Reviews (2)

A backup singer to an Elvis impersonator...in Australia!
The premise of a film involving a character who is a backup singer to an Elvis impersonator...in Australia....well it's too tempting.
While I was expecting a comedy, (how could it not be?), I found instead a nicely developed drama about a woman who gives her daughter up to adoptionand later comes across her by accident. The plot moves along with a few twists as we learn more about the circumstances of the mother and the daughter.
A bittersweet film that slowly grabs your attention and refuses to let go. The filming in Australia is understated and much of it takes place in a travel trailer/mobile home park along the beach.
Overall one of the best films I have seen. Highly recomended!

mermaids
This film reunites Australians director Gillian Armstrong and Judy Davis, after their 1979 My Brilliant Career, which brought them both world-wide attention. Here Davis plays Lilli, who chances across the teenage daughter she has abandoned, living in a coastal caravan park. The music of Peter Best with it's use of accordian, suggests both the sea, and Lilli's melancholy. Writer Laura Jones had initially devised the parent as a man, but by changing him to a her, the treatment becomes more complicated and far more interesting. Lilli is a gothic, dressing in black and with a lion's mane of hair, and her presence in this conservative environment is as if she is from outer space. When we see Lilli drunkenly walking on the beach in a wonderfully poetic tracking shot, it's hard to decide which is more striking - the coastline or Lilli. The irony that places with open countryside and big skies being emotionally bleak is not lost on Armstrong, whose use of speedi-cam represents Lilli's restless nature. Armstrong has always been a subtle director, with a keen eye for detail, and her direction here is superb. The framing is exact, and no scenes seem unnecessary. The few musical numbers she stages also recall her musical Starstruck in their sound quality. Even when Lilli is forced to perform a nightclub strip to earn money, Armstrong's use of music, and the focus on Lilli's humiliation, covers the fact that Davis isn't the stripper type. Jones overstates her case when she has Lilli say that she realises she is a coward, since we have already realised that from Davis, in the way she reacts to Jan Adele as Bet, the mother of her deceased husband, who has been raising the daughter. Armstrong seems to want us to embrace Adele as a lifeforce, but when she chases after Davis when threatened by her presence, it is more Lilli we identify with. Perhaps this is partly due to Adele's limited range, or partly because Lilli wins us over when we see her sobbing in a toilet cubicle, half in sadness and half in joy over her discovery. As a man Lilli befriends, Colin Friels doesn't have much to do, and I think his character is perhaps the weakest part of Jones' screenplay. He and Davis seem to become intimates overnight (or is it that real life husband and wife have an instinctive ease together?), and the idea of he having been adandoned by his wife and left with his own daughter, seems a bit too symmetrical. As Lilli's daughter, Ally, Claudia Karvan has a likeable directness and she plays off Davis well. In a way, the film is more her story than Lilli's. The way Armstrong and Jones end this film is quite remarkeable. Lilli is given a shocking opportunity. Will she repeat the past? ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Echoes of Paradise
A touching film. This film shows the journey of an Australian woman's flight from herself into the exotic world of Bali and ultimately back to herself. Incredible Imagery! Beautiful! John Lone's role shows him at his best. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Trash Totally trash
Can't believe I didn't heed the warning of the other reviewer. This movie has no merit. Very depressing and very unpleasant. Waste of time and money. An embarrassment for Errol Flynn and has no artistic merit at all. Save your money for something worth it.

truly terrible
Total trash. Ignores the lust for life that made Errol Flynn so intereresting. Having read several books about and by Errol Flynn, this movie probably has the least connection to reality of anything written or filmed about the man. Unpleasant and depressing. The video "My Wicked Wicked Ways" is infinitely better.

there are worse ways to pass the time
Flynn is ostensibly the story of Errol Flynn's early years: before he was an actor he was a hustler, a fortune seeker, a tramp and a thief.

Altogether an unlikely, melodramatic bit of fluff. Recommended only if you fancy staring at Guy Pearce for a couple of hours. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good laugh, great soundtrack, well worth a look.
A film in the mould of "This Years Love" and "Peters Friends", Strange Planet follows the ups and downs in a year of the lives of six twentysomethings living in Sydney, Australia.

It is a film that delves into the insecurities, hopes and dreams of the young professional set. But it avoids the temptation to become maudlin and weepy, remaining upbeat at all times. One character, Ewan, collapses into depression, but after watching the movie Taxi Driver, assumes DeNiro's role with hilarious consequences.

In another potentially weepie moment one of the girls dumps her married boyfriend at a costume party where his dracula outfit is a perfect counterpoint to his hangdog expression as he gets the push.

The girls are all beautiful, the boys handsome but mildly pathetic, which is just about right for the movie. The characters are a little forced but they aren't overdone, so they work. We have a girl who is sleeping her way to a career, her slightly manic compulsive friend who can't get her life toghether after being dumped and their more frumpy but wild mad hatter alternative friend. Does that sound a bit like Rachel, Monica and Phoebe from friends?

The guys are a science freak who is desperate to be married, a workaholic lawyer who's girlfriend dumped him for another girl, and the disenchanted lawyer who becomes a taxi driver and novelist. There are bound to be similarities drawn between these and the characters in friends, but they are likely to be forced.

The end of the movie is rounded off nicely with a perfect conjunction of all the disparate elements and characters in a typical Austrialian beach celebration of the New Year.

