Dirty Deeds

A truly Australian film which captures the life of mobsters in the Cross in Sydney in 1969. Very funny and even true to some facts, this movie is worthwhile to see and if you still think Americans dont belong in Australia, well, this is for you. Plenty of plot twists help to keep it going and even if you dont understand the language, if its on DVD you can just turn on the subtitles.

Dont see it if you're not Australian - but if you are its a 8/10 easily.

In 1969 Vietnam, handsome soldier Sam Worthington (as Darcy "Darce" Ryan) receives his release from war service. He goes home to live with the uncle who raised him as a son. Meanwhile, weighty gangster John Goodman (as Tony Testano) and his trigger-happy henchman Fred Williamson (as Sal Cassela) are dispatched from Chicago, USA to Sidney, Australia. Their mission is to take over the slot-machine racket run by crime boss Bryan Brown (as Barry Ryan) by infiltrating his organization. Experienced at killing people and blowing things up, Mr. Worthington's becomes Mr. Brown's young partner...

Worthington could follow in his uncle's footsteps, or open his own pizzeria. A romantic subplot involves amorous Kestie Morassi (as Margaret), who so predictably switches partners you have to wonder what writer/director David Caesar intended. There is no real evidence, but perhaps Brown was trying to save his marriage to older, but still beautiful Toni Collette (as Sharon)...

Not an Australian expert, but there isn't much here that looks like contemporary movies from 1969. Adept cinematographer Geoffrey Hall is employed to make up the difference by making the motion picture look like an aged Polaroid. It only makes you look for the "color restore" button. The original soundtrack is done well, but don't expect AC/DC's original "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" or a 1969 parade of hits. Direction and editing (by Mark Perry) do help keep it moving. Most elevated in the cast credits is Sam Neill (as Ray Murphy). There is something extra to see within the end credit roll.

***** Dirty Deeds (7/18/02) David Caesar ~ Bryan Brown, Sam Worthington, John Goodman, Toni Collette

A nice little mix of genres; gangster movie, period flick, fish out of water story, and even a travelogue!

The cast is excellent, even though I have trouble buying John Goodman (an actor I adore) as a wiseguy. Sam Worthington comes across great as a slightly naive kid with a good heart just rolling with the punches and unsure of himself. Bryan Brown performs admirably, Toni Collette continues to wow me (I had no idea she was actually an Aussie) and the rest of the cast acquits themselves well.

All in all, a really charming movie chock full of 60's era flourishes and cultural differences. Very entertaining.

In an age when the Australian movie scene is dominated by "larrikin" family comedies, gritty urban dramas shot on cheap film stock and whatever epic movie Peter Jackson gestates in the grit under his fingernails, David Caesar has crafted a small celluloid gem. A movie about the enduring Australian goal of killing everything in our path until one day the entire world will hit itself on the thumb and say "Bugger!" instead of "Sh*t!", "Dirty Deeds" is a camp classic, a knowing pastiche of the Australia of the early 1970s with more lashings of violence than most people care to remember. The film's depiction of Australian organized crime is in itself fantastic, the gangsters drink lager, run poker machines and swear a great deal. To see them in action is to wonder if Vincent Vega and Jules Winfield would've stood a chance against these corduroy thugs. Why, it's exactly like the real thing! Dirty Deeds - A Movie For Anyone Who Remembers Australian Criminal Activity. Go see it, you'll never want to visit the Land of the Great Wide Melanoma again.

Saw this stumbling my way through OZ on holiday and really glad i did - it's fast, funny and full of action.

I had no idea before i saw this of the real history of the slot machine wars, so it was good to learn about that but FAR MORE IMPORTANTLY this is just a great night out and makes you leave the cinema wishing you could remember more of the many really good lines.

The acting is fantastic throughout but John Goodman is just brillant. Every time i see him in stuff i'm amazed at his ability and here he gives a really moving performance. The young bloke is really good too, and some of the guys the filmakers have found to play small time hoods have fantastic faces.

The direction is cool, the script really is fast and funny and its got a great soundtrack as well. Hope this gets shown in the UK so all my mates can see it to?