One of the several flops from the Macquarie Film Group though the idea is strong and the cast excellent - Eric Bana, Dave O'Neill and Stephen Curry discover a nugget on the weekend and wonder what to do with it. But they might have checked that Bill Bennett struggles to make commercial films. His strengths are authenticity and when motived by outrage at something. I'm not sure he has a sense of humour, or much of one.
Every now and then this slipped into a groove, of being a fable, and seemed to work. I like the last third.
The cast is very Melbourne - in addition to the stars there's Peter Moon and Vince Colosimo.
I think Bennett missed a beat not having a romance - everyone is partnered up. Someone should have fallen in love.
Mudgee looks very pretty and there is affection for country people not often found in Australian films which are traditionally classist. I can see why this didn't do well at the box office but can also see why it's lingered after - it goes down easy, has charm.
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