Morgan Bell
Kynaston
love, drugs, sexuality, murder . . . the must-see Australian films
March 28th 2008 05:56
I get a bit excited when it comes to Australian film . . . i think of authentic queers and addicts, gender studies, and quirky characters . . . after much deliberation i constructed a list of my TOP 15 AUSTRALIAN FILMS that i would recommend people watch if they want to get an idea of Australian culture and Australian film.
1. The Boys (1998)
David Wenham, Toni Collette
adapted from the Australian play of the same name, loosely based on the Anita Cobby murder, examines the events leading up to three brothers attacking a random woman due to frustrations in their own lives. A masterpiece character examination which captures the sour relationships between men and women in western Sydney and the culture of violence that breeds random unthinkable attacks. Wenham is sinister, creepy, and extremely frightening, I have never looked at him the same way again, it was a truly terrifying performance.
2. Cosi (1996)
Ben Mendelsohn, Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Barry Otto, David Wenham, Colin Friels, Jacki Weaver
adapted from the Australian play of the same name (by Louis Nowra), a young amateur theatre director (Mendelsohn) is commissioned by a Sydney mental institute to direct a musical with the patients as actors. Each of the patients has a different mental problem, like pyromania (Wenham), addiction (Collette), delusional mania (Otto), anger and territorialism (Weaver, obsessive compulsive, social phobia, stuttering etc. Through trying to teach them to act the young director actually learns from them and relates to them. Many funny performances, very well written.
3. Muriels Wedding (1994)
Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Bill Hunter, Sophie Lee, Matt Day
Muriel Heslop (Collette) is a daggy over-weight girl who lives in Porpoise Spit on the Gold Coast and listens to Abba all day wishing her life was better. Muriel believes the only path to happiness is to be married and desperately desires a wedding (even more than a husband). Through a series of adventures she befriends the head-strong Rhonda (Griffiths) and learns to confront her family, her past and herself. A warm and touching journey of self discovery, with genuine Australian characters and well-timed situational comedy.
4. Wolf Creek (2005)
John Jarret
an Australian outback horror torture film based on backpacker murderers like Ivan Milat, or the abduction of Peter Falconio. Mick Taylor (Jarret) is an old-school bush eccentric living in the isolation of Wolf Creek in northern West Australia. It also turns out Mick Taylor is a sadistic and brutal killer, tormenting backpackers for sport. Jarret will scare the pants off you and you will never drive through remote Australian bush again. The violence is horrific, the chase is nerve-racking, Taylors deranged smile as he torments and hunts his victims is chilling. Australias answer to Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
5. Little Fish (2005)
Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Noni Hazlehurst, Sam Neil, Lisa McCune, Martin Henderson, Susie Porter
about the drug culture in Cabramatta, Sydney and how a former heroin addicts keep getting drawn back into the scene due to lack of options and ease of social contacts. Blanchett gives a gritty and courageous performance where Weaving is just heartbreaking. A realistic look at the lies, manipulation and desperation of addicts, dealers, and the reformed who struggle to get their lives back on track.
6. The Sum Of Us (1994)
Russell Crowe, Jack Thompson
adapted from an Australian play, this is a story about love set in Sydney, a heterosexual father is looking for the right woman while his gay son is looking for the right man. The film shows their relationships with one another and the objects of their affection as tradgedy strikes. An optimistic queer film where the father is supportive of the son being gay and none of the gay characters commit suicide, overdose, or die of AIDS – very refreshing.
7. Thank God He Met Lizzie (1997)
Richard Roxburgh, Cate Blanchette, Frances O’Connor
Guy (Roxburgh) is plagued by memories of his former girlfriend (O’Connor) on his wedding day to Lizzie (Blanchett). A powerful thought-provoking film about what makes a successful romantic relationship. Do people marry the love of their lives or do they marry whoever is convenient when the time is right?
