A Song of Good

Watched this on DVD with my boyfriend the other night not expecting much as most kiwi films suck and we where both really affected by it, even had big stupid argument after watching it. He didn't get some of the stuff I did but still thought it was great as I did. I never knew where this was going and was squirming all the way through and that last scene OMG!!! One of the best last scenes I've ever seen in a kiwi film, maybe the best ever. I don't know what you'd call it guess a drama but touches of comedy even horror somehow definitely a drama i guess. I give it 8/10 as its not 10 a classic of film history no kiwi films are or a great film like Once where Warriors/ Goodbye Pork Pie, Heavenly Creatures/Braindead but its deinately one of the best kiwi films I've seen if not top ten then for sure top twenty. Read some of the comments and yea wonder why it didn't get cinema release or more promotion in NZ while there's been a stream of lame mediocre crap coming out last decade and more to come I'm sure. Gunna watch directors other film now called Christmas, meant to be pretty hard out but heard its a classic kiwi film. oh yea an the acting was great, the main guy playing Gary was amazing, the fastfood joint manager WTF! sic others cool but these where my favs

This a rare little film i picked up from my DVD shop on the recommendation of a girlfriend who saw it at the NZ International film Festival and couldn't stop raving about it

I'd heard complaints and negative responses to it as well, it definitely seems to polarise

In terms of performance it was very strong especially for a New Zealand film

And I thought the script was brilliant

However I found the shifts in tone a little strange at times especially the humour and irony but enjoyed and went with it nevertheless and I feel in the long run that it helped balance a grim journey

Its unfortunate that this film didn't get a cinema release, maybe its too dark? Pushes too many buttons?

I don't know and can only speculate as in terms of quality it is a much stronger film than most of the NZ features to play in cinemas here in the last ten years or so

Its a real shame as its a potentially great platform to stimulate discussion around some tough issues

And this country needs to face up to these issues that are ripe in our so called paradise, our little 'godzone'

i'm interested to now what others think now

special - tears and hope

Simply put this film is a gem and hopefully will find a deservingly wide audience. I found it tough at times but was involved for the whole film and surprisingly found myself rooting for the main character Gary (wicked performance by Gareth Reeves) even though he did something that really disgusted and appalled me. i couldn't stop watching... In fact I thought that all the performances where great. I loved Ian Mune as Gary's dad and the little actor who plays Laughlin Gary's nephew. Rarely for a kiwi film there is a sophistication and irony at work in the film, layers of ideas and social comment interwoven in the scenario. Interested to see where the director goes with his next feature. Great.

This could've been a good movie. The ideas are there, it's just the execution that's abysmal. Everything about it seemed clumsy and unmotivated, especially the "horrible crime" that came out of nowhere and left an incredibly sour taste in my mouth.

The main character seems very stereotypical, reminding me of the amazingly lame drug education dramas that would be put on at high school. He uses forced lingo and is generally unconvincing. As for his crime, he seems too nervous when making the break in to have the capacity to commit it, let alone commit it so quickly.

Perhaps if some real effort had been put into character development there may have been something interesting here, but instead it remains an incompetent, shallow grab at edginess.

Wow! I was really caught offguard as I didn't expect this movie to be so moving and well told as it hadnt gotten cinema release here in NZ. The performances and direction where excellent and loved the soundtrack. Gritty and Super tense. That pinnacle moment of the main crime is fast and unexpected making me angry, confused and shocked. Gary's whole life is so awful and so real that I can't help feel for him and his terrible situations and be touched by the simplest achievements amongst the scourge surrounding him. A great, sad little kiwi drama that will rival any films in this genre, anywhere in the world. hopefully the film will get out there now! It deserves to be seen by all! I will be telling my friends and family to see it that is for sure.