Freedom

Well, this was a lot of fun. A unemployed young man in 80's Australia in a dead end existence decides to steal a flash Porsche and go on the run with a teenage mother, whose baby was taken away by the state. What follows is a road movie in all but name, as they try and steal the bairn back, evade the cops, run people off the highway and generally sow car-related chaos wherever they go.

A love a good shaggy dog story, and despite having little clear direction in exactly what it wants to say, Freedom certainly fits the bill for a thoroughly entertaining slice of random motorised hi-jinx. Our rebellious protagonist isn't exactly the most likeable guy around, but with the way everyone around him treats the poor sucker, you can certainly see why he 'flips out' the way he does.

And when he does, everyone around him better watch out, cos things get very messy indeed... 7/10

Sometimes you just want to get in a car and drive, right. Jon Blake is a frustrated early 20's guy, who's laid off, and can't get a job, and for him, this has put his angry emotions in drive with the handbrake on. He meets a girl, falls in love, (a nice little sex scene, awaits later on, underneath the nighttime sky), and soon he's being hunted in a stolen 911 Porsche, where a cross country chase, ensues. A lot of young folk, would of been able to identify with this film at the time, where unemployment was high, which brang people's self esteem down, and you feel so much for Blake's character, Ron. Filmed in Adelaide, my home grown suburb, there's some nice action sequences, the chase along the tree lined bike path that runs diagonally from Goodwood Rd/Greenhill Road intersection to Morphett St/South Tce intersection was an inevitable use of location, and Freedom becomes such a fun pic ,we want so much for our two fugitives to get away. Puberty Blues's Jad Capella as the love interest needs to go to the small lazy town of Sedan, via Murray Bridge which is taking the long way, but I avoid Gorge Road like the plague too. She snatches her baby, bringing added trouble. This duo make a cute couple, where the final scene, is one of the most vivid ones I've seen in memory. There's no denying the coolness this movie brings, where it's a movie which hates to admit it's importance, but with cool lead Blake, at the wheel, you're guaranteed one hell of a ride.

I spent most of the time looking in the background at all the cars. Sounds were brilliant! Real car sounds, really paid attention to being true to the cars.

DOP was doing his job, the scenes and camera angles and the lens choices really saved this movie from its bland story line/acting/script. With super wide angles in 2 seater cars barreling down tight streets, big helicopter vast scene setting of countryside/car chases.

An 80s Aussie film wouldn't be an 80s Aussie film without a nipple shot or 2. But outside of that and a couple of car crash scenes, this movie is pretty tame and probably ok for 16 year olds to enjoy.

One of Scott Hicks early works is well done and shows the early Australian film industries skill at making a classy movie for a small budget.

This tale of a young man fighting all to reach his dreams of a Porsche 911, selling price today $32000!, is realistic at times then successfully changes to the surreal. It appears at times like a European car advertisement, which may have been the intention of Hicks.

I remember watching this movie again and again when young. I like seeing the scenery of Adelaide in a professional looking movie and I also identified with the main character.

I can't really say that those new to this movie will like it as much as me, as my enjoyment of it is tied to my nostalgia for the time, but it is definitely worth a look and most will enjoy the experience.