Breaker Morant (1980)

This film is always mentioned when Aussie classics are compiled so it's about bloody time I saw it. Based on true events during the Boer War, Edward Woodward excels as Harry 'Breaker' Morant, a lieutenant who along with two others in his command are charged with the murder of Boer prisoners. The hypocrisies and challenges of war are exposed during the tense trial by the soldier's defence, a rampaging Jack Thompson. Brian Brown is at his cheeky best and Australian icon Charles 'Bud' Tingwell is a welcome sight as the malevolent judge. Prolific director Bruce Beresford has an impressive resume and this must sit somewhere near the top of his achievements.

An excellent film by many standards, it begs questions that are perhaps unanswerable. I tried, and failed. Now...who else remembers Woodward in that television gem 'The Equaliser'?

4/5

El Topo (1970)

Where to begin with 'El Topo'? My first foray into the bizarro world of director Alejandro Jodorowsky left me slack jawed at times and on the verge of bolting from the room at others. Jodorowsky plays the lead character El Topo, which translates to 'The Mole'. Clad in black and with his naked son accompanying him on horse they both witness and commit scenes of carnage. This is a bloody movie, you will see a lot of blood, vast pools of blood, oozing and spraying in all bloody directions.

The traditional 7th birthday speech

El Topo soon sets out on a quest to kill four masters who reside in the depths of the desert. Encouraged by a flappy female whose company he traded for his son, El Topo tracks these bizarre characters down and challenges each of them. These unique chaps each symbolise one of the universe's religions and El Topo wants to be greater than them all. Metaphors appear to be rife throughout this chaotic journey, while some are gratuitous I gather from the themes that there may be more buried within the shattering images. At least they were buried to me, or perhaps Jodorowsky is just intentionally fucking with our heads. Scenes of disemboweled animals, mass hangings, rape, disfigurement, blood soaked walls are around every corner. Memorable characters and wildly inventive scenes are dotted amongst all this decay, so hang in there kid. After being peppered with bullets El Topo awakens in a cave, he has been transformed into a deity by a community of inbred outcasts. Shunning his former life of hate he pledges to free the cave dwellers by digging them free. Unfortunately all that awaits them is a town whose inhabitants are rendered despicable by their very own deity, whatever it is. Are you in yet?




This wasn't an easy film to watch on several levels. Horrible and confusing scenes while on one hand can be riveting on the other make me want to press 'stop' on my laboured DVD player. I've seen plenty of whacked out shit that matches this but a cowboys mystical journey to self discovery just about had me walking out and heading for the nearest saloon to try and forget all about it. In saying all that I'm glad I've experienced it and now feel compelled to see Jodorowsky's 'Holy Mountain' (1973). Holy shit.
2.5/5

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Set in the small Texas town of Anarene, Peter Bogdanovich directed this story about a collection of characters foraging through the years 1951-52. It's primary focus is the young leads Sonny (Timothy Bottoms),  Duane (Jeff Bridges) and Jacy (a fledgling Cybil Sheppard). They've just finished high school and been thrust out into the world of adults and must learn to negotiate being treated as such. The town appears to offer little more than a bleak, monotonous future in the barren and dusty environment. 

There are some great performances apart from the 3 leads. Ben Johnson as Sam the Lion is fantastic as the rock of many of the townsfolk. Ellen Burstyn is very believable as the 'past her prime' former town beauty and oddball Randy Quaid in his first film role as a serial pest is classic.

It's shot in black and white which is rare for a major film of this time. It looks great and adds to the sense of desolation and nostalgia.

The film was based on a book written by Larry McMurty, he has also written two others that follow on from the original. 'Texasville' is the second in the series and was also made into a film in 1990 by the same team of Bogdanovich directing and the three main cast reappearing. The sequel received fairly bland reviews, it picks up 33 years later and features the old team floundering in middle age. If I stumble upon it I suppose I'll give it a spin, it's my duty. The third book is called 'Duanes Depressed' and has not be adapted to film, perhaps because of the second films faltering. Now that Bogdanovich has finished his duties appearing as Elliot in the Sopranos, I think he should give it a dig. 

This is a really good American coming-of-age story. The fun and playful tones are contrasted  by the distressing and all too real events. Most people will have experienced their own similar trials and myself hailing from a country town of sorts (not quite as depressing as this one but close in my opinion) felt a certain twinge of recognition. This is another of those films I look forward to seeing again and would expect to take more away from subsequent viewings. You should watch it at least once though man. Go on.
3.5/5