Three Blind Mice

This was the evening movie last night, and I admit missing the first half hour, but I'm glad I caught the rest of it. I was entertained AND engaged by a well paced, well written and directed, and to my great relief, well acted piece of film making.

Someone who can direct a decent film performance out of the otherwise talented Brendan Cowell and Bob Franklin must be doing something right. What director/writer Matthew Newton really gets right is the cadence of the storytelling. The tale of these three sailors' final night in Sydney, before their posting to the Gulf, skips along with energy and assuredness. The script reflects Newton's excellent ear for dialogue, and his direction sees the actors free to really work their performances in an entertaining and believable way. It helps that he's picked a fairly rocking cast too.

Newton knows the story he wants to tell, how it should come off the screen, and he nails it in nearly every scene. It's the sign of someone who's genuinely comfortable with the language of film - it isn't bogged down with technicality, only using that to unleash creativity in taking us on the journey. That's quite an achievement in this age of film formula force feeding. It says to me Newton knows his stuff well enough to crack a mold without causing audience upheaval. That he's gathered together this stellar cast is also testament to those actor's belief in the quality of his communication.

For the performances, I give special mention to Barry Otto and Heather Mitchell as the in-laws to be. Newton gives them several wonderful scenes and they reward us with their consummate acting skill. I hold Mitchell's talent on stage and in film on par with Cate Blanchett. Pity she doesn't get the roles.

But all these accolades reflect on the combined talents of Matthew Newton. He's got an almost impossible task to comeback from epic, public disaster here. I was a big detractor until tonight. But he's clearly paid his dues in his craft. Whether that's enough to keep his head above water in this country is another thing. Three Blind Mice is very good, and I'm looking forward to seeing his next contribution to a sadly lacklustre industry here.

Gave up on this way before the ending. Camera work amateurish. Dialogue purile. The three 'officers' acting more like moronic schoolboys on their first time away from home. I wonder if anyone involved in this movie had ever been to sea or had anything remotely to do with the navy. Whoever was in charge of wardrobe needs some basic lessons in continuity. The rank markings of the three supposedly sub lieutenants kept jumping between sub lieutenant to lieutenant to Lieutenant Commander and even a sub lieutenant sporting a PO's cap badge! Can't understand the semi high ratings this movie has been given. I suspect they're from family, friends or those involved in the making of the film.

Three Blind Mice is the directorial debut of Matthew Newton , and covers 24 hours in the Lives of three young Navy officers on shore leave, Sounds familiar? Well Its not, No Gene Kelly or Frank Sinatra to be found, The film delves well into dark territory of Navy bastardization and friendship.not since before the Director George Marshall who brought us Destry Rides Again ,The Blue Dahlia and The Forest Rangers (especially) have we seen such an effortless sway between Comedy and Dire Tragedy ,This was like watching 'On the Town" with out the singing and dancing , having your guts wrenched out and a moment later being wildly tickled by them to the point of hysteria.Starring Ewen Leslie (Kokada),Toby Schmitz (Somersault) and as well as directing Matthew Newton ("Changi" and Looking for Alibrandi) as the seemingly fearless Three traveling through the slings and arrows of Outrages Fortune ,involving prostitutes, Swinging Middle aged future Parents Inlaw, and broken bady parts, But aside from this it deals with the darker subject matter of friendship after abuse, alla "the Kite runner' emotional self sacrifice, redemption through acceptance, and maybe Love? This is not a Taratino humor nor a Melinda and Melinda,,its anxious rollercoster ride of fear, and humor that can change in a wink of an eye and still really work. Cast also Includes Gracie Otto as the leading love interest throughout the film,who shines in every scene with a script that rips through the likes of 'Network' and seems more spontaneous,(she also edited this film),Brendan Cowell, as a side of the armed forces we are not willing to acknowledge, Pia Miranda as the shirrty fiancée,Alex Dimitriades (Head On), Marcus Grahem( "Underbelly" and Mulholland Dr. ,Jacki Weaver (Picnic at Hanging Rock) Barry Otto( Strictly Ballroom)and the Great,Charles 'Bud' Tingwell ( Murder She Said, and 'Breaker' Morant) and inhabits a Musical score by John Foreman.Everyone you can think of was here and aside from the three blokes have their own moment to shine. A stella cast (Aside from the absence of Jack Thompson and Noni Hazelhurst)all take their turn to make bloody good Cinema, Aside from 'the Black Balloon' this is one of the best Australian films to be received this year if not the last 5 years,. I have to assure , I didn't not watch and review this film on the basis of its 'lineage' because , its made by the son of 'this person' or the daughter of 'that person', its better than most American films I've seen this year.This film needs to be seen overseas ,it maybe set in Australia, but these things could happen , and have happened everywhere. After you have seem it you wont be crying and you wont be laughing, but you will feel Different, and better for it.

I watched this title because it followed as a reccomnedation on a streaming site for a movie that I'd been pleasantly impressed with (Spring Forward). I have enjoyed Australian films as a linear escapade, less driven by typical Hollywood plot. This movie fit that ideal. This movie did not disappoint. There was a story, but the characters lived out the important points and purpose of the film, rather than being driven solely by events and MacGuffins. The performances were subtle and often inconvenient to fitting all plot points. There was tenderness and brutality as they really are in most male communals. The three leads played their parts well, and not stereotypically. Mr. Newton was outstanding and played the central role with charm and grace.

This is simply a poor film.

• Cinematography: Annoying and painful as a drunken home made wedding video.

• Writing: Shallow and incoherent with painfully unfunny jokes.

• Directing: Attempted by a poor first time actor who hasn't realised that it takes real talent to be able to direct and a unique talent to direct from in front of the camera.

• Acting: This is just a film of random people reciting lines with the exception of Charles 'Bud' Tingwell and Heather Mitchell.

• Editing: The inept editing makes the film drag on with no sense of purpose or structure which makes for painful and uselessly long scenes.

This film leaves you with the impression that none of those involved in making it actually watched it before its release.

It should have been a twenty minute short if made at all.