Excellent, well worth a look. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

dillo's reviews from down under
This film screams. Released in Australia as REDHEADS, is is fast paced, a bit racy, and edge of your seat stuff. Co- starring one of Australia's best, Catherine McClements (Weekend with Kate, Water Rats(TV)) it shows a younger Claudia Karvan to her best acting advantage, a promice of things to come, as realised in Risk, Paperback Hero, Lust and Revenge, The Secret Life of Us (TV) and I am so glad I have this film in my collection, and I am yet to meet someone who is not bowled over by the gritty performances of the leading ladies, the storyline and the production as a whole. Definately NOT TO BE MISSED.

Peformances/cinematography make this one to catch
Searing. That's the only word that can do justice to Claudia Karvan's performance in this film. Overall, the film is a solid little thriller/drama, with its dramatic stretches being far more interesting than its thriller components. The performances all around are solid, and the director does some striking things with the photography, but it is Karvan predominantly who raises this film from that realm of B-grade thrillers that some of us have a weakness for into a surprisingly haunting, touching film. Her performance as Lucy, a young, troubled woman who gets mixed up with all the wrong people, achieves something few other actresses accomplish (although they try plenty): she is believably tough and genuinely vulnerable. So many actors generally fall flat with both, but Karvan cuts through everything to connect with the audience, alternately allowing her tough-girl persona to crack enough see the scared girl beneath, but then letting that be pushed away again as she discovers real strength beneath that. With a performance of this caliber, this movie pushes itself into the realm of dramas more than thrillers and is more genuinely engaging than most over-wrought dramas. Definitely worth a look. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

creepy edge-of-your-seat suspense that will please most fans
this movie is actually a trilogy of three short stories, with creepy, yet sometimes predicatble twists at the end. The first story contained the best surprise, and the last story was the worst. the second story was the most atmospheric and also had a twisty ending. If you avoid the last segment and stick with the first two, this is a movie that will be enjoyed. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fast paced great characters
I initially watched this to see Claudia Karvan in a further role after she impressed me in The Secret Life of Us. I found that this film has strong characters with all three leads including Bryan Brown and Tom Long being equally effective. The story is well paced with constant development of the plot and a good ending. The DVD main film sounds and looks good with a reasonable making of feature. The trailer is standard theatre fodder. A cast biography may have helped. The excellent characterisations make the normally dull insurance office world seem very plausible.Good on yer blue. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

dillo's reviews from down under
This film screams. Released in Australia as REDHEADS, is is fast paced, a bit racy, and edge of your seat stuff. Co- starring one of Australia's best, Catherine McClements (Weekend with Kate, Water Rats(TV)) it shows a younger Claudia Karvan to her best acting advantage, a promice of things to come, as realised in Risk, Paperback Hero, Lust and Revenge, The Secret Life of Us (TV) and I am so glad I have this film in my collection, and I am yet to meet someone who is not bowled over by the gritty performances of the leading ladies, the storyline and the production as a whole. Definately NOT TO BE MISSED.

Peformances/cinematography make this one to catch
Searing. That's the only word that can do justice to Claudia Karvan's performance in this film. Overall, the film is a solid little thriller/drama, with its dramatic stretches being far more interesting than its thriller components. The performances all around are solid, and the director does some striking things with the photography, but it is Karvan predominantly who raises this film from that realm of B-grade thrillers that some of us have a weakness for into a surprisingly haunting, touching film. Her performance as Lucy, a young, troubled woman who gets mixed up with all the wrong people, achieves something few other actresses accomplish (although they try plenty): she is believably tough and genuinely vulnerable. So many actors generally fall flat with both, but Karvan cuts through everything to connect with the audience, alternately allowing her tough-girl persona to crack enough see the scared girl beneath, but then letting that be pushed away again as she discovers real strength beneath that. With a performance of this caliber, this movie pushes itself into the realm of dramas more than thrillers and is more genuinely engaging than most over-wrought dramas. Definitely worth a look. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Fast paced great characters
I initially watched this to see Claudia Karvan in a further role after she impressed me in The Secret Life of Us. I found that this film has strong characters with all three leads including Bryan Brown and Tom Long being equally effective. The story is well paced with constant development of the plot and a good ending. The DVD main film sounds and looks good with a reasonable making of feature. The trailer is standard theatre fodder. A cast biography may have helped. The excellent characterisations make the normally dull insurance office world seem very plausible.Good on yer blue. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

dillo's reviews from down under
This film screams. Released in Australia as REDHEADS, is is fast paced, a bit racy, and edge of your seat stuff. Co- starring one of Australia's best, Catherine McClements (Weekend with Kate, Water Rats(TV)) it shows a younger Claudia Karvan to her best acting advantage, a promice of things to come, as realised in Risk, Paperback Hero, Lust and Revenge, The Secret Life of Us (TV) and I am so glad I have this film in my collection, and I am yet to meet someone who is not bowled over by the gritty performances of the leading ladies, the storyline and the production as a whole. Definately NOT TO BE MISSED.

Peformances/cinematography make this one to catch
Searing. That's the only word that can do justice to Claudia Karvan's performance in this film. Overall, the film is a solid little thriller/drama, with its dramatic stretches being far more interesting than its thriller components. The performances all around are solid, and the director does some striking things with the photography, but it is Karvan predominantly who raises this film from that realm of B-grade thrillers that some of us have a weakness for into a surprisingly haunting, touching film. Her performance as Lucy, a young, troubled woman who gets mixed up with all the wrong people, achieves something few other actresses accomplish (although they try plenty): she is believably tough and genuinely vulnerable. So many actors generally fall flat with both, but Karvan cuts through everything to connect with the audience, alternately allowing her tough-girl persona to crack enough see the scared girl beneath, but then letting that be pushed away again as she discovers real strength beneath that. With a performance of this caliber, this movie pushes itself into the realm of dramas more than thrillers and is more genuinely engaging than most over-wrought dramas. Definitely worth a look. ... Read more