Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Movie review – “Mad Bastards” (2011) **1/2

Full of authenticity – the great faces, a non professional cast who look like they’ve been through some of the battles that the film depicts (something confirmed at the end when they talk to camera): the burly, beefy man out of gaol, full of torment and anger; the chubby, hard but decent cop (a terrific performance, I hope he gets lots of work); the angry, wild victim of domestic violence; the old codger constantly asking for a cigarette. The outburst of violence are very well handled. But it’s not really effective as a drama – it’s too long, there’s not enough story, too many scenes of staring into the distance, too much undeveloped. For instance, they set up this idea of some aboriginal men having a men's group – but there’s just scenes of them sitting around not talking. (Until the end). Once is funny but it gets frustrating. I think it needed a bit of meat and potatoes story in there – a secret about something that happened in the past, say. Really good music (Alex Lloyd as a cameo – he’s so chubby).

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