Joe Cinque's Consolation

I do not see a radical difference between real or fictional cases reflected by books or movies. This film is not an exception. But it has the gift to propose a smart exploration of sensitive subjects from near reality and beautiful job of Maggie Naouri.

The steps to a murder - that is the key. But the fine way to reflect growing madness, cold jealousy, to reflect vulnerability and cold plans to kill the loved one for to not be free or happy is just inspired warning.

The end is the best punch.

Not as moral but as simple remind of passing life.

For a small production, this is quite a polished film. Maggie Nauori gives a really good performance in the lead role. There is some great cinematography of the Canberra locations - such as the ANU playing fields in the fog - although I found the shots of empty Canberra places a little overdone. The character of Joe comes across as very passive and weak.

It is true to the book it is based on, in that it recounts the events quite vividly, but doesn't provide many answers. Overall I thought it was well worth seeing as it told a sad and strange story very well.

I must admit I have a "knee jerk" reaction on this one. If the quality of this work is to make you feel fairly angry. It fully succeeds with me. I personally don't like anything that glorifies evil. But I realise how naive I am as so many accounts of great achievers in pop music and I imagine many other area where money is not a real issue, have such sordid stories that it becomes commonplace. I guess we are immune as our "genius artists", always pushing boundaries know how to serve these stories on a silver or gold tray. But who am i to discredit them, I well may discredit myself in trying to do so! What "evil" anyway? Only someone who "suffers" mental health problem, served her "time" "got better" and then became a great achiever... So the world needs to know about her and her achievement, what it cost her and how she managed to survive it! How wonderful. I guess it's not so wonderful for her victims, dead and alive, their story is only a short one, but only for us as for them it will last until they lose their life or their mind. Her victim friends, may be no angels, yet did they deserve what came to them as the result of their implication in the event? I do have difficulty to comprehend how one could go as far as this is portrayed and supposes to have happened in reality. But as I stated earlier on, I'm rather naive, and can add, sheltered for such environment.

Oh I'm supposed to talk about the quality of this work...I guess it's well acted, perhaps a little too Aussie with lengthy and heavy on special effects like long pauses and transitions with musical moments to let you know that something terrible was to happen in case you could not work it out. I don't think any spoiler could be given here as the synopsis is pretty clear about what's coming. I also read an article from the local paper relating to people's say at the time this film was going to be screened. It only emphasises what I feel about the story. I know I must belong from a small group who would rather not dwell so much on such horror stories - So if you don't feel you're not from that small group it may be a good entertainment for you.

True story. I read the book and I watched the movie at the cinema.