Amy

I liked this movie but I was a bit confused as to what sort of movie it was - I would say it was a pot pourri of type. Was it a drama with quirky little pieces of dark comedy and surrealism thrown in for good measure? One wonders whether the director or producers could not make their minds up as to what type of movie it would be. Perhaps everyone got their way. It might have made more at the box office if it had been a children's story - which it probably is, if you take out the swearwords, and family violence etc. In my opinion, this great cast of actors might have been a little bit let down by the script, which could have built better stories of victory over adversity with each character, and also added a little more surrealism.

This movie certainly showed some dramatic snapshots of some of the lives and situations of people living in Australia. The coppers singing whilst searching for Amy was fantastic. Mendelsohn's 'lyrics of life' were also deep and meaningful.

Alana De Roma's performance as a singer and actor were excellent. Golly, has she got a future!

I would rate this movie as a 6.5 out of 10; well worth watching.

[Was it a touch of irony that one time Melbourne rock legend Bobby Bright played the busker on the street? Why wasn't he singing "Hitch Hiker"?]

I rented Amy with hesitance after reading that it was an Australian movie, and to be quite honest with you, I am not a huge fan of the movies that are produced in my country. Amy, however, is a brilliant film which does not focus on the typical Australian stereotypes which have previously dominated the majority of Australian movies. Instead, it relies on fantastic acting, dry humour and an intriguing storyline to capture the audience's attention. As I watched, I found myself being drawn into the mystery of Amy, a young girl who became traumatised after watching an incident which is only revealed after her mother experiences flashbacks to the event in the middle of the movie. This particular scene is superbly acted by Rachel Griffiths, and precisely depicts why Amy has withdrawn herself into a world of silence. Amy is a fantastic film which showcases Australian film production at its very finest.

I saw this movie at the Heartland Film Festival last year here in Indy, and I though it was probably one of the best movies I saw last year. Even if it wasn't, it was certainly the most original and different I've seen in quite a long time.

It is the story of Amy a young girl who has been mysteriously deaf-mute for several years, for no medical reason. She lives with her protective mother, played by Rachel Griffiths, who tries, with no avail, to understand her daughter's condition.

Most of the plot involves their move to small alley in a downtown Australian town, which is populated with all sorts of different, funny characters. The film goes along with just the right pacing---it doesn't rush or lag, just goes along, much like its characters, who aren't entirely sure of where their lives are going, but go on anyways.

This film blends tragedy, comedy, drama, and fantasy without every confining itself to one genre. It creates its own world, using nothing but a subtle script and incredible acting.

One more comment: I thought that the scene involving the little girl and the little guy, and his drumset had to be one of the cutest scenes I've seen in over a decade.

"Amy" is an Australian Post "(Almost) Famous "with the side themes of Rock 'n' Roll Giveth and Rock 'n' Roll Takes It Away, or Our Lives Were All Saved By Rock 'n' Roll.

Combining the kind of grittiness and optimistic magic realism of "Billy Elliott," with the Ozzie quirky characters of "Muriel's Wedding," "Amy" avoids over-sentimentalizing its story of a grieving rock star widow and daughter and the other dysfunctionals who befriend them against a range of outsiders.

The original music is enjoyable, the covers unusual and the little girl with the luminous eyes and surprising voice startlingly good.

Rachel Griffiths has great chemistry in a changing relationship with a strong Ben Mendelsohn as a reclusive musician who is as touched by the girl as she is by him.

The supporting nuts are great fun, especially when singing.

We also get a nice tour of Melbourne as a bonus.

(originally written 5/27/2001))

Although I liked 'Amy' a lot, and will give it high marks, I disagree with the statement by other reviewers that the movie differs a lot from the standard American fare.

Sure, the scenery is great, the people talk different accents, and the cops are almost British in their politeness. Yet, from a plot point of view this movie is as canonical as it can be. For starters there is the not so subtle emotional plot line of a mother and her daughter who have not completed mourning their loved one. There is a considerable amount of bad guys and good guys, whose roles sometimes flip. Halfway through the film there is an extended chase and search sequence. Then there are the characters with a serious deficiency, like the guitar player who is a dropout, which turns out to be a great asset in the plot. I mean, this is Disney! And last but not least there is the happy ending.