Now that we know Baz Luhrmann’s lurid epic Australia is complete balls, it is a perfect time to look at some more nigh-on forgotten Aussie flicks that definitely deserve your attention and clearly illustrate how we can produce great films without the dubious ‘help’ of Hollywood.
Body Melt (1993)
Directed by Philip Brophy
A veritable who’s who of Aussie TV actors including Andrew Daddo, Lisa McCune, Brett Climo, Ian ‘Harold Bishop’ Smith, Gerard Kennedy and Matthew Newton to name a few, Body Melt is a crazy, gooey trip that must be taken at least once.
The name says it all as residents of a sleepy suburb are unwittingly used as test subjects for a new bodybuilding drug that causes rapid body decomposition and painful death. A perfect companion for Peter Jackson’s Braindead and Bad Taste.
Dogs In Space (1987)
Directed by Richard Lowenstein
Richard Lowenstein’s tribute to the Melbourne underground music scene of the late 70s is a real gem, if you can get past Michael Hutchence’s somewhat irritating portrayal of a selfish junkie/wannabe rock star. Essentially a series of vignettes chronicling the lives of a group of young punks high on life and other substances, Dogs in Space perfectly encapsulates the folly of youth and how nothing really lasts forever. While it has certain similarities to Lowenstein’ later work on He Died with a Felafel in His Hand, Dog in Space is arguably the superior of the two and boasts a killer soundtrack to boot.
Blackfellas (1993)
Directed by James Ricketson
Based on the novel Day of the Dog by Archie Weller, this movie has a special place in my heart as it was partly filmed in a rundown Maylands share house I lived in for a short time during my slovenly student days. The story revolves around a young aboriginal man who tries to walk the straight and narrow after being released from prison, only to fall back into old habits, leading to tragedy. A somewhat flawed yet admirable attempt at portraying the inherent racism present in our justice system.
The Magician (2005)
Directed by Scott Ryan
A regular one-man show, The Magician marks Scott Ryan’s stunning debut as writer, actor and director. The Magician is a clever mockumentary focusing on a day in the life of a Melbourne hitman, brimming with wickedly funny dialogue and a character who is as endearing and dangerous as Eric Bana’s Chopper Read. It will be very interesting to see what the talented Ryan does next.
The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith (1978)
Directed by Fred Schepisi
Based on the novel by Thomas Keneally, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith is an important and at times confronting look at Australian race relations and the huge divide between black and white that still sadly exists today. Based loosely on the real-life exploits of aboriginal bushranger Jimmy Governor, Tom E. Lewis gives a towering performance as a man pushed to his limits to the point where he exacts violent revenge on those who wronged him.