Movie review - "The Odd Angry Shot" (1979) ***1/2

 Tom Jeffrey directed two films that did poorly at the box office then made this which was a hit so it's weird this was the last film he directed (he produced some others). This is his best movie, a lovely, moving account of SAS troops in Vietnam. It concentrates on the banter and jokes - there's a lot of comic actors in it - but doesn't ignore the power of death. This feels real.

The set design looks terrific. The cast is very strong though some look too old/fat/rich to be in the SAS - especially Graham Kennedy who is otherwise very good (his laconic presence feels spot on... it's just his size). Kennedy's character makes a lot of homophobic cracks. I had a bit of trouble buying Graeme Blundell too - nothing against him as an actor he's very good he just felt a little too old and La Mama.

Everyone is in this film - Bryan Brown, Richard Moir, John Hargreaves, Graham Rous, Frankie J. Holden, John Jarratt, Max cullen, Grant Page, Ray Meagher, Roger Newcombe (an actor who plays one of the Americans), Tim Page (bald dude from Young Doctors), Tony Barry. They look more like soldier types. Brian Wenzel is in it too.

My favourite bit was Kennedy telling Cullen to f*ck off for being a sack of sh*t - that was hilarious and felt very real. There's other tremendous sequences like the scorpion fight that lead to a brawl.

It's well produced, being focused on the base and in the jungle. Bryan Brown's mine injury is an effective cut - one minute laughing then the next being on the ground.

I wasn't wild about the music but this is  a very good film.

Movie review - "The Removalists" (1975) ***1/2

 This must have been incredible to watch on stage back in the day - Aussie society with its knockabout ockers smacking each other around, the verbal jousting, the machoness. What a writer.

This film is a worth encapsulation of the play. It's basically a filmed play but quite well done, with a superb cast. Everyone is perfect: Peter Cummins as the blustering cop, John Hargreaves as the callow newbie, Jackie Weaver as the dim sister, Kate Fitzpatrick as her wealthy sister, Chris Haywood as the supremely neutral removalist who only gets wound up when people say moving things are easy, Martin Harris as the vile husband.

The drama ebbs and flows, explodes and subsides. It's got Williamson flaws that we would see time and time again - both women just Want It - but the depiction of men are perfect: the little Hitler cop, the gangly youth, the ocker stud. The set is quite ugly. Tom Jeffrey generally directs well. There's some awkward bits like a close up of Jacki Weaver's boobs when she arrives.

Random observation - I wonder if this was even if subconsciously influenced by A Streetcar Named Desire... if Blanche married someone straight, this could be her coming to fetch Stella from Stanley's place.

Movie review - "Inherit the Wind" by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Lee

 Depressingly still relevant - the story of the Scopes Monkey Trial with science struggling against lunatic religious beliefs. It's got two great star parts for older men, and an annoying Greek chorus of a cynical journo: this device was over used in the 1950s.  People who whinge the real case wasn't like this miss the point. Very entertaining. Ideal school play fodder. Solid construction complete with Brady collapsing and dying.

Play review - "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams

 When I read this at high school I admit I used to identify with Stanley Kowalski - the penny didn't drop he raped Blanche at the end, and if he hit Stella well he said sorry didn't he, and he was trying to figure out why Blanche was lying. I'm not proud of that fact, just being honest.

As time goes on you can see that wife beating Stanley isn't exactly admirable, though Blanche like Williams is still attracted to him. They are a great mismatched couple, Stanley and Blanche, with Mitch and Stella providing counter balance.

Re reading it, it's so wonderfully theatrical - the noise and bustle of the neughbourhood, the sounds of the poker game, the monologues, the memory.  It's beautifully structured and has good old fashioned story telling at its core, with basic mysteries: why is Blanche here? What is her secret?

It's been much mocked and sent up but the work still has basic power. And it's rich because both Blanche and Stanley are right and wrong.

Movie review - "Heaven Tonight" (1990) ***

 Probably Frank Howson's best film - a terrific central situation with John Waters perfectly cast as an aging rock start determined for one last comeback, only to discover that his son (Guy Pearce) is having more success in the biz. The subplots are well integrated - Kim Gyngell as an old bandmate of Waters with a major drug problem, Sean Scully as another old bandmate who has moved into executive territory, Rebecca Gilling as Waters' wife. It probably lacks a female love interest for Pearce's character - I sense that would have dramatic possibilities (say an assistant/colleague of Scully, or a dealer for Gyngell). 

The music lets this down. I love Howson's passion for music and appreciate he's had a long career, but the songs he writes are very middle of the road. I know taste is subjective but would point out that nothing he's written as been a sizeable hit. Stronger songs would've worked wonders. (This actually would make a good musical.)

I wish they'd make Waters' character a little more likable. He didn't have to hug kittens but maybe show some more warmth to Rebecca Gilling - sing her a song or something - and not hit her when he's upset.

But it's easily the most realised film Howson made (at least that I've seen... it definitely is from his first six.)

Nice support cast too - people like Edward Hepple, Reg Evans, Bruce Venables, Nico Lathouris, the guy from the Empty Pockets.

Play review - "Dark at the Top of the Stairs" by William Inge

 Probably the least remembered of Inge's stage hits even though it too was made into a movie and the original stage production was directed by Elia Kazan. The title indicates a horror movie but this is a family drama, belonging to the universe of Splendor in the Grass, set in the 1920s Oklahoma about a family headed by a woman married to a travelling salesman. He talks a good game, cheats on her and hits her in a fight but is forgiven because that was the way then. Some moving stuff about the passing of time. A beautiful 17 year old boy appears then later turns out to have killed himself because of some anti Semitic taunts at which point I admit I thought "oh come on, Inge". It's fine.

Movie review - "Hunting" (1990) ** (warning: spoilers)

 Frank Howson changes genres by coming up with a thriller, an erotic thriller I think it's meant to be, which is a good idea. Photography is stylish as always in his films - the ones at this stage anyway. Kerry Armstrong is ideal in the lead - she's gorgeous, has a naive look perfect for her character. (Is that her taking the nude shower or a body double? And in the bum showing sex scenes?)

John Savage isn't idea - maybe in real life he's number one ladies' man but on film he's got crazy eyes and he and Armstrong have nil chemistry. Really his part should've been played by Guy Pearce who plays Savage's sidekick. I think the lack of chemistry is to do with Savage because later on he roots Rebecca Rigg and that's flat too.

Armstrong has this dead beat husband who comes across as a creep, but is works for the story because you don't blame her for cheating. When Pearce has him killed it's almost a relief.

The plotting is a bit iffy... why not use Savage's skullduggery a bit more? A lot of it feels as though it could've been utlised more - the character of Pearce, Armstrong's boss Rhys McConniche, Rebecca Rigg.  This was typical of Howson scripts they always needed another draft... they had all the characters they needed they just needed to use those characters more.

The rape scene is unpleasant but does have dramatic weight. Memorable final shot. Armstrong is very good. These films could've been little gems - they always fall short but they had potential.