The Whistleblower

Convoluted storyline, many scenes just didn't make sense, obvious use of cliches, etc.

It was a fantastic movie. I was a little skeptical at first but as it unfolded I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it is a great film. A lot of twists and turns and well choreographed drama and action scenes made the movie excellent.

The Whistleblower is an Australian-Chinese coproduction that has been given limited international release. This conspiracy thriller is centered on an Australian mining company that tries to cover up a deadly accident in Malawi as an earthquake. An ambitious, arrogant and dynamic Chinese expatriate comes too close to the truth and his execution is staged as a suicide. His colleague and concurrent starts investigating and is helped by a former lover who faked her own death to start a new life in Australia. Soon enough, the duo faces family issues, media attention and menaces from the influential company as they try to work out a plan to let the world know the truth.

This dynamic thriller convinces on several levels. The locations in Australia, China and Malawi are truly diversified and show the viewers something different than the usual tourist hotspots. The camera work is flawless and the sound effects work very well in a movie theatre as well. The few actions scenes are refreshingly realistic. The movie gets more and more dramatic and tense as it ends on a high note.

There are also a few elements that could be improved. The plot is quite predictable which lessens the tension. The actors and actresses don't leave lasting impressions and deliver their lines like routine jobs most of the time. The two protagonists are difficult to empathize with as we have to deal with an absent family father who cheats on his wife and a woman who faked her own death, lied on many occasions and is only interested in material prosperity.

Still, the film's locations, pace and overall quality make for an entertaining experience. One has to point out that the movie draws a flawed portrait of society which offers some welcome food for thought. There are no good guys here, only characters who aren't as terrible as others. If you like investigative thrillers with a realistic touch, you can certainly watch this movie without any regrets. It's on the same level as most contemporary Hollywood films of the same type and deserves its international release.

I was a bit skeptic regarding this movie as it was an Australian production. I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed this movie thoroughly. It is based in the Western District of Victoria - The great Ocean Road. In particular, the very touristy 12 Apostles located within the vast National Park. Here, there is currently off shore gas exploration being undertaken as well as the debate of having an eco friendly small hotel being built near the 12 Apostles. The imagery of the hotel in the movie is a bit far fetched for those who dont know the area. Those that do, can easily pick out the real images of the area in the movie and the superimposed digitally inserted images. Firstly, palm trees growing at the end of the sand stone cliffs, would not happen and if that hotel was built on the edge of the cliff, it would collapse. The leading ladys scarf would fly away from all the wind and the fire lights on that bridge over the ocean, which would never be allowed to be built over the water, wouldn't last in that wind. I could go on, but you get the picture. Its a great movie for all to watch and Im surprised it hasn't been given more promotion. Its a job well done by both Chinese and Australian individuals. Thank you for this production as it will make more tourists want to come to the area, but will be upset to find that that hotel doesn't exist.

This lady, Tang Wei, takes every film she's in up a few notches just by her being in it. She's got a James Dean-level charisma. Old school Hollywood star vibes.

The movie is well filmed, and I'm guessing on a budget ... but they've done well polishing it.

Edits move the story quickly. Plot is foreign/business international intrigue. The rest of the cast, though sometimes cast unexpectedly, does well picking this up overall. Check this out. It streams on the free apps (Tubi, Plex, etc). I know I already said it, but lots of cool scenery mixed in. Kind of like "RRR". Interesting stuff non-hollywood.