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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 18 August 2003

Writer/director Tony McNamara created the strangely named Placid Lake but had difficulty in finding an actor who was quirky enough for the role.  Musician Ben Lee grabbed his attention and the chemistry with co-star Rose Byrne landed him the part.  The term “singer turned actor” has become somewhat of a cliché in the wake of Eminem and Jennifer Lopez but McNamara bypassed his initial self doubts and made an inspired decision.  Lee is simply superb in his first acting role.  Girlfriend Claire Danes (Romeo & Juliet) was on set for much of the eight week shoot and would have been a valuable resource of information to him.

Placid Lake (Lee) is an eccentric teenager raised by two hippie parents – Sylvia (Richardson) and Doug (McDonald).  His intelligence, mixed with sarcasm, sees him ostracised and continually picked on at school.  He’s the male equivalent of Thora Birch in Ghost World.  His best friend and sole confidant is a girl he has known almost all his life, Gemma (Byrne).  About to finish their final year of school, Placid talks of back-packing overseas whilst Gemma looks to follow her father’s wishes of studying science.

What develops is an educated look at the pressures teens face in leaving school and McNamara extends the material to make some insightful commentary on today’s corporate society.  Placid decides that it’s time for conformity.  There’s no point being part of the world’s rebellious minority and so he applies and accepts a junior position at a large insurance company.  A nine-to-five desk job is the last thing you’d expect from Placid but he’s does it because he thinks it’s what the world expects from him.  He’s taken a page from Gemma’s book.

Conversely, Gemma starts to lose her way.  The pressures of her father to achieve excellent results have put her on edge.  After years of being the “good girl”, she’s looking to rebel and live life for a change.  She’s taken a page from Placid’s book.

They both learn much from their transformations with Placid providing much of the film’s comedy inside the insurance company.  He knows how to play the game and mocks the system by bullshitting his way up the corporate ladder.  It’s not as hard as he thought to “win friends and influence people”.  A powerfully depressing speech by his boss at seminar tells Placid all he needs to know about the path he has chosen.  It’s the film’s defining moment.

There have been some wonderful Australian released in 2003 and this is the best of the bunch.  I’d go so far to say it’s one of our best ever.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 11 August 2003

Back in 1999, I marked American Pie with a B.  Two years later, I graded American Pie 2 a B+.  Now, I’m awarding an A- to the final instalment of the beloved series, American Pie: The Wedding.  This isn’t to say the films have gotten progressively better.  What I do say is that over time, I’ve developed a greater appreciation for these characters and writer Adam Herz’s distinctive comedy.

The title speaks for itself – this story revolves around a wedding.  Well actually, the film revolves around Stifler.  Since the original film (his screen debut), Sean William Scott has become an icon for his generation and his role in this last film is bigger than any other cast member.  I couldn’t quite understand why he was so despised by his “friends” at the start of American Pie: The Wedding (he was left off the wedding invitation list) but you know that it’ll all work out in the end.

Jason Biggs is another actor who deserves praise for his work both on and off the screen.  The label - “the guy who fucked the pie” - could easily have left a stigma that would impede his career.  Many casting agents saw him as a one-hit wonder.  Those doubters will soon be silenced with acclaimed directors Woody Allen and Kevin Smith (Clerks) selecting him to appear in their upcoming releases.  If anyone has seen Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back (in which he plays himself) or seen a TV interview, you’ll know he doesn’t care what people think about his entrance into Hollywood and is the first person to laugh at himself.

Not everyone returned for the third film.  Chris Klein (as Oz), Tara Reid (as Vicky), Mena Suvari (as Heather), Natasha Lyone (as Jessica) and Shannon Elizabeth (as Nadia) are not seen here.  All were rumoured to have been asked but turned down the opportunity.  In all honesty, the film loses very little from their lack of appearance.  It’s also the third different director of the series but the key, in my opinion, is keeping original writer Adam Herz who knows the heart of the story better than anyone.

