Spotswood

This movie, Spotswood (aka The Efficiency Expert) is a good movie. I can't say less or more on that one. I could say this gave a "boost" for one or more actors and actresses in this film. Russell Crowe (Gladiator, LA Confidential) played a quite different role as a snobbish two-faced brat, Kim Barry. Hopkins portrayed Mr. Wallace, and doesn't have quite the dialogue of Silence of the Lambs, but more facial expressions than words.

You will not regret watching this movie! Believe me. This happens to have a very excellent story line. I do believe though, that if this were a book, it would have been a bit better, since there was so much in the film that could have been described more accurately than in the movie.

Please take the time to sit down and watch this film. You never know- you could enjoy it!

SPOTSWOOD, which, in American release, is called THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT, is a rewarding movie for those who pay attention. I've watched it three times in the last three nights and liked it more each time. Briefly, Anthony Hopkins plays one of these guys who goes from company to company telling management how costs can be cut. It being Anthony Hopkins, you know he's going to look calm and cool while hating what he's doing. (Think of MEET JOE BLACK.) If you've seen the Ealing comedies from the 50s you'll see that SPOTSWOOD is much in the mode of those. The best part of this movie is its focus on the factory Hopkins visits. The characters are droll, but relatively realistic, and, of course, you don't want Hopkins to cause them the misfortune he seems poised to introduce into their lives. The movie is a bit weak in relating the story of Carey (Ben Mendelsohn), a young machinist who worships the boss's daughter from afar. Given that this is a comedy about workers versus big money, the love triangle almost derails the satire (enter Toni Collete as the saintly factory girl Ben Mendelsohn keeps ignoring.) In any case, even in its weak spots it's so well-acted (dig Russell Crowe as an up-and-coming shark) that it holds your interest. There is a really great scene of pure cinema. This is a slot-car race, filled with suspense and laughter. I have yet to see an Australian movie that didn't have at least one almost impossible-to-film moment. The land that gave us 90-some minutes of almost-impossible-to-film moments (that's THE ROAD WARRIOR, of course) offers a marvelous mini-moment in this scene. There is at least one great sight gag ("Don't turn the key until I tell you...") and some very moving moments led by Alwyn Kurts as the owner of the targeted factory. This is a very well-made, amusing motion picture. Also, check out Hopkins in one scene in close-up, when he's laying down his cynical law to Alwyn Kurts. He's got the back of his hand just under his own jaw-bone, and he's moving it in a sawing action. It reminded me of Brando in APOCALYPSE NOW.

Who knew Hannibal Lector could be so subtly funny and filled with pathos. Hopkns turns in a marvelous role of the efficiency consultant who thinks nothing of recommending that half a work force be fired for better profits. Then he visits a down and out shoe company and meets his match in the Mendelshohn and Kurts characters and the rest of their workmates. Indeed, Kurts steals the film as the owner who lives back then and hopes that his efficiency expert can get him and his factory into the modern era, but does not expect it to be as brutal and painful as it is.

Kudos to all. If you want a droll comedy that gives remarkable insight into the human dilemma, rent this. You will not regret it. In closing, pay close attention to how Hopkins portrays a plethora of emotions with only his facial and non verbal reactions. He is a genius!

As an American who lived in Australia for about 3 years, I found that this film captured a lot of "Australianisms" that are hard to pinpoint, but are definitely from the Australian culture and different than the US culture. Probably the most noticeable to me was the worker vs management mentality that is so much more exaggerated in Oz. One of the most ironic things I found about their culture was how much they protested that, unlike England, there was no class system down under. But, to me as an outsider it seemed very class driven but instead of upper and lower classes they were blue collar and white collar.

Overall a touching film which I always wonder how much is going right over the heads of Americans.

Even thinking briefly of this film and I end up humming this tune all day just like Carey's Dad. If you love films which are truly character-driven and sublime in the details, then this film will delight you. You may even begin to see the romance in sitting looking out over an oil refinery or the expertise demanded for racing slot-cars. What a little gem.