Amy

As there are no comments here on my fav film i thought i'd put one. I found this film amazing. I loved it. i have now watched it 4 times on video and thinking of watching it again this afternoon. It's a fine movie to show the world just how great and touching our movies can be. Rachel Griffiths and Alana De Roma were excellent. And all supporting cast were fab. And the songs were great and well picked for where they were put into the story. Okay i better get back to my h/w now. Then watch AmY again!

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 This particular scene is superbly acted by Rachel Griffiths, and precisely depicts why Amy has withdrawn herself into a world of silence.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 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"?]

"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))

Amy is one of the first Australian movies in a long time to hit a true cord! For those that have hit a hard time and know what it is like to live on the outskirts after having been given a glimpse of the high life, this movie will hit home.

Performances by Rachel Griffiths, Alana De Roma & even Nick Barker are outstanding.

The soundtrack complimnents the film from every angle Nick Barker has outdone himself.

This is a movie that that moves and is capable of making us all feel.

On a side note even those of us that find Ben Mendelson annoying can live with his performance in this film!