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paulquirk
Reviews
Mullet (2001)
Excellent characters and language
Anyone that doesn't like this film should get out of the city limits and experience a bit of Australian life. We're not all a bunch of coffee sipping w***ers. If you spend a bit of time in a country town you will see what the true heart of this country is and know how much our country owes these stalwarts of the Australian persona. This film deals with the real issue that is facing country towns across Australia, that they're dieing. The young grow up, move to the city and never look back. I did. Local football is the glue that holds the community together. When you leave that's what you miss the most.
The language in this film is brilliant. It drips from the actor's tongues as good as any Shakespeare. The story is populated with well-rounded characters varying degrees of flaws and strengths. The use of music in this film is of special note. Characters absently sing "juke box classics" as they go about their daily business. This is best seen in the scene where Kay (our agent in the story) sings a Divinyls classic while she cleans the bar.
Ben Mendelson gives a signature performance as Mullet, but it's the peripheral characters that make this film work. Andrew S. Gilbert, Susie Porter, Tony Barry and Belinda McClory all are in top form as Mullets friends and family waiting for him to throw another spanner in the works of their lives.
The only flaw in this film is some problems with the pacing of the script. The characters are given an ample playing field, however the script lacks those three hits that would make it a truly great character study. At the end it all feels a little loose, suggesting maybe it could have benefited from more development. That said this film shows a definite step forward in David Caesar's work and Australian film in general. Which is more an argument for better funding of Australian films WITH Australian stories, than any lack of skill on the part of the part of those involved. Not happy with the direction of Australian film? Start banging the keyboard and put out something better. Take a drive out of the city limits, sit in the local pub and see how faithful to the Australian persona this film is. Film is the mirror we hold up to ourselves and this film is as faithful and relevant as other recent efforts such as Mallboy, Head On, Love & Other Catastrophes and La Spagnola. We are a diverse culture that requires a diverse range of character studies.
When Brendan Met Trudy (2000)
What a truly wonderful film
Filled with memorable lines, well rounded characters and intelligent insights into film. A veritable smorgasboard for film lovers. The central characters are as likable in their flaws as they are in their charm. Just sit back and bask in the simple brilliance of this film.