The Last of the Knucklemen

Tensions simmer between a group of miners working in the Australian outback in this downbeat but engaging human drama. In writing and directing the material, Tim Burstall never quite manages to disguise the material's stage play roots with minimal locations and very few outdoor shots, however, the sense of claustrophobia that results from this often works to the film's advantage. The characters genuinely seem suffocated by their lack of recreational options and the film features perhaps the most intense card game ever committed to screen outside of 'The Cincinnati Kid' as the oldest miner finds himself in a poker showdown with a young upstart. Michael Duffield is superb as the elderly miner in question, waxing poetic about money and gambling, and there is a lot to like in how the others support him, not so much because they respect him but rather because they see him as what they themselves might end up like in years to come. Another strong performance comes from Gerard Kennedy as the lead miner who tries to keep everyone under control, but - as is suggested - the job that they are doing is "not General Motors", and having to live, sleep and eat together, it seems inevitable that something will occur with limited opportunities for release. For such a grim and gritty tale, the film ends on an oddly upbeat note, but the drama that has played out on screen for 90 or so minutes is still hard to shake as the film depicts the less glorious aspects of working in the mines in country like Australia where mine sites tend to be extremely isolated.

Whilst it is not a classic, it holds its own as a genuinely Australian film in the same vein as "Sunday too Far Away". It was obviously made on a shoestring budget but that somehow lent the film an authentic feel. It has just the right amount of rough edges. But it is the actors who make the film worth watching. The cast is a roster of Aussie talent who were mostly seen on T.V. Consequently, there are no "stars" and therefore a real sense of ensemble and camaraderie - possibly aided by the fact that they were feeling alienated by shooting in the genuine outback mining town of Andamooka.

Every character has their own moment of revelation but Michael Duffield as Methuselah is the most authentic. The character recalls Old Garth in "Sunday Too Far Away" and perhaps Candy in "Of Mice and Men" as he is the constant reminder to the younger members of the crew of the loneliness and humiliation that is in store for them should they remain wildcat miners. Duffield's "soft ride home" speech is one of moments that lift the film into another realm. The dream of living the last part of his life at ease and with a sense of autonomy is made all the more enticing after we see the life Methuselah has lived as a miner. However, he has to choose his moment to leave and be sure that the "time is right" because once he goes out the door there is no coming back.

The soundtrack to the film is one thing that makes it truly unique. The theme music by the New Harlem Jazz Band uses a strange garbled vocal that sounds like someone with a hangover trying to sing a lyric that he can't quite remember. He gorillas the lyric out of the way with the guttural sounds as if he can't be bothered making the effort to remember.

At the conclusion, as Pansy and Tarzan fight endlessly on in the endless desert of central Australia to the theme music that has no beginning or end, there is sense that we have visited a place that will never and could never be any different. If you visit the mining towns of Andamooka or Coober Pedy even today you will find that "The Last of the Knucklemen" is not far from the truth - then or now.

This is another of those films that's makes you proud to be dinki di Aussie. Set outside of Andamooka, it's about these rowdy uncouth miners, ex cons actually on the run, the latest, who full of surprises I must say, is thought to have knocked over a bank, with carrying a hefty suitcase. The other newie, a inept young guy is our own Michael Caton, playing a somewhat different character to the tough minded characters he normally plays. Most of the film is set in a rust tin shed, where our ex cons sleep, their days are filled with hard yakka, when at night they're boozing, sharing the company of whores and playing cards, or if we're lucky, some fighting. We do too have some ruckus's during the day, like in it's start, where an employer says the wrong thing to the wrong person. Gerard Kennedy is just solid great as Tarzan, the man in charge, a wonderful angry role, many actors would love to play. He can really swing a mean fist, him and his fight with loudmouth employee Pansy (Mike Preston, really good too) long overdue. We spend moments here and there in the remote Andamooka, it's scenery a plus to this low budgeter, which is one of my favorite Aussie flicks, that I mention to a few friends of mine. All the very naturalistic performances are so good. Michael Duffield is great as the 60+ educated oldie, Mathusula, as when he's not nearly getting killed at work, has to spray a lot, on the account of his constant letting go of wind, we can smell him right through the t.v. He has a nice little nest egg hidden away which he foolishly blows over a card game, you wanna just smack him one. As being a bit of a gambler in past, I totally agree with Tarzan's view on gambling. I could never get sick of watching this movie, which I know many of you, would favor. The fight at the end, between Peter Hehir, great as our mysterious drifter with the suitcase, and ex boxer, Steve Rackman (who loves his food I'm told) tearing up half the shed, impresses too, never letting down the quality of the movie, which is just flat out entertaining. There's a great sky shot just outside the shed, with Hehir, getting some air, woken up by some gun fire, the result of one of Maddog's (Steve Bisley) nightmares. Good ozzie flick all the way. I wonder too in a close up of Caton's plate of muck in the kitchen, what that rally was.

Yeah, I thought it was great. I have worked in a number of isolated places where there is not much to do but drink and I thought it was a pretty accurate depiction of the personalities that make up groups like this. I was in East Timor in 2000 which seemed to lure odd characters from outback Australia and other places... Interesting times. I recall Tarz and Pansy promoting the film in Melbourne. They were standing in the middle of the mall with huge polystyrene fists which made the news. I don't think it did very well. Many Australians seem to have the idea that Australian movies are second rate and it's not until the movies or actors do well overseas that are accepted. Nicol Kidman and Hugh Jackman weren't stars in Australia until they made it in Hollywood.

I first saw this on VHS back in the early 90"s and I was lucky enough to buy a DVD copy a few years ago.

Meet the rag tag bunch of Aussies outcast miners in a time long gone 70"s Australia.

With an all Australian cast and some great one-liners combined with humour and drama.

Highly recommended.