8. Head On (1998)
Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis
set in inner city Melbourne this film follows the troubled Ari (Dimitriades), a 19 year old Greek boy struggling with his homosexuality and his culture. Includes confrontational sex and nudity scenes, addresses police abuse of a transgendered character (Capsis). This is a groundbreaking queer film, dark, moody, and at times unpleasant – very brave performances by a talented cast – Dimitriades is a long way from Heartbreak High
9. Adventures of Priscilla Queen of The Desert (1994)
Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, Terrance Stamp, Bill Hunter
two gay men and a transsexual take their Sydney drag show to outback Australia, we follow their adventures and their outrageous outfits to dust-bowl country towns where they are embraced, admired, rejected, and attacked by different locals. A cast of eccentric characters and costumes and a soundtrack of all the necessary drag classics. This is a film about valuing your relationships and accepting yourself as well as others
10. Love & Other Catastrophes (1996)
Matt Day, Frances O’Connor, Radha Mitchell, Kym Gyngell
a film about sharehousing and university (long before TVs The Secret Life of Us), set at Melbourne University, we see a lesbian relationship where commitment is an issue, we see a student obsessed with a lecturer, a student gigalo, a secret admirer, and the many stresses of making friends, finding your identity and decided who to love and where to live. Sincere comedy with satisfying outcomes.
11. One Perfect Day (2004)
Dan Spielman, Abbie Cornish, Kerry Armstrong
a gifted Australian musician studying in London is brought home by the drug overdose of his younger sister in Melbourne where he discovers his girlfriend and others in the Melbourne club scene are involved in the deadly drugs. Insightful and innovative, and a rare peek into the mind of a modern musician and the things in life that captivate him.
12. Holy Smoke (1999)
Kate Winslet, Harvey Keitel, Sophie Lee
directed by Jane Campion (The Piano) this is the story of a young Australian girl Ruth (Winslet) who falls under the influence of a charismatic guru while on holiday in India. Ruth is forced to return home to Sydney due to an asthma attack where her parents employ an American exit counselor who deprograms members of religious cults (Keitel). A revealing look at how men treat women in Australian culture compared to mystical India, and a sharp commentary on the power of sexuality.
13. Lantana (2001)
Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Armstrong, Barabara Hershey, Geoffrey Rush, Glen Robbins, Vince Colosimo, Peter Phelps
adapted from an Australian play and set in Sydney, this film examines how fragile trust is between married couples, affairs are suspected, sexuality is questioned, and the body of a woman is found dead in the bush, her identity not revealed until the end of the film. Lantana is an Australian weed and is a metaphor for how insidious and destructive a deception can be in a relationship, hiding the most important things.
14. The Bank (2001)
David Wenham, Anthony LaPaglia
set in Melbourne, a large corporate bank takes on a young math genius (Wenham) who insists that with funds he can fully develop a theory that predicts the movements of the stock market. Somewhat predictable but plays to the Australian culture of disliking faceless corporations like banks and always supporting the underdog, this film captures Australian attitudes and economic history.
15. The Interview (1998)
Hugo Weaving, Tony Martin, Michael Caton
a rare Australian psychological thriller where almost the entire film takes place in a police interrogation room, with some short flashback sequences. Eddie Rodney Fleming (Weaving) is a quiet, nervous type who recently lost his job and family who is seized from his apartment and interviewed relentlessly over a stolen car that may lead to a serial killer. Edgy performances from a small cast that capture paranoia and suspense in real time.
Special mention to Claudia Karvans romantic comedies, the gender bending Dating The Enemy (1996, with Guy Pearce) and the lovely Paperback Hero (1999, with Hugh Jackman) for being as entertaining as any Hollywood film from the same genre
Special recommendation: if you enjoyed UK industrial rust-belt films like Billy Elliot, Brassed Off, or The Full Monty, I would recommend Bootmen (2000, Adam Garcia, Sophie Lee, Susie Porter) as steelworkers from Newcastle, Australia make it big as a tap-dancing troupe – based on the true story of Dein Perrys TapDogs
This blog was inspired by other similar blogs on Orble
"Australian Films" by Jason King on Salty Popcorn
"John Does 23 Favourite Aussie Films" by John Doe on JD Film Reviews
"Top Twenty Beaut Aussie Movies" by Michaelie on Flick Wit
David Wenham, Toni Collette
adapted from the Australian play of the same name, loosely based on the Anita Cobby murder, examines the events leading up to three brothers attacking a random woman due to frustrations in their own lives. A masterpiece character examination which captures the sour relationships between men and women in western Sydney and the culture of violence that breeds random unthinkable attacks. Wenham is sinister, creepy, and extremely frightening, I have never looked at him the same way again, it was a truly terrifying performance.