With Jim (Biggs) and Michelle (Hannigan) getting ready to tie the knot, the fun begins.  All Stifler (Thomas) can think about is a bachelor party and hot bridesmaids.  Paul (Thomas) and Kevin (Nicholas) stand by Jim and help plan proceedings as the joint “best man”.  The parents from both sides of the wedding party find themselves part of crazy misadventures to keep the event running smoothly.

No other film this year has generated such a physical response from the audience.  People were roaring with laughing, cringing with horror and generally wriggling all over the place at some of the jokes.  These jokes are never overplayed – it may be toilet humour but director Jesse Dylan as the impeccable sense of timing and knows exactly when to move on to the next scene.

For sure, this will be the last in the American Pie series.  It’s been a fun ride and these films will have a permanent place in DVD collections across the world.  As I’ve said before – they have both humour and heart.  When you think about it, few films have this valuable combination.

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Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 August 2003

I do have sympathy for McDonalds since their successes have made them an easy target.  Like Microsoft, the fact that they have overly excelled in their business has left them open for bad press.  However, I do see the negatives that arise from such monopolistic competition and accordingly, I really did enjoy watching the new Australian film, Take Away.

Tony (Colosimo) and Trev (Curry) run two take away shops on the same block.  Tony is a man of class.  He motivates himself with Anthony Robbins tapes, prides himself on his marketing and service ability, and entices customers with daily fish specials.  Trev is the exact opposite.  His store is filthy and his appearance leaves much to be desired but he’s still got the best burgers in town and the people still keep coming in.  Tony and Trev compete friendly with each other but they’re soon to become allies when a much bigger player moves in.

Opening their latest chain on the empty block next door is Burgies.  The store has the all the characteristics of McDonalds – the soggy fries, the 10-year-old staff, the cute jingles.  At a community meeting, the Burgies manager proclaims his delight in that his company donates money to junior sport and has a centre to care for sick children.

Within days of opening, Tony and Trev see their businesses faltering.  They are no match for the marketing juggernaut and their anger is growing.  The last straw comes when Burgies steals Trev’s idea of “beef nuggets”.  For some reason, they didn’t try his idea of “dim sim on a stick”.  Still, it’s all about survival and in this David and Goliath comedy, we know who’s going to come off best.

The jokes weaken in the final half hour of the film which indicates there wasn’t enough material to pull the story off.  The alluring Rose Byrne (Two Hands) is wasted in a role which should have been bigger given her talent.  In what must be a record though, Take Away marks the fourth time I have seen her in five weeks.  She’s been busy with I Capture The Castle, The Rage In Placid Lake and The Night We Called It A Day currently in cinemas.  Another supporting actor to watch in the future is Nathan Phillips.  He plays Trev’s assistant in Take Away and he’s already been cast in a string of upcoming films following his starring debut in last year’s Australian Rules.

You probably don’t realise it but July through September each year is always the season for seeing good Australian films.  Their release is timed so that they are fresh in the minds of members when casting their votes for the Australian Film Industry Awards (announced in November).  Not since 2000 have we had such an exciting crop of Australian releases and with so many  in major cinemas at the moment, take the time to support our own industry.  You’ll be surprised.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 04 August 2003

Paris (Peet) is looking to escape the lights of Vegas and as the sun sets, she drives along the same highway in her convertible.  Fumbling in the backseat for something from her luggage, a few items of clothing spill onto the road.

Fresh from walking off the set of her last movie, B-grade actress Caroline Suzanne (Rebecca De Mornay) is on the road with her driver Ed (Cusack).  When her mobile phone battery goes dead, she demands Ed grab a fresh battery from her handbag.  He takes his eyes off the slippery road for just a split and strikes a woman at high speed.  Things are coming together…

Still in shock and full of remorse, Ed can find no immediate way to help the badly injured Alice.  No mobile phones are working so they all drive in search of help.  They find a run-down motel run by Larry (Hawkes) but the phone lines there are down also.

