Opinions? Suggestions? Anything?
I'm particularly interested in hearing how Australian cinema is perceived by non-Australians. Does it even read on the radar? Is it just "Mad Max and Crocodile Dundee"?
Yes, i'm Australian.
For a long time, I had a pretty negative view of our film industry. I definitely enjoyed the odd movie here and there, but overall I felt the stuff we come up with is pretty embarrasing. I suppose that's true to an extent, but it's not like other countries don't produce tons of garbage either.
Then I saw Picnic at Hanging Rock. In short, it blew me away. It had/has a profound effect on me in a way that very few films do.
Once I had digested "Picnic", I wondered what else i'd been missing out on. So, for the past 2-3 years now, i've tried focusing on our archives. Along the way, i've discovered some real gems, and also revisted quite a few movies i'd seen before, but had not appreciated properly because of my youth. Needless to say, my view of Australian cinema has changed, and am now proud of a lot of the work we've done. We're no goldmine, that's for sure, but we can hold our own.
In Roger Ebert's review of Chopper, he remarks at the consistency in which Australian cinema produces eccentric characters. That appeals to our collective ego, but it's also true. From Mel Gibson as Mad Max and Paul Hogan as Crocodile Dundee, to Eric Bana in/as the aforementioned Chopper. In between, there's Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce dressed in drag. Russell Crowe as a white supremecist. Miranda Otto as a social awkward. Just about the entire cast from Strictly Ballroom, and Nicole Kidman as a BMX Bandit...ok, maybe forget that last one.
Films with great characters:
Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The (1994, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terrance Stamp)
Bad Boy Bubby (1993, Nicholas Hope)
Castle, The (1997, Michael Caton, Stephen Curry)
Chopper (2000, Eric Bana)
Interview, The (1998, Hugo Weaving, Tony Martin)
Love Serenade (1996, Mirando Otto)
Malcolm (1986, Colin Friels)
Muriel's Wedding (1994, Toni Collette)
Proof (1991, Hugo Weaving, Russell Crowe)
Romper Stomper (1992, Russell Crowe)
Strictly Ballroom (1992, Paul Mercurio)
Also featuring prominently in Australian film, is the legend of the Outback, imprinted on kilometres of cellulose throughout the decades. Similar to the desert landscapes that feature in Lawrence of Arabia, it is the harsh elements and the pure expanse of the Outback that scares and fascinates many. Despite it's size, it can be seen as the fine line between life and death. The fearfulness of the Outback is also aided by real-life stories, such as the Azaria Chamberlain disappearance, and the more recent Falconio incident. Though, for some film-makers, there's something more to the Outback than meets the eye. Something of the land itself. It is something that is part of the Aboriginal mindset. Something "spiritual", if you will. Perhaps an ancient conduit between Man and Earth. There's just something about it.
Films featuring the Outback:
Holy Smoke! (1999, Kate Winslet)
Japanese Story (2003, Toni Collette)
Mad Max (1979, Mel Gibson)
Mad Max 2 (1981, Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence)
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975, Rachel Roberts, John Jarrat)
Proposition, The (2005, Guy Pearce)
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002, David Gulpilil)
Walkabout (1971, David Gulpilil, Jenny Agutter)
Wolf Creek (2005, John Jarrat) - actually dislike this movie, but it fits the fear mentality nicely
As I indicated earlier, "Picnic" is one of my favourite movies of all time. Breaker Morant is another title that's way up there. It's similar in subject matter to Kubrick's Paths of Glory, so if you dug that, i'm sure you'll dig this one.
And that just about does me. Finishing with a few of my other favourites:
Dark City (1998, Kiefer Sutherland)
Lantana (2001, Anthony LaPaglia)
Looking for Alibrandi (2000, Pia Miranda, Anthony LaPaglia)
Two Hands (1999, Heath Ledger, Rose Byrne)
I'm particularly interested in hearing how Australian cinema is perceived by non-Australians. Does it even read on the radar? Is it just "Mad Max and Crocodile Dundee"?
