Idiot Box

From the deadly serious likes of Animal Kingdom or Two Hands, the darkly humorous hybrids such as Chopper or Death in Brunswick or the downright outrageous misfits like Gettin Square and The Mule, Australian cinema has a long and storied affiliation with the crime genre, with the rarely spoken about but well-regarded local cult oddity Idiot Box a mostly forgotten crime comedy gem that is an important piece of the early Ben Mendelsohn puzzle in the years leading up to his eventual ascension up the Hollywood ranks.

Written and directed by long-standing Australian filmmaker David Caesar, whose delivered other well known Australian features such as Mullet, Dirty Deeds and various episodes of a large collection of home grown TV series, Idiot Box follows the daily exploits of bogan best mates Kev and Mick (played with a lot of energy by Mendelsohn and his co-star Jeremy Sims, whose now a successful director) as the two dole inspired no-hopers hatch a haphazard plan to rob a bank and strike it rich in an attempt to escape the holes they have dug themselves.

Consisting of a lot of Mick and Kev merely roaming around their neighbourhoods, visiting pubs, gaming arcades, local shopping malls and hanging around at home while listening to rock music and drinking VB longnecks, Idiot Box isn't always a barrel of laughs, as sadly the depressing lives of Mick and Kev aren't exactly the lives of a fantasy world that doesn't exist, Idiot Box has a rough and ready feel too it that has allowed it too barely age these close to 25 plus years on from initial release that saw the film become a minor hit at local cinemas before heading the way of a largely obscure existence in the home video market, making it a film hard to track down in today's climate.

Key to the films success and a large reason why the film is able to overcome its sometimes aimless and walking in circles narrative is the interplay between Mendelsohn and Sims who work each other fantastically as their fairly unwise but somehow likable nobodies grow on us as the runtime wears on as we are caught up in their unlikely scheme to make a quick buck and start winning at life.

Now a well known commodity when it comes to bringing the troubled too life in a variety of ways, Mendelsohn is as good as you'd expect as the eternally angry Kev, a man who reveals in his anger and even suggests that it is one of his main hobbies while Sims gets less moments to explode his also quietly effective as the poem loving Mick with the two performers creating one of the more memorable Australian duos of the 90's in roles that shaped their career trajectories in the years to follow.

Final Say -

It's not grand Australian stuff but Idiot Box is a film that deserves more reflective viewing in today's era as it sits largely unspoken about in the hallways of local productions and it stands as a further reminder of the talents of Ben Mendelsohn who has long been lighting up the screen as Hollywood slowly but steadily caught on.

3 1/2 heartfelt poem recitals out of 5.

For more reviews check out Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys)

Idiot Box is a deliberately paced,philosophical and realistic comedy/drama from Australia.

Like many Australian films this is an artistic and original piece of film making with something important to say.If you were thrilled by Bad Boy Bubby's intelligent and insightful script you will be equally pleased by Idiot Box's insightful,realistic and philosophical script.

This film is also written by it's Director. It's David Caesar''s first film and hopefully not his last.Caesar has made a film filled with realistic characters and equally true to life situations and denouements to them.This is a film with great dialogue which amuses and provokes thought.His characters are all well developed and very credible as possible real people.

The story of Idiot Box is about two unemployed losers Kev (Ben Mendelson) and Mick (Jeremy Sims),who one day decided that robbing a bank wouldn't be such a bad idea.The movie deals with the lead up to this possible event and at the same time it is very much a slice of life style film.Like many great Australian film's (e.g. The Well) Idiot Box is able to have it's cake and eat it.By having solid character development and a enjoyable and original story.

The performances are also strong.Ben Mendelson as the explosive and angry Kev is extremely credible never becoming a caricature of his character for a minute.The smarter,slack and philosophical Mick is equally well played by Jeremy Sims.Sims brings to the screen a wonderfully multi-layered character who seems utterly credible.

David Caesar has also brought a sumptuous visual design to his picture making the most of cinema's widescreens.He shows us many lovely panoramic views of the wasteland of Australian suburbia.If this is not seen in the theaters or on video without widescreen much of the film's eloquence and beauty will be lost.

Overall Idiot Box is another powerful and meaningful film from Australia,which excels in all elements of film making.Idiot Box also packs an ending which though in some ways an anti-climax,it is one the truest and credible endings I've seen in film.

4/5

Life in western Sydney as depicted by director Caesar with two nothing-to-do down and outs who plan to rob a bank. A few interesting touches in the visual department but the script lacked a certain bite to match the brilliant performance of the two leads.

David Caesar was obviously fueled by the energetic 90's film revolution of films like "Pulp Fiction" and "Trainspotting" to make an Aussie crime story/satire. Unfortunately, "Idiot Box" does not even deserve the mention of those two films in my review.

The film's plot is awkward and unfocused. It chronicles the adventures of two hopeless losers Kev and Mick as they party and rebel against society. They seem to be always watching some kind of violent material on TV (hence the title), that leads to their decision to rob a bank. The events following are muddled and contrived.

The dialogue is absolutely embarrassing. There is a scene where Mick makes his way home from getting some brew, when he sees an attractive, but lonely liquor shop owner waiting for business. He is somewhat familiar with her, but not enough to start conversation with her by saying "What's poetry?". Why Caesar felt the need to open the scene like that is beyond me. Was he trying to give Mick depth? Does he honestly think someone has ever initiated a relationship by asking "What's poetry?". What's worse than this touch is her reaction. A completely normal, unquestioning response!

They call TV the idiot box because some believe watching enough of it leads to feeble-mindedness. Watching an hour and a half of this movie will do the same thing to you, so I would strongly recommend TV instead.

Not going to add spoilers, but it's a good movie. very much worth the watch