Comments on: Not Quite Hollywood + Hurricane Smith

By: Bobby

Bobby — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:45:29 +0000

I’m surprised no mention was made of Mad Max 2, really. Sure, it’s of a much higher quality than the first film, and more epic in scope, but for the industry as a whole it was huge.

Also, I expect another documentary pretty soon about the burgeoning Australian animation industry, which now owes a lot to George Miller’s Happy Feet.

I expect too much. Always disappointed am I.

By: CrustaceanHate

CrustaceanHate — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:25:32 +0000

I saw this one last night and you were right, I don’t know what filters or colour-correction or whatever they used on those clips, but they look AMAZING. Also the title sequence is fantastic.

By: CrustaceanHate

CrustaceanHate — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:53:45 +0000

Yeah, I saw LAST RIDE yesterday and it was great. The cinematography is great (there’s a scene on this shallow lake that’s just incredible) and it’s easily Hugo Weaving’s best performance ever. I think Vern would probably appreciate it. Australia has made some excellent character dramas in the last few years but I wish we’d make some awesome genre films again. I’ve never heard of this dislike of PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK either. As far as I know it’s recognised as a classic by pretty much everyone. Maybe the directors feel it gives an arty and some might say boring impression of Australian cinema.

By: Christian Brimo

Christian Brimo — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:33:00 +0000

Weird… I haven’t met any Aussies who hated it. I could ask around

By: Vern

Vern — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:16:51 +0000

I’m not sure but my sense was it’s too arty for the tastes of these particular directors and yeah, they resented its success and felt a pressure to make movies like that.

By: Dan Prestwich

Dan Prestwich — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:21:06 +0000

Oh also, Vern, I’m curious: why were they so bitter about PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK? Do they feel it’s an inaccurate portrayal of their country? Are they jealous of its success? Is something about it offensive to Australians? I’m a fan of that movie myself, so I’d like to know if I should avoid bringing it up if I ever get into a conversation about movies with an Australian.

By: Stuntcock Mike

Stuntcock Mike — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:56:38 +0000

What the hell was that one called they were talking about? Lost Weekend I think. Nature fights back. That’s on the must see list.

By: Christian Brimo

Christian Brimo — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:45:40 +0000

oh and you need to see WAKE IN FRIGHT. its not really ‘badass cinema’. its more of a fucked up horror film that explains things like Two-Up and gambling and booze and the outback

By: Christian Brimo

Christian Brimo — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:44:46 +0000

You should check out RUNNING ON EMPTY, which was playing in the background of a rock club I go to. Hot girls and cars, basically. You’d love it.

Australia is so tiny its hilarious. My mate runs a cult film night and he was auctioning off a copy of STUNT ROCK. Turns out the star/head stuntman was in the pub filming a movie, so he came up and said a few words. Last week they were showing NEVER TOO YOUNG TO DIE and George Lazenby’s niece was in the audience. Everybody knows somebody who worked on Mad Max, and Dolph Lundgren used to work as a bouncer in various nightclubs… hell my dad was an extra on the first PUNISHER film

I’ve only been here 5 years but it seems like most ‘Australian’ films are these low key drama type things. There’s a new one coming out called LAST RIDE with Hugo Weaving that looks pretty interesting

By: Dan Prestwich

Dan Prestwich — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:00:14 +0000

Naw, I’m pretty sure it was non-Queen Brian May who did the music.