I minded this less the second time. The sex comedy stuff feels shoe horned in but at least it's lively. And there's something endearing about how nakedly the film tries to be commercial.
The odd structure comes from the book. Normally we stick with a detective the whole way and find out what he or she finds out. But here Malone's only in half the movie. The rest is flashbacks.
There's a little bit of a connection between Malone and Helga. I think it should have been a proper relationship - they dated. There's no Lisa, Malone is a stud.
The characters aren't that memorable - Helga is a minx, a Minister is stuffy, his wife is a dragon, a killer is sleazy.
There are some visual flourishes - an intercut sex scene a la Don't Look Now, the murder of Morris in the bowels of the opera house. I think the piece needed more. Some of the sets are ugly though the Sydney Harbour locations are pleasing.
I've read Cleary's script - it had Lisa in it but not his parents. Malone was more active. I think it needed really classy direction to work - or stars in support parts. The acting isn't good. I think I blame director Terry Ohlsson. Imagine what say Bruce Beresford could have done with this.
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