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Erskineville Kings

  • 1999
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
725
YOUR RATING
Erskineville Kings (1999)
Drama

Barky, 25, lost soul, left home two years ago to escape his abusive father leaving behind everything in the world that was important to him; now that his father's dead, he thinks it's safe t... Read allBarky, 25, lost soul, left home two years ago to escape his abusive father leaving behind everything in the world that was important to him; now that his father's dead, he thinks it's safe to come home.Barky, 25, lost soul, left home two years ago to escape his abusive father leaving behind everything in the world that was important to him; now that his father's dead, he thinks it's safe to come home.

  • Director
    • Alan White
  • Writer
    • Marty Denniss
  • Stars
    • Marty Denniss
    • Hugh Jackman
    • Andrew Wholley
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.2/10
    725
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Alan White
    • Writer
      • Marty Denniss
    • Stars
      • Marty Denniss
      • Hugh Jackman
      • Andrew Wholley
    • 15User reviews
    • 3Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations total

    Photos3

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    Top cast19

    Edit
    Marty Denniss
    • Barky
    Hugh Jackman
    Hugh Jackman
    • Wace
    Andrew Wholley
    • Coppa
    Aaron Blabey
    • Trunny
    Joel Edgerton
    Joel Edgerton
    • Wayne
    Leah Vandenberg
    Leah Vandenberg
    • Lanny
    Marin Mimica
    • Kane
    Lauren Clair
    • Ruby
    Louise Birgan
    • Natasha
    Roy Billing
    Roy Billing
    • Ticket Officer
    Roxane Wilson
    • Lady
    John Alansu
    • Hairdresser
    Darren Hanna
    • Cook
    Bob Gould
    • Book Store Owner
    Paul Dawber
    Paul Dawber
    • Father
    Mercia Deane-Johns
    Mercia Deane-Johns
    • Barmaid
    Mathew Botuchis
    Mathew Botuchis
    • Young Wace
    Thomas Norrie
    • String Quartet Member
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Alan White
    • Writer
      • Marty Denniss
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews15

    6.2725
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    Featured reviews

    6nicholls905-280-546911

    Unsure on the tone

    A mixed bag of comedy and drama. Hugh Jackman shines and you can see his screen presence straight away. The overall tone is inconsistent, but the story never wanders of the track. The film is slow and the support characters are a little lacking.
    9davep-5

    An excellent drama showing typical laconic, dry A...

    An excellent drama showing typical laconic, dry Australian humour. This is also exhibited in "Mullet". A very good study of unresolved issues between siblings, their loyalties to each other and their parents and the results of parental abuse. Mateship and machismo was dealt with realistically. There was a pervasive atmosphere of loneliness and desolation as shown in the deserted street scenes which added to the desperation of the players.

    The awkwardness and tenderness shown by Marty Denniss' character in the scenes with his girlfriend were very touching.

    Great performances as always by Aaron Blabey and Hugh Jackman.
    8EdgarB

    Intense study of the male psyche

    The gripping Erskineville Kings is a great film. One brother returns to Sydney after a long absence in the country. He's there for his abusive father's funeral. Big bro is not happy about his prolonged absence, having been left looking after Dad in his final years. The fact their mother fled her unhappy marriage years ago makes the absence even more painful.

    The film is set on a hot summer day, and, like typical Australian males, the boys head off with a few mates to the pub. After all, alcohol is needed to make these guys open up. The beer, the sticky heat and the awkward reunion makes for an explosive mix.

    The film is as tense as The Boys, but the characters are more rounded than David Wenham's thoroughly evil Brett Sprague.

    This is a film about men and their problems, so the film's sole female lead is a little under-developed.

    A great effort. Hugh Jackman is incredible.
    7jdring2007

    slow burn drama with great performances by pre-Wolverine Jackman and supporting cast

    A year later Hugh Jackman would become Wolverine, and that's that. But I only heard about this movie - a low low budget Australian production - after reading a review for Prisoners (2013) which said "not since Erskineville Kings have I seen such a powerful performance by Jackman," or something like that. So, I dug deep. Shocked it only has 500 ratings, being Jackman's third movie and the one before X-Men. Slow? Check. Low budget? Check. Boring? Nope. The acting is solid all around, and Jackman's character isn't even introduced until 30min in, by which point I felt engaged enough by the other actors to feel connected. Also, a young Joel Edgerton offered an entertaining role. So, the drama was tangible but the humor was clverly injected to keep you from sinking in the melancholy. The emotional "climax" was superbly performed by Jackman and star Marty Denniss. Not my usual kind of movie but it had respectable substance nonetheless.
    Philby-3

    Dead bore in the boondocks

    Erskineville Kings

    Avoid this one.

    Erskineville is an inner suburb of Sydney near the bottom of the social scale (or at least it was in the 1970s when this movie is apparently set.) Young man returns home on father's death. To greet him are a couple of dissolute mates, a nice ex-girlfriend and a brother eaten up with bitterness after having to look after the old boy in his declining years. Mum shot through many years ago and brother is pretty bitter about that too. Young man was driven out by Dad's drunken violence and doesn't understand why the brother is so hostile. He finds out eventually, but we're past caring.

    One or two good performances, especially Aaron Blabley as one of the noxious mates. The whole thing was too thin even for a short (80 minute) feature and the camera spends too much time slowly scanning the crumbling Victorian buildings of Esrkineville. Maybe it would have worked as a 30 minute piece. As it is, a dead bore.

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      Erskinville is an inner city suburb 6 kilometres South West of the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. It has a history of being home to the poor and working classes.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Minty Comedic Arts: 10 Things You Didn't Know About XMEN (2000) (2023)
    • Soundtracks
      Clouds
      Written by Alan White and The Faith

      Performed by The Faith

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    FAQ

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • September 23, 1999 (Australia)
    • Country of origin
      • Australia
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Эрскинвильские короли
    • Filming locations
      • Erskineville, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia(location)
    • Production company
      • RadicalMedia
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

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    • Budget
      • A$500,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 30 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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