Based on accomplished novelist Tim Winton's book of the same name, this film falls very short. Not all books can be adapted into films especially if the screenplay is written by the wrong person, a person who has more producing and directing credits than writing.
The film is photographed well, and all technical aspects are met especially with a big budget. Locations are great and most of the actors are good, apart from Mia - who seems to be phoning it in on this film - half the time she seems so flat in her performance, she actually seems like she doesn't even want to be in the film and was doing it for a paycheck or a favor. (Just watch the first few lines while she's on the satellite phone and listen to the delivery) The film and its themes are well-intentioned, but this was actually packaged as a kid's film? I can tell you; I have 5 young kids and they wouldn't sit through the first 10 min. This was a missed opportunity to tell a heart-warming story about a beautiful blue Groper fish which has a beautiful relationship with the Jackson family over a few decades. Robert Connoly should have taken a page out of Free Willy or A Dolphin Tale. There is hardly any real emotion evoked from this story, any emotion portrayed is actually dribble and contrived. The narrative is disjointed and convoluted, its pacing is too slow and somewhat boring. Also feel like Radha Mitchell is trying too hard to be SUPER AUSSIE with her accent, but I believe her performance is still quote strong. Overall, a well-shot film, with all the bells and whistles thanks to Screen Australia and ScreenWest. Lottery West helping already established filmmakers instead of funding new voices. Just remember if you watched this film and agreed and are Australian - your tax payed for this. Do you think it was executed correctly? Want to watch a fantastic Tim Winton film? Go and watch an excellent film called Breath directed by Simon Baker - a fantastically made film.
The film is photographed well, and all technical aspects are met especially with a big budget. Locations are great and most of the actors are good, apart from Mia - who seems to be phoning it in on this film - half the time she seems so flat in her performance, she actually seems like she doesn't even want to be in the film and was doing it for a paycheck or a favor. (Just watch the first few lines while she's on the satellite phone and listen to the delivery) The film and its themes are well-intentioned, but this was actually packaged as a kid's film? I can tell you; I have 5 young kids and they wouldn't sit through the first 10 min. This was a missed opportunity to tell a heart-warming story about a beautiful blue Groper fish which has a beautiful relationship with the Jackson family over a few decades. Robert Connoly should have taken a page out of Free Willy or A Dolphin Tale. There is hardly any real emotion evoked from this story, any emotion portrayed is actually dribble and contrived. The narrative is disjointed and convoluted, its pacing is too slow and somewhat boring. Also feel like Radha Mitchell is trying too hard to be SUPER AUSSIE with her accent, but I believe her performance is still quote strong. Overall, a well-shot film, with all the bells and whistles thanks to Screen Australia and ScreenWest. Lottery West helping already established filmmakers instead of funding new voices. Just remember if you watched this film and agreed and are Australian - your tax payed for this. Do you think it was executed correctly? Want to watch a fantastic Tim Winton film? Go and watch an excellent film called Breath directed by Simon Baker - a fantastically made film.