Last Train to Freo

I got this movie out as a DVD recently, not knowing anything about it or the actors/director. My interest was due to the fact that it is set in Perth, where I'm from. It's a great small budget film in which all the action takes place on a train. The actors, especially the lead - the tall thug, are excellent and the script quite confronting, with snippets of humor throughout. The storyline is quite believable for anyone who's been even briefly annoyed with idiots/anti-social members of society acting-up on trains. My wife and I sat transfixed for the entire movie, which is pretty unusual. I certainly recommend this movie, although not if in the mood for a light, fluffy feel-good experience!

I wasn't sure what to expect and originally watched this movie because I like just about anything with Gigi Edgley in it. I wasn't disappointed at all. This movie starts out in what seems a slow and sluggish way but the eventual twists and turns make it all worthwhile. It was an excellent character study piece. It really isn't a movie for the younger crowd because of the adult situations. But then, I guess compared to HollyWould movies this is rather tame. It is just that the acting and situations build to a crescendo towards the end and present the subject matter in a very visceral way. It will have you on the edge of your seat towards the end. The casting couldn't have been better, the acting was great, and the direction was excellent. It is a drama/thriller extraordinaire.

This is a hidden gem of a film, one that I sadly missed at the theatre. Shot entirely in one carriage of a suburban train with only a few characters, it is almost entirely driven by crackling dialogue - no doubt both a legacy of the story's origin as stage play.

The stand out of the film is a tour de force performance by Steve Le Marquand as the 'tall thug'. His swaggering, menacing, compelling performance is captivating to watch. He is well supported by Gigi Edgely who pulls off a difficult role with panache. The storyline twists and turns, and they mostly pull off what could easily have descended into farce.

It's really all about Le Marquand though, who provides his character with megawatts of charisma, and it's remarkable that this spellbinding performance has not seen him picked up for starring roles in larger films.

All in all an excellent film, well worth watching.

I saw this film the other day on a Qantas flight back to London from Sydney. If anyone has ever done the flight then you'll know how tedious it is, but I decided to explore some of the more obscure films that were provided and was rewarded with this little gem. Featuring only five characters and very little action, it manages to keep you hooked through great dialogue and interesting characters which are well acted. In fact, it is reminiscent of a Harold Pinter or Samuel Beckett play, bearing more than a few resemblances to "Waiting For Godot" and the like. It creates tension and keeps you guessing throughout through character development and conversation, rather than showy special effects and cheap thrills. At times it drags, but this is a minor flaw and overall it's well worth checking out, proving that there's more to Australian media than Neighbours and Home And Away. Good stuff

It's midnight and it's a hot steamy night, where two ex-cons catch the last train to Fremantle. A couple stops later a young lady enters the carriage, and their gaze catches her. Soon they're trying to sweet talk and capture her attention. Further along the line another two passengers enter the carriage and from then onwards it becomes something more than just your friendly get-to-know each other discussions.

The last train to any destination can be a daunting experience, and this psychologically Australian character drama that rarely leaves its confined carriage setting and passenger's sets-up an experimental, stage-like experience of such exposition. We get to know the characters quite personally, as if you're right on board the train with them and it really relies on that intensity. A towering Steve Le Marquand (a show-stopping turn) and the spontaneous Tom Budge really drive this factor with their outstandingly raw and passionate theatrical performances of two ex-cons. They both really hold your interest. The gorgeous Gigi Edgley is confidently good too. What starts off as basic with trivial exchanges, unfolds into something more which is emotionally enthralling and boldly unpredictable with its dangerous undercurrent. The layout is kept rather taut with a cerebrally involving (and rapid tongue) script and multi-facet performances making up for the lack of action. The confronting interplay was enough to wet my appetite, even if it might have been a contrived screenplay it manages to feel fresh and authentic. Intimate photography and the decision not use any sort of music score added to the organic atmosphere. Instead it favoured natural sounds of everyday life… from the train announcer's voice to the humming nightlife coming outside the train. The slow-burn, low-key approach grows on you and has you waiting around to see how it all ends up. What's great about it, was it sticks to reality and doesn't go for anything big.