered: 01-2005 |
I forgot to mention Paul Goldman's new film 'Suburban Mayhem' that is also due this year. Paul Goldman made the wonderful 'Australian Rules' and the comedy on Frank Sinatra's ill fated 1972 Australian tour "The Night we called it a Day', which featured a great performance by Denis Hopper as Sinatra. Mick Harvey is doing the soundtrack. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 196 Registered: 05-2005 |
I did not like Praise at all Todd. Maybe because I loved the book so much. | ||
| Geoff Holmes Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 60 Registered: 05-2005 |
"Proof" is another good one with Hugo Weaving(Elrond) and some bloke who played a gladiator. Is the new {Proof} a remake? | ||
| Todd Slater Member Username: Todd_slater Post Number: 33 Registered: 01-2005 |
I have enjoyed all of Andrew McGahan's books Padraig and wouldn't mind seeing any of them transferred to the big screen. 'Last Drinks' would be a cracker if done right. | ||
| Peter Collins Member Username: Tyroneshoelaces Post Number: 86 Registered: 05-2005 |
On Friday night ITV3 showed Walkabout, which I hadn't seen for years. I'd forgotten it was a Nic Roeg film. Unbelievably good. | ||
| Pádraig Collins Member Username: Pádraig_collins Post Number: 201 Registered: 05-2005 |
Yes, Last Drinks could make a great film. I still have not read his latest book even though I bought it about a week after it came out. I spend so much of my spare time reading Uncut, Mojo, Word and, occasionally, NME and Rolling Stone (US, not Australian version) that it takes me ages to get through books. | ||
| jerry hann Member Username: Jerry_h Post Number: 72 Registered: 07-2005 |
I've been thinking of a film I saw in Shefifeld circa 1992 at a multiplex ( one night only type of thing) and I think it was The Year My Voice Broke. If It was it was a great film-its been along time so memory starting to fade. Thanks for mentioning MichaelD as I'd spent days trying to remember the name of it |