Ben Mendelsohn, Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Barry Otto, David Wenham, Colin Friels, Jacki Weaver
adapted from the Australian play of the same name (by Louis Nowra), a young amateur theatre director (Mendelsohn) is commissioned by a Sydney mental institute to direct a musical with the patients as actors. Each of the patients has a different mental problem, like pyromania (Wenham), addiction (Collette), delusional mania (Otto), anger and territorialism (Weaver, obsessive compulsive, social phobia, stuttering etc. Through trying to teach them to act the young director actually learns from them and relates to them. Many funny performances, very well written.
Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, Bill Hunter, Sophie Lee, Matt Day
Muriel Heslop (Collette) is a daggy over-weight girl who lives in Porpoise Spit on the Gold Coast and listens to Abba all day wishing her life was better. Muriel believes the only path to happiness is to be married and desperately desires a wedding (even more than a husband). Through a series of adventures she befriends the head-strong Rhonda (Griffiths) and learns to confront her family, her past and herself. A warm and touching journey of self discovery, with genuine Australian characters and well-timed situational comedy.
John Jarret
an Australian outback horror torture film based on backpacker murderers like Ivan Milat, or the abduction of Peter Falconio. Mick Taylor (Jarret) is an old-school bush eccentric living in the isolation of Wolf Creek in northern West Australia. It also turns out Mick Taylor is a sadistic and brutal killer, tormenting backpackers for sport. Jarret will scare the pants off you and you will never drive through remote Australian bush again. The violence is horrific, the chase is nerve-racking, Taylors deranged smile as he torments and hunts his victims is chilling. Australias answer to Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Noni Hazlehurst, Sam Neil, Lisa McCune, Martin Henderson, Susie Porter
about the drug culture in Cabramatta, Sydney and how a former heroin addicts keep getting drawn back into the scene due to lack of options and ease of social contacts. Blanchett gives a gritty and courageous performance where Weaving is just heartbreaking. A realistic look at the lies, manipulation and desperation of addicts, dealers, and the reformed who struggle to get their lives back on track.
Russell Crowe, Jack Thompson
adapted from an Australian play, this is a story about love set in Sydney, a heterosexual father is looking for the right woman while his gay son is looking for the right man. The film shows their relationships with one another and the objects of their affection as tradgedy strikes. An optimistic queer film where the father is supportive of the son being gay and none of the gay characters commit suicide, overdose, or die of AIDS – very refreshing.
Richard Roxburgh, Cate Blanchette, Frances O’Connor
Guy (Roxburgh) is plagued by memories of his former girlfriend (O’Connor) on his wedding day to Lizzie (Blanchett). A powerful thought-provoking film about what makes a successful romantic relationship. Do people marry the love of their lives or do they marry whoever is convenient when the time is right?
Alex Dimitriades, Paul Capsis
set in inner city Melbourne this film follows the troubled Ari (Dimitriades), a 19 year old Greek boy struggling with his homosexuality and his culture. Includes confrontational sex and nudity scenes, addresses police abuse of a transgendered character (Capsis). This is a groundbreaking queer film, dark, moody, and at times unpleasant – very brave performances by a talented cast – Dimitriades is a long way from Heartbreak High
Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving, Terrance Stamp, Bill Hunter
two gay men and a transsexual take their Sydney drag show to outback Australia, we follow their adventures and their outrageous outfits to dust-bowl country towns where they are embraced, admired, rejected, and attacked by different locals. A cast of eccentric characters and costumes and a soundtrack of all the necessary drag classics. This is a film about valuing your relationships and accepting yourself as well as others
Matt Day, Frances O’Connor, Radha Mitchell, Kym Gyngell
a film about sharehousing and university (long before TVs The Secret Life of Us), set at Melbourne University, we see a lesbian relationship where commitment is an issue, we see a student obsessed with a lecturer, a student gigalo, a secret admirer, and the many stresses of making friends, finding your identity and decided who to love and where to live. Sincere comedy with satisfying outcomes.
