Blinder

I am not going to enjoy panning this movie. I am an Aussie rules fanatic with deep family connections to the game and I follow North Melbourne passionately. I have always wanted great movies about Australian Football to showcase to the world. A movie about Tom Wills should really be on screen Australia's radar. Instead, we get a cheap looking, soap opera acted time waster with unrealistic depictions of the game. Australian Rules in 2002 also looked cheap and fake at times but that was made 11 years before with a far smaller budget. That movie also had good acting and an interesting, provocative story.

This movie's story isn't provocative or thought provoking, it's tasteless, nonsensical and exploitative. Why we feel the need to cheer on a bunch of creeps and losers who violate and humiliate an innocent girl, who gives the only stab at a good performance in the movie. Again, I wanted this to be great, with Sam Kekovich and Glenn Archer producing, and Mad Max Fury Road actors Angus Sampson and Josh Helman, likable blokes but who don't deliver here. Seriously watch The Club from 1980 or even Joffa's movie. Do not watch this dud.

I went to see this movie, after my cousin mentioned how much he enjoyed it. So I dragged my partner along,who was very happy to being seeing a sports movie instead of a chick flick for once, and we both really enjoyed it. I found it to be extremely motivational. Not being involved in sports growing up, I haven't ever been part of a team, so I found it very inspirational.My partner thought Angus was hilarious, and is still saying little quotes from the movie. Some of the emotional scenes impacted on me greatly, so much so that I got a bit teary. I laughed, I cried, I was motivated & inspired. I think if your looking for a movie that appeals to everyone on some level then this is it.

I am really shocked to read all of the good reviews of this movie. I thought it was terrible; it was badly over-acted and the storyline was unrealistic. Anyone who knows anything about football must realize that the main characters dreams of being drafted after getting a few tackles while playing in the Bellarine league is ridiculous.

The movie is about rape yet the word isn't mentioned once and the "villain" in the movie is the girl who was raped because she sent photos to a newspaper. Bad acting, bad storyline and a terrible representation of Australian culture. I gave it two out of ten because the girl who played the rape victim was the only shining light. Do yourself a favor and skip this film.

With all the recent negative exposure and subsequent spin doctoring sport in Australia is receiving it was refreshing to see something in the media that did not shy away from controversy. Blinder for me was a seemingly accurate display of the effects that Mad Monday style celebrations can have on a whole group of individuals. Its not an art-house movie, but the quality of the film was surprising and it was great to see familiar characters and scenery on the big screen. The film may well become an excellent discussion piece within sporting clubs around the country about a subject that appears to be misunderstood or ignored. Aside from all that it was great to see some local Footy.

I watched 'Blinder' with my husband - a little under sufferance, however I walked away having thoroughly enjoyed a story which, whilst i have not found myself in the middle of, would absolutely grip any small community. Growing up in a small town, I know what the local sporting clubs offer these communities and this is exactly the hysteria and stress created by any issue - large or small, because everyone knows everyone else's business! Whilst it is a film built around AFL football, i found it more of a story about the twists and turns of life and the relationships formed in small towns, particularly between groups of boys in football clubs. My brothers all played at the local club and friendships are strong in these instances.

What 'Blinder' did was take me back to my younger days and I was able to re-live the memories of local characters and situations, some good and some not so good! I found the film to be a really good story and one which stirred emotions in different ways. There were some funny moments. There were some sad moments and even times when you really wanted the film to stop with the footy coverage and get back to finding out what was about to happen.

I would recommend people to see the film and enjoy it for what it is. The cinematography is very Australian and some of the beach views are spectacular. I can tell you that my husband really enjoyed it - and i'd have to admit that i did as well.