Yes, i'm Australian.
For a long time, I had a pretty negative view of our film industry. I definitely enjoyed the odd movie here and there, but overall I felt the stuff we come up with is pretty embarrasing. I suppose that's true to an extent, but it's not like other countries don't produce tons of garbage either.
Then I saw Picnic at Hanging Rock. In short, it blew me away. It had/has a profound effect on me in a way that very few films do.
Once I had digested "Picnic", I wondered what else i'd been missing out on. So, for the past 2-3 years now, i've tried focusing on our archives. Along the way, i've discovered some real gems, and also revisted quite a few movies i'd seen before, but had not appreciated properly because of my youth. Needless to say, my view of Australian cinema has changed, and am now proud of a lot of the work we've done. We're no goldmine, that's for sure, but we can hold our own.
In Roger Ebert's review of Chopper, he remarks at the consistency in which Australian cinema produces eccentric characters. That appeals to our collective ego, but it's also true. From Mel Gibson as Mad Max and Paul Hogan as Crocodile Dundee, to Eric Bana in/as the aforementioned Chopper. In between, there's Hugo Weaving and Guy Pearce dressed in drag. Russell Crowe as a white supremecist. Miranda Otto as a social awkward. Just about the entire cast from Strictly Ballroom, and Nicole Kidman as a BMX Bandit...ok, maybe forget that last one.
Films with great characters:
Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, The (1994, Hugo Weaving, Guy Pearce, Terrance Stamp)
Bad Boy Bubby (1993, Nicholas Hope)
Castle, The (1997, Michael Caton, Stephen Curry)
Chopper (2000, Eric Bana)
Interview, The (1998, Hugo Weaving, Tony Martin)
Love Serenade (1996, Mirando Otto)
Malcolm (1986, Colin Friels)
Muriel's Wedding (1994, Toni Collette)
Proof (1991, Hugo Weaving, Russell Crowe)
Romper Stomper (1992, Russell Crowe)
Strictly Ballroom (1992, Paul Mercurio)
Also featuring prominently in Australian film, is the legend of the Outback, imprinted on kilometres of cellulose throughout the decades. Similar to the desert landscapes that feature in Lawrence of Arabia, it is the harsh elements and the pure expanse of the Outback that scares and fascinates many. Despite it's size, it can be seen as the fine line between life and death. The fearfulness of the Outback is also aided by real-life stories, such as the Azaria Chamberlain disappearance, and the more recent Falconio incident. Though, for some film-makers, there's something more to the Outback than meets the eye. Something of the land itself. It is something that is part of the Aboriginal mindset. Something "spiritual", if you will. Perhaps an ancient conduit between Man and Earth. There's just something about it.
Films featuring the Outback:
Holy Smoke! (1999, Kate Winslet)
Japanese Story (2003, Toni Collette)
Mad Max (1979, Mel Gibson)
Mad Max 2 (1981, Mel Gibson, Bruce Spence)
Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975, Rachel Roberts, John Jarrat)
Proposition, The (2005, Guy Pearce)
Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002, David Gulpilil)
Walkabout (1971, David Gulpilil, Jenny Agutter)
Wolf Creek (2005, John Jarrat) - actually dislike this movie, but it fits the fear mentality nicely
As I indicated earlier, "Picnic" is one of my favourite movies of all time. Breaker Morant is another title that's way up there. It's similar in subject matter to Kubrick's Paths of Glory, so if you dug that, i'm sure you'll dig this one.
And that just about does me. Finishing with a few of my other favourites:
Dark City (1998, Kiefer Sutherland)
Lantana (2001, Anthony LaPaglia)
Looking for Alibrandi (2000, Pia Miranda, Anthony LaPaglia)
Two Hands (1999, Heath Ledger, Rose Byrne)