Dan Spielman, Abbie Cornish, Kerry Armstrong
a gifted Australian musician studying in London is brought home by the drug overdose of his younger sister in Melbourne where he discovers his girlfriend and others in the Melbourne club scene are involved in the deadly drugs. Insightful and innovative, and a rare peek into the mind of a modern musician and the things in life that captivate him.
Kate Winslet, Harvey Keitel, Sophie Lee
directed by Jane Campion (The Piano) this is the story of a young Australian girl Ruth (Winslet) who falls under the influence of a charismatic guru while on holiday in India. Ruth is forced to return home to Sydney due to an asthma attack where her parents employ an American exit counselor who deprograms members of religious cults (Keitel). A revealing look at how men treat women in Australian culture compared to mystical India, and a sharp commentary on the power of sexuality.
Anthony LaPaglia, Kerry Armstrong, Barabara Hershey, Geoffrey Rush, Glen Robbins, Vince Colosimo, Peter Phelps
adapted from an Australian play and set in Sydney, this film examines how fragile trust is between married couples, affairs are suspected, sexuality is questioned, and the body of a woman is found dead in the bush, her identity not revealed until the end of the film. Lantana is an Australian weed and is a metaphor for how insidious and destructive a deception can be in a relationship, hiding the most important things.
David Wenham, Anthony LaPaglia
set in Melbourne, a large corporate bank takes on a young math genius (Wenham) who insists that with funds he can fully develop a theory that predicts the movements of the stock market. Somewhat predictable but plays to the Australian culture of disliking faceless corporations like banks and always supporting the underdog, this film captures Australian attitudes and economic history.
Hugo Weaving, Tony Martin, Michael Caton
a rare Australian psychological thriller where almost the entire film takes place in a police interrogation room, with some short flashback sequences. Eddie Rodney Fleming (Weaving) is a quiet, nervous type who recently lost his job and family who is seized from his apartment and interviewed relentlessly over a stolen car that may lead to a serial killer. Edgy performances from a small cast that capture paranoia and suspense in real time.
Special mention to Claudia Karvans romantic comedies, the gender bending Dating The Enemy (1996, with Guy Pearce) and the lovely Paperback Hero (1999, with Hugh Jackman) for being as entertaining as any Hollywood film from the same genre
Special recommendation: if you enjoyed UK industrial rust-belt films like Billy Elliot, Brassed Off, or The Full Monty, I would recommend Bootmen (2000, Adam Garcia, Sophie Lee, Susie Porter) as steelworkers from Newcastle, Australia make it big as a tap-dancing troupe – based on the true story of Dein Perrys TapDogs
This blog was inspired by other similar blogs on Orble
"Australian Films" by Jason King on Salty Popcorn
"John Does 23 Favourite Aussie Films" by John Doe on JD Film Reviews
"Top Twenty Beaut Aussie Movies" by Michaelie on Flick Wit
| 126 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by Geoff Egan
Noise Fanatic
Maybe I should jump on this bandwagon and do my own Aussie post haha. It would mainly be Mad Max, Chopper and Breaker Morant. Although The Interview was excellent, really pleased to see that others liked it as well.
Now that i think about it Gallipolli would be on there too as would The Castle, The Dish and (forgive me, its a guilty sin) Ned Kelly.
Immediate Edit: Looking through those other lists and their comments there are some great flicks to choose from. Two Hands, Romper Stomper, Dark City, The Club....
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
lists are fun and it sounds like you've already got yours started!
toni collette, hugo weaving, david wenham, frances o'connor, guy pearce, rachael griffith, cate blanchette . . . i am HUGE fans of all of them . . .oh and geoffrey rush, oh and . . . look theres too many talented actors to mention, no wonder they are so successful overseas . . . ill stop this comment before i start another list! haha
if you make a list come back here and give me the link so i can look at the post!
(i think all my choices are from the 90s until today, that might be because im a young'n lol)
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Of those listed I rank The Boys and Lantana
The Interview wasn't bad in try hard Usual Suspects way, but incredible predictable.