Leaving George at the motel to care for Alice, Ed gets directions to the nearest hospital and sets off to find medical assistance.  On the way, he comes across Paris, whose car has crashed into, and knocked down, a telephone pole.  After rescuing her from the driving rain, Paris tells Ed the road has flooded up ahead and there’s no way through.  Ed continues on regardless and his car becomes bogged.

Picking them up are a young married couple, Lou (William Lee Scott) and Ginny (DuVall), who inform them that the road behind has also been washed over by the flash storm.  The only option is to retreat back to the hotel and wait out the night.

As the guests check into their room, a police officer (Liotta) pulls up with a man in chains (Busey).  He’s transferring the inmate between prisons but has also been left stranded.  He handcuffs the prisoner to some steel pipes in his motel bedroom before offering assistance to the injured Alice.

There’s no coincidence in these characters coming together.  One by one they are slain (most in brutal fashion) and fingers are being pointed.  Suspicions fill each of their minds but the disturbing atmosphere has clouded their thoughts and judgements.  Who is this killer and why is this happening?

The answer to these questions are surprisingly complex.  You wouldn’t think so judging from the standard trailer but there’s more to this film than you’d expect.  An hour after leaving the cinema, I’m none the wiser as to whether the pieces do fit together but thanks to the power of the internet I can soon check the thoughts of other equally confused viewers.

There’s a funny anecdote doing the rounds at the moment that in almost every movie in which he appears, John Cusack is rained upon.  The rain machines were in full force here as it buckets down non-stop for the entire movie – it provides a good setting.  Cusack is the star performer of the large cast but credit also to Amanda Peet (The Whole Nine Yards) in a role that continues her rise through Hollywood.

The conclusion is rushed but I’m willing to forgive writer Michael Cooney because there are so many positive aspects to his screenplay.  There are sudden twists (as you’d expect) but in a pleasant change, they are supported by a plausible story (as you wouldn’t expect).  How easy it can be to mistake one’s true “identity”.

Details

Written by Matthew Toomey

Created: 13 August 2003

Set in New York 1962, Down With Love even looks like it was filmed in the 60s.  The film is a tribute to the romantic comedies of that era which I’m sure was the quality which attracted big-name actors Renee Zellweger (Chicago) and Ewan McGregor (Trainspotting) to the project.

Renee is Barbara Novak, a writer.  Her first book, Down With Love, has rocketed to the top of the best-seller list and women all over the world are reading it with keen interest.  With women frequently overlooked in the workplace, Novak’s book teaches women how not to let men manipulate them and by withholding love, they can have any man at their mercy.

Ewan is Catcher Block, a journalist.  Before the book’s release, he was asked to write a feature article on Novak but having not met her, he passed on the chance thinking her to be some old “spinster”.  When Novak throws in a sly remark ridiculing Block during an appearance on The Ed Sullvian Show, he’s not happy.  Further, all the women around town he sleeps with are giving him the cold shoulder thanks to advice in Novak’s book.  It’s time to get even.

As the two have never met, Catcher poses as Zip Martin, an astronaut with a bachelor pad in New York.  He begins his quest to woo Barbara and have her fall in love.  All goes to plan but Catcher too finds himself smitten with Barbara.  Both though have tricks up their sleeve and the question as to who has the upper hand remains open until the very end.

It’s a sweet film which I’m sure will attract ten female patrons for every one male.  Zellweger is ideal for the role with her high-pitched cutesy-poo voice.  She is asked to extend her ability as an actress with several long monologues and she meets the challenge.  McGregor isn’t as strong with more laughs coming from his boss, played by Frasier’s David Hyde Pierce.  There’s also a cameo from Tony Randall but I thought his role would have been much bigger considering his stature.

You can tell the costume designers and set decorators have had fun.  There’s a wild mix of colours on every outfit and in every location.  You’d think we were back in the era when colour movies were first made – when colours were exploited to dazzle the audience.  Hopefully the talented crew responsible for these attributes aren’t overlooked come the next award season.

I took pleasure in the way the story ended with its quick little twist.  Whilst the romance won’t move many patrons (especially men), you have to acknowledge the film’s style and the effort made to create something fresh.  Up with Down With Love.