The Club

This film may lack the polish and production qualities of the Hollywood and British movies of the same time. But it came at a time when Australia was making good films about Australian subjects using Australians. The acting is good and the script is well written.

Again David Williamson has shone, and showed us how his plays become gem movies. If you're a footy player, you're gonna love this movie cause you'll relate with it. C'mon, let's face it, every footy player is expendable. What's happening here, is just buck passing. What I loved about Jack Thompson's character, the best player in this one, is he shoots straight from the hip. It's such an effective performance, you'd think he really was footballer. Frank Wilson and Graham Kennedy, (sorry, Kennedy, a slimy captain is the best performer here) are the representatives of this team, who signed on a new player, yes John Howard in his much thinner days, who'd rather watch a seagull, then kick a ball. Howard, the comic in this tale, too sees through this dirty game, where a score of good players are removed, so the club fights back. It's great when Howard pulls Wilson's chain, with a childhood story. The happy ending that will send hearts appeased, will make you howl with victory, it's message of fighting back, has never hit harder. Watch this for Kennedy's finest moment as the great actor and legendary icon he was.

"The Club" by David Williamson was an excellent play which addressed many issues about the changing face of sport. This particular film does justice to the play by having actors that give solid and believable performances. If you have seen the play, you may not enjoy certain aspects of this film, but the use of more then a single room or set adds a new dimension to the story. Footage of actual games as well as real club locations is added. Perhaps the best part of this film is the ending as it is very true and satisfying. Worth watching - even if you have no interest in the sport of Aussie Rules.

This is simply a great Aussie film. Unfortunately, films are just not made this way anymore. Not only is it a great satire about a football club, which has probably not changed in 30 years, it is also a wonderful commentary on the commercialization of sport. Comparisons to sport and war are easy after seeing this film. Great performances from Jack Thompson, John Howard and Graham Kennedy as well as cameos from a few of Australia's footballing legends. Bruce Beresford's direction is superb, the theme song became legend and the film is one hilarious argument. It gets better every time you watch it and if you haven't seen it yet, you have to see it soon.

I first saw "The Club" in high school as the play the film was based on was part of the English required reading list. I enjoyed the film but thought that with the Australian Rules Football setting, people unfamiliar with the sport would find many of the references obscure and dislike the film. Having seen "The Club" again recently, I realised that although somewhat dated, the film is as much about the wheeling and dealing that occurs off the field as it is about the action on the field. The action that takes place in the boardroom would be instantly familiar to fans of any sport and it's in these scenes the movie comes to life. Any producer wanting to remake "The Club" with the American market in mind needs only to replace the references to Australian Rules football with baseball or basketball and the script would be ready to go into production.

The Producers would also be wise to recast Jack Thompson as the coach as he gives a great understated performance that deserves an encore.

Certainly worth a viewing on a wintry evening.