Ethan.H.Field

I am starting to think that the Australian film industry is obsessed with the under-belly of its police force! Some latent penal colony social disorder, I wonder? Following in the footsteps of such previous TV cop dramas as E-Street, Blue Murder, Wildside, Murder-call and the currently running Young Lions, this complex character piece is a worthy culmination of Australian TV's work on the subject matter. The opening scene's depiction of a dead body encased in the twisted, interconnected vines of a Lantana bush provides the visual symbolism for what is to follow. It is the connections between people that is the focus of this piece. What pulls us together and what rips us apart. Stress and violence, judgment and resentment, trust and loyalty.

Well acted, deftly directed and a worthy story make this a treat. Some scenes shot around the Balmain area made me home-sick!

The graphic violence reminded me of the cartoon violence of Pulp Fiction. The taboo-breaking graphic sex was of a cartoon nature too. Deliberately mechanical it had very little to do with sex as most would understand it. This sets it apart from pornography which by definition intends to titilate. In this regard Baise Moi does not fit into the porn category. It certainly has faults. Stylistically it does resemble a bad porn movie, but I tend to think that was the intention. Unlike many of the reviewers, I liked the acting and found the central characters essentially likeable in a strangely uneasy way which was essential for the movie to work.

Like a rough cut Clockwork Orange this one may take on a cult status as an allegory for the clash between straight & bent, under-society & over society and particularly male & female.

Yes its a great franchise and remains cutting edge on the technical side..... But what is the essential ingredient in a good movie based on a story? Personally I favor the interaction and development of the central characters. I think a more simple explanation is at the root of the emptiness of the last two episodes.... Poor casting. What was a regal bearing in Alec Guiness manifests itself as sensitive, fussy and even camp in Ewan McGregor. He doesn't cut it. Temuera Morrison gets past the special effects to deliver a good performance as does Christopher Lee and for that matter Samuel L. But Christensen has no charisma and he is the central character in this instalment. He lacks complexity in what could have been an excellent role for an edgey young upstart. Picture someone of the caliber of a starting out Sean Penn playing the role. Cool, likeable but with a distinct dark side, being mentored by ..... problem to find an English star who is not foppish and or a whimp... and who is not rough like bleedin Vinnie Jones. If Rene the Texan can do a convincing English accent then..... get an Australian to do it. Back when Menace was being cast they could have afforded Russell, Guy and Hugh..

Actually this is not the first bad cast... Its not surprising that Mark Hamill made no further splash after the first three episodes. Can you imagine the first series working without Harrison Ford or for that matter Carrie Fisher? They carried it and without similar quality we are left with a beautiful but ultimately fickle piece. Natalie Portman has been accused of being used as a clothes horse and the movies itself could easily be characterized in the same way.