Hey folks, Harry here with what sounds like a really really cool Australian film called CHOPPER. Minbari here was coaxed into reporting in on this one for us... and ya know what? I am left wondering... is it coming to a theater near me? or you? Let's see what we can find out, for now... here's Minbari...
Let me first start by saying I usually *hate* Aussie movies, 'The Wog Boy' being one of the worst Aus films i've seen since 'Young Einstein'..I mean comedy my ARSE ! So its with much trepidation that recieve and accept (and use) free tickets to any Aus movie, let alone one based on a true story. Having heard much about Mark Brandon "Chopper" Read on Australian TV I figured a movie about this real-life pychotic -niceguy- killer would be fun to see, after his interview a couple of years ago upon being released from prison, on a latenight tv show, where he appeared pissed as a newt and propositioned the female presenter and nearly died laughing explaining some of his more colourful murders. (the one where he tries to force this poor fellow in a cement mixer is unfortunatley not in the movie) The first 10 minutes inwhich he stabs this other prisoner in the face and neck a dozen or so times is probably the most graphically and realistically portrayed murders since - fuck - one of the many in 'MAN BITES DOG'? except with much more blood spraying. You just wouldnt believe this type of scene would evoke laughter of any kind, but when Chopper starts to cry and feel sorry for him and even goes so far as to offer him a cigarette whilst the poor guy is slipping and sliding in his own blood, the nervous laughter coming from the audience (and me) brought out some kind of shameful feeling. Here we are watching a fellow die and laughing about it. When Chopper asks each of his victims throughout the movie, just after he's shot them, whether they're 'ok mate' or ' you better lie down ' you just know you're dealing with a movie and a character like no other (ive seen that is). The performance of Eric Bana ( a popular Aus comedian/actor)as Chopper is truly astounding and on a par with Jim Carreys Andy Kaufman, if this fellow doesnt get an AFI award AT LEAST there's something wrong with award shows. HEHe did i just say that ? This is a portrayal as real as I've seen, kind of like watching a documentary where the real man is interviewed. Apparently Bana spent several days with Chopper (who now lives in Tasmania- better place as any:) and had to gain 14kg for the latter day prison scenes just before he gets out (again). This is no Shawshank Redemption or Midnight Express, there are no classic monologues or insightful narration or hosedown scenes in fact there is very little story at all. It goes like this, he's in prison for trying to kidnap a judge, he gets out (not before having someone cut off his own ears)spends some time avoiding the contract out him (shooting several people in the process), goes back to prison..thats kind of it! But I still got caught up in it and amazed at the way the violence was portrayed. In this when someone is shot in the eye, the hand goes up to the face, blood trickles out, the guy drops like a bag of shit. In the sequence where Chopper is describing this shooting to the police (he's quite offended they dont believe him and wont arrest him - 'here take this gun to forensics!') the description has the fellow flying back matrix style blood spraying, pointing out Choppers flair for *storytelling* and what happens in other action/comedies.
Well I liked it anyway...!
I just heard from an aquaintence that this is the first movie biography inwhich the main subject wasnt invited to the premiere...probably to avoid some sort of flashback rage from its real life star :)
Didnt quite work as a review did it - sorry about that !
Do see this movie any way you can!
minbari
