Drift

There's been plenty of surf films and documentaries over the years, and if you're a surfer or surfing fan, no doubt you've seen them all. Drift is the latest surf film paying tribute to and giving us a glimpse into the Australian surf life when popular surf brands were just beginning.

Set in Western Australia in the early 1970's, Drift is the story of surfer brothers Andy and Jimmy Kelly (Myles Pollard and Xavier Samuel). Andy is dissatisfied with working long hours at the local mill, while trying to keep younger brother Jimmy from a life of crime. With help from their mother Kat (Robyn Malcolm), and childhood friend Gus (Aaron Glenane), they start a surf shop in their backyard garage, making custom-made wetsuits and new surfboards.

Along the way they meet and get inspiration from surfer photographer/filmmaker JB (Sam Worthington) and his Hawaiian friend Lani (Lesley-Ann Brandt). Their success and hard work comes at a price though as they deal with members of the community who are not ready for their innovative ideas and trouble from a violent bikie gang.

The acting is fine all round. Myles Pollard, who also co-produced the film, is solid as the responsible older brother. Xavier Samuel, in one of his best performances, brings charisma and energy to his role. Sam Worthington is excellent. He is perfect as the free-spirited hippie. He seemed to enjoy this role more than some of his recent work and it was wonderful to see him in an Aussie film again.

The film does a great job of bringing the 70's back to life. You gotta love JB's colourful bus and the classic kombi vans! The surfing photography is exciting and breathtaking, and the cinematography by Geoffrey Hall is simply beautiful. The soundtrack, a mix of 70's classics and more recent tunes, really adds to the cool laid back vibe.

Directed by Ben Nott and Morgan O'Neill, Drift is well-paced and there's a lovely balance between the surfing scenes and the dramas of everyday life. I honestly would've loved to have seen a few more surfing scenes. And even if you're not interested in surfing, this honest Australian film will inspire and engage.

The cast and crew looked like they had fun making this film and it shows. A snapshot into the Aussie surf life, it was a highly enjoyable and upbeat movie experience.

Really enjoyed this movie. Some nice Australiana and look back into the culture in the 60s and 70s.

Enjoyed the whole movie, just wished the soundtrack was relevant to the era.

Worth a chilled watch.

I can't stop watching all these surfing films. I'm a huge fan of Chasing Mavericks and this was up to standard! It wasn't as good as Chasing Mavericks, but still really good, the old Hippie-Flower-Power thing is making it even better.

The choice of actors/actresses was fantastic, Sam Worthington, Xavier Samuel and Lesley-Ann Brandt, just to mentions a few - did a really good job. This movie gave both joy and emotional moments and the contents were perfect. This movie is for a person who's in to surfing, and who likes the sixties. The film begins with black and white color effect, which shows us the past and then switches to color when they are grownup. Like I said the story is really interesting, and it gets even more interesting when you know it has happened!

I recommend almost anyone to watch it, and especially you who've seen "Chasing Mavericks"!

Big surf, cool 70's vibe. Give this movie a chance, make popcorn and have a beer. Excellent surf photography, beautiful, rough coastline of Australia. You will enjoy this film if you remember the big boards and OP board shorts. Goes slow but gets better just like the waves!. There are great scenes where old style cameras and wetsuits are used. The actors are good, you will recognize one of the actors from the film 'Clash of the Titans'! The plot could use some help but the feel of the film is very hippie style. There is a few drug scenes but they didn't mess that up too bad. The surfing is definitely the best. Real pros in every scene with old boards used for the film to keep it true to the time. Enjoy dude!

'DRIFT': Three Stars (Out of Five)

Surf movie set in the 1970s about two brothers trying to start a successful surf shop at the high point of the sport's business. It stars Myles Pollard, Xavier Samuel, Sam Worthington and the beautiful Lesley-Ann Brandt (who bares a striking resemblance to Halle Berry). It was directed by Ben Nott and Morgan O'Neill and written by O'Neill and Tim Duffy. I found the film to be mildly amusing but I think surfers (and surf movie fans) will get more of a kick out of it.

Pollard (who also produced the flick) stars as Andy Kelly and Samuel plays his brother Jimmy; two brothers who fled their abusive father, with their mom (Robyn Malcolm), when they were kids. They moved to a coastal town (in Australia) and became obsessed with surfing. When they're much older (in the 70s) they try to avoid a life of crime and start a surf shop; selling wetsuits and boards (out of their garage). They meet JB (Worthington, who was a Drama school classmate of Pollard's) and his friend Lani (Brandt) who come into town and become business associates of the brothers.

The movie has some decent surfing scenes and beautiful visuals but the characters aren't quite as developed or relatable as I like in a character-driven drama film. The surf scenes are kind of cool and exciting but they are few and far between. I did really enjoy Worthington's character though and all of the acting is decent in the movie. Like I said I'm sure surf and sports fans will enjoy the film more but I found it to be merely decent.

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