Kevin's Watch

Back in the (what) 90's Australian cinema seemed to go through a period of prolific output of superlative quality. For more it started with Romper Stomper and then moved in quick succession through movies like Angel Baby, Bad Boy Bubby, Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, Muriel's Wedding and the awesome Once Were Warriors (OK - I cheated to get that in but it's close). Does anyone else have a particular fondness for antipodean film of this era?

[You couldn't have a thread ike this without special mention to two of the best of the bunch, namely Mr Reliable and The Castle. Both uplifting films that leave you feeling that we humans are not such a bad lot after all!]

I thought this thread would be about Gallipoli and Breaker Morant. Heh. Oddly, I haven't seen any of the movies you mention.

Fist - most of that stuff is probably available online or cheaply through the e-bay/amazon routes. I cannot recomend it highly enough. If you do decide to have a looksee start with Pricilla, Muriel or the last two. These are the lighter options. Once, Angel and Romper are ........ grueling on the emotions and Bubby is - well, just plain odd [but in the best possible way!].

I thought that THIS was the golden age of Australian cinema...

Mick is pretty darned cool!

Muriel's Wedding didn't really do it for me. Apart from that, I like your original list. Once Were Warriors was awesome - it's a New Zealand film which I'm sure you're aware of.

Here are some of my favourites through the years:

80s

1. Breaker Morant (Bryan Brown, Jack Thompson, John Waters - great actors)
2. Gallipoli (a young Mel Gibson showing his talent)
3. Dead Calm - movie was ok, but good to see a young Nicole Kidman and Sam Neill
4. Crocodile Dundee - gotta love it!

90s

1. Two Hands - one of my favourite Heath Ledger films
2. The Sum of Us - Russell Crowe, Jack Thompson
3. The Boys - harrowing movie starring David Wenham
4. Priscilla Queen of the Desert - Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving
5. Strictly Ballroom
6. Bad Boy Bubby
7. Babe - great to see James Cromwell and Magda Subanski together
8. Shine - not just for Geoffrey Rush, but Noah Taylor was brilliant
9. Romper Stomper - of course
10. The Castle - one of my favourite movies
11. Love and other catastrophies

2000s (kids came along and reduced film watching capacity )

1. Happy Feet
2. Kenny - a must see! Shane Jacobson is perfect
3. The Proposition - Nick Cave
4. Wolf Creek
5. Rabbit-proof fence
6. Bootmen
7. Chopper - performance of a lifetime by Eric Bana
8. The Sapphires
9. Paper Planes - great family movie

I'm sure others will come to mind. I enjoyed actors such as Hugo Weaving, Sam Worthington, Russell Crowe, Mel Gibson, Jack Thompson, David Wenham, Susie Porter, Cate Blanchett, Miranda Otto, Heath Ledger, Bryan Brown...

Great list! Have seen a whole bunch, but there are notable exceptions: Kenny is a film I'll track down asap. If you liked The Castle Stevie G, don't miss out on Mr Reliable, a film with the same 'feel'.

As an Australian, I have to put in a vote for 1975's Picnic At Hanging Rock as one of the very finest movies the country has produced.
Peter Weir works magic with the Australian landscape, it's a haunting film; far more unsettling than a thousand cheap horror films - honestly; I think it's rated maybe PG but I find it to be one of the scariest movies I've watched.

Weir is getting on in years; but he'd be my #1 choice for a Thomas Covenant movie based on his filmography (particularly Picnic at Hanging Rock for the evocative nature in which he is able to capture the, ahem, land) ..

Serious pedigree of good films to his name!

Proof That Australia is a Myth

having sorted that out...


movies I have seen from Stevie G's listing.

Crocodile Dundee
Babe
Romper Stomper
Wolf Creek
Rabbit-proof fence

What was the Sam Neil moon landing one - that was good.

Salvage 1 ?

No, I wiki'd it: it was called The Dish and was about how, as Armstrong exited the lunar landing module, our only connection with it was via an insignificant outback satellite dish in rural Australia. Only problem was that in the heat of the moment in the time running up to the 'small step' ........ they lost it!

Oh yeah, I do remember the Dish vaguely - from memory it was quite good, but it mustn't have made much of an impression!

Picnic at Hanging Rock is actually G rated, which is a bit scary because I wouldn't show my kids that movie!

Sarge, I'd love to meet you one day, but I might cease to exist if I do

Agreed Stevie G, it was nice light viewing but not in the top flight.

I really like Aussie cinema and every now and again take it dip into it to find great little gems like many mentioned above. Others I have enjoyed from whatever time period have been Cosi, He Died With Falafel In His Hand, and Japanese Story.
Peter Weir is someone I have frequently mentioned as a favorite director, but he has had a lull in my opinion.

I'm more into what I'm guessing many would consider his 'lesser' achievements on the big screen - The Truman Show, Master and Commander being two cases in point. Haven't see The Way back yet but it's on my 'to see' list.

Stevie G - I have met supposed Aussies. always manage to find the flaw in their stories.

Romper Stomper is an excellent film starring a very young Russell Crowe. ashamed to say that the music is very catchy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dt-ucDzlGvw

peter wrote:I'm more into what I'm guessing many would consider his 'lesser' achievements on the big screen - The Truman Show, Master and Commander being two cases in point. Haven't see The Way back yet but it's on my 'to see' list.

I think The Truman Show is what many Americans would consider one of his better films, and certainly has more recognition with people than my favorite of his films, such as Fearless and Mosquito Coast.

Nobody has mentioned "Welcome To Woop Woop?"

For shame.

--A