Crooked Earth

I saw the impressive trailer for Crooked Earth in the cinemas and had heard many different reviews.When I finally rented it I was pleasantly surprised.

The cinematography is stunning, catching many rugged but beautiful landscapes of New Zealand. The land issues thing is definitely tired but overall the film had a good mix of shoot-me-ups, drama, romance, stunts, drugs and violence, if not a little too Americanised but that's ok.

The overall cast was very good. It was refreshing to to see Temuera Morrison ("Once Were Warriors") playing a good guy for once and I thought he was pretty good at playing Wiremu, especially in comparrision to many of his other films. There were standouts from Jaime Passier-Armstrong ("Jubilee") who delivered a strong performance playing the daughter of Wiremu and from Quinton Hita (from Mai Time)who played the rugged country boy with a cool horse! I liked the guy who played the cop and Nancy Brunning ("What Becomes of the Broken Hearted") is always wonderful to watch.

I think Crooked Earth is worth seeing as its got lots of great stunts, chopper shots and theres a good mix of humour to break up the drama. An action flick that is home grown!

I was not expecting much out of this film and upon leaving the cinema was pleasantly surprised by how much I had enjoyed it. Temuera Morrison gives a performance that is in my opinion at least as good as, if not better than the one in Once Were Warriors. The musical score in the film was quixotic, not knowing exactly what type of film it was supposed to be for. The photography was good showing off the kiwi landscape. It is quite a decent attempt at trying to transpose the most american film genres The Western into NZ and it is mostly successful in doing so. At the start I was quite scared that it was just another promo film for the NZ tourism board with loads of rolling hills and sheep, but thankfully the film took a different direction. Basic plot: Chief dies, he had two sons one stayed and became a drug dealer the other left and joined the army and he comes back for the funeral after he is kicked out of the army and the younger brother who stayed wants to be chief and the older brother who would left doesn't want it. By the time the film is over the battles have been fought and their are all sorts of minor intrigues and western cliches that have been reinvigorated with the unique setting. The supporting cast was also very good with a standout being the girl who played tems daughter. Overall it is the best Kiwi film since Once Were Warriors and is a thoroughly enjoyable one also.

"Crooked Earth" is a powerfully engaging movie that delves into controversial, yet highly important issues. These issues include- land disputes, cultural oppression and misunderstanding, family dynamics, and generational differences. Whilst such issues may be unsettling to some viewers, they are a timely reminder of the tensions that exist in this world and if left unchecked, they have the potential to destroy us all (whether it be physically, spiritually or emotionally). Moreover, the material covered in "Crooked Earth" is highly universal, and symbolises the struggle that many groups experience in this world.

Essentially, "Crooked Earth" focuses on the strained relationship between two Maori brothers- Will (Temuera Morrison) has just returned from army duties in East Timor and is somewhat reluctant to face the traditions and responsibilities associated with the Maori culture. Alternatively, Carl (Lawerence Makaore) is embittered by the way Maori are treated in New Zealand, and strongly advocates the need for Maori to stand up for their rights. Both men are entangled in a conflict over the treatment of tribal land (not to mention their ideological differences), and this ultimately leads to the inevitable 'showdown'.

A notable feature of "Crooked Earth" is the stunning cinematography. The rural landscape shots are truly breathtaking, and it clearly illustrates the strong connection between the Maori and the land. The performances in the movie are also worthy of praise, with Temuera Morrison and Lawerence Makaore portraying the troubled brothers with sincerity and control. Probably the only downfall is the inclusion of the 'Drug-Lord/ Henchman' character. Not only does he look out of place in the movie, he only serves to detract from the main issues at hand.

At times, it seems as if "Crooked Earth" tries to cover more territory than it actually can. This leads to some issues not being as well developed as they could be. For instance, we never seem to get to the heart of the relationship between Will and his daughter.

In all, I find "Crooked Earth" to be a beautifully sad story that raises many important issues. It is highly thought-provoking movie, and is therefore open to many interpretations.

Highly recommended.

Although important in highlighting cultural divides still prevalent in New Zealand, I couldn't help but feel this drew too much from Hollywood Westerns. So many of the the storylines and sub-plots have all been done before, albeit in different settings.

Crooked Earth has a lot of depth to it. Featuring one main storyline, but with multiple undertones. Different characters taking us to the same destination via their own personal journeys.

Temuera Morrison plays a typically strong and defined character. Showing bursts of power like only he can. Being well supported by a variety of actors, each with their own presence on screen.

Crooked Earth is another fine New Zealand movie. Beautifully filmed but still raw. The scripts sound real, giving the actors believability and edge. The story touches nerves that certainly run deep.

If you are a fan of Temuera Morrison, put Crooked Earth down at the top of your list. Up there with Once Were Warriors and What Becomes of the Broken Hearted. Three great movies featuring a powerful and proud New Zealand actor.