Thanks for the reference at the bottom, appreciated
Hope you have a good weekend.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
yeah i forgot how many different kinds of Australian films there were until i read your list (and others) and realised i wouldnt put many of the same in my top 15 . . . we are really spoilt for choice in such a little industry
"The Interview" i would compare more to "Hard Candy" or "The Pledge" as in it gives the viewer mixed feelings about the alleged perpetrator and feelings of sympathy make us question if the perpetrator guilt even exists outside the mind of the accuser
i really enjoyed your list, thanks for the comment
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
How did I miss Cosi from my list??? I read this a couple of hours ago, then took my copy of Cosi to a friend's house to watch it aver a bottle of wine. I forgot how funny it is. "Go burn a cat!"
The Boys is another great one. I love most of these (as you probably know - thanks muchly for the mention) except wasn't so keen of Wolf Creek. I think my expectations were too high.
Good job!
Michaelie
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
oh isnt "Cosi" fab! yeah "go burn a cat!" haha
your list was excellent inspiration, aussie cinema is so diverse and once i read a few lists i had to jump on the blog bandwagon!
"Wolf Creek" i think i got post-traumatic-stress from watching . . . Jarrett was like the leering evil twin of every aussie bush character (or caricature), crocodile dundee gone wrong! just the vastness of the remote location was terrifying
Comment by Geoff Egan
Noise Fanatic
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
its like the time i was aked my top 5 music albums of all time . . . geez that was hard . . . super short lists are possibly more stressful than fun!
Comment by bookgirl
ooh, what about 'the year my voice broke' - all that pubescent desire.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
yes "The Year My Voice Broke" and "Flirting" were fantastic movies, so many awkward teen fumblings!
thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
Comment by Mike Wheeler
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
holy smoke is really well written, kate winslet gives a strong fiesty performance and delivers some powerful dialogue, alot of philosophy and gender studies . . . i personally love jane campion films and i particularly liked the aussie content in this one . . . it not exactly mainstream but i hope you enjoy it . . . theres plenty to analyse!
Comment by Leonard Marlborough
Racing Write
If you love Toni Collette, can you remember Spotswood? Maybe her first film? Great cast including Anthony Hopkins and Bruno Lawrence, Russel Crowe & Ben Mendehlson. Reminiscent of an old Ealing comedy.
Collette's singing in Cosi was a feature, as was David Wenham playing in 'ugly-mode'. And Colin Hay & accordian. Love it.
Do you know what has happened to the director of those two films, Mark Joffe? I knew him when he was a student and working over Summer breaks. We became good friends, but went (very) different ways. No films since The Man Who Sued God, and that was a few years ago. I was wondering if he was working on anything? (and if he is well). Nothing recent comes up when I google his name. He seems to have disappeared.
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
hmmm Mark Joffe, he does seem to have disappeared after The Man Who Sued God hey
i found this transcript from the 7:30 report in march 2002 where he talks about the struggle of the australian film industry to compete
Really Long Link
and in 2006 he was selected for a Film Victoria grant for a project called "Violet Town" from Empress Road Productions (writer: Matt Cameron, script
editor/director/producer: Mark Joffe).
contact Film Victoria 03.9660.3200 or shae.quabba @ film.vic.gov.au
or the Australian Film Commision (AFC)
Comment by Leonard Marlborough
Racing Write
I had read the 7.30 Report transcript earlier, but had missed the AFC notification & story.
So...he should have a new movie soon then? The grant seems rather modest (very small budget film??)...reminds me of Steve Martin in Bowfinger: "all films cost $2,000 to make."
I was wondering what had happened to him. A lovely man & really talented director. I didn't think that directors ever retired -they just dried up through lack of funding.
He got burnt bad in Hollywood with The Matchmaker (Janeanne...how do you spell her name...Garofolo). His worst film.
Maybe you can do a review of Violet Town it when it is released?
Comment by Morgan Bell
Science News
Deep Pencil
Business News
Movie Train
yeah i wonder what its about, i couldnt find much detail . . . i like that Steve Martin quote haha . . . i get the impression Joffe and other aussie directors like Campion and George Miller (CLICKHERE for more . . . ) etc are getting pretty pissed off at the moment about the government not offering incentives for overseas productions to be filmed here