I don’t think Jem mentioned the Oscars did he? Nope I did. Pathetic if you reading my posts and then ignoring me. Much rather you put me on total ignore.
Some people on this forum - sheesh.
Ah - wait. Just had a flash of inspiration. 2 can play at that game - ignore here we go; and a relief it is too 
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The lack of dialogue was explained in the second half of the film.
The film accurately depicts the hopelessness of a life in a community beset by drug and alcohol addiction (from memory the ‘hero’ is shown at the beginning sniffing petrol). These problems are so prevalent in aboriginal communities that some areas are grog free (paternalism?) and the petrol in central Australia (Opal Petrol) is different to that in the rest of the country because the active ‘high’ ingredient has been removed. I think that fact alone explains how severe the problem is.
Unfortunately the film is a realistic and almost depressing look at the life of aboriginal communities especially those living side by side with white communities. The film contrasts this with the beauty of the surroundings, it is a slow drama but purposely so.
It is a film that people seem to love or hate there seems to be no middle ground, you are obviously one of those falling into the hate category. In my opinion the film was designed to get an emotional response rather than tell a story (though it does that too) if it doesn’t effect you emotionally then the response will be much as you have stated, however if it does get to you emotionally then it is one of those films that leaves you sitting in stunned silence at the end.
As an aside the film was directed, written and filmed by the same bloke, he started off in film making as a cinematographer which might explain the stunning and lingering visuals.
You are bound to get an emotional response as the film is about the terrible living conditions and life experiences of 2 young people but there is so much that is bad about this film - the plot for one thing.
The young woman seemed to care a great deal about her grandmother yet is beaten black and blue by the other women when the grandmother dies, whilst shouting that the young girl hadn’t done this or that, yet apparently she had. The women that beat her up must have seen this as they lived very close to her. This was a poor attempt to place the young girl in the same situation as the young man as he had been beaten earlier - just didn’t make any sense.
Another thing that really bothered me was how Aborigines make or receive money? They can’t all make paintings or make trinkets for a living so presumably they get some sort of money from the government? The young girl finds a painting by her grandmother selling for an extortionate amount of money in too obvious a way to show that the Aborigines are being exploited but blimey are Aborigines now so naive that they would fall for that? In the past maybe but surely they receive schooling of sorts now?
Another thing I disliked - the ‘hero’, as you put it, literally couldn’t speak properly. When asked to speak his name he couldn’t. No explanation as to why was put forward. Had he ever had any schooling? Does breathing in petrol all the time affect your speech? Was it the fact he never spoke and was out of practise? He could, though, drive a car so he wasn’t mentally incompetent or totally useless.
As for the ‘beautiful surroundings’, well a lot of the scenes were shot in dusty barren lands where it was a wonder anything lived at all, how then did the youngsters get food, and essentials towards the end of the film where they ended up living in some remote shack in the middle of no-where; they did though have a car and petrol to get there? How would they survive from then on?
It obviously means a great deal more to a person that knows more about the plight of the Aborigines, and maybe it could inspire caring people to help, but to an ‘outsider’ like myself there were too many unanswered questions along with a sledge hammer approach taken to elicit an emotional response which was way over the top. All I have come away with is how dreary it all was and how little anyone does for the Aborigines, and how little the Aborigines do for themselves too.
If this is how life is for many Aborigines then the ‘whites’ sure have a lot to answer for. Another native population reduced to a meagre existence, similar to the native American Indian, by the all conquering invaders.
My summation of this film is that it was not a good one. The youngsters didn’t have enough redeeming features to show that they were ‘nice’ kids and everything that happened to them and around them seemed disjointed as if the creator of the film was just adding ‘stuff’ to show how awful their lives were; ‘stuff’, no-doubt, that had happened to others but in this instance wasn’t handled right leaving great big holes in reasoning.
Bruce - I’d be interested to hear your view on John Pilger, for me he is at the top as a journalist, reporter.
Being Australian and very astute, he was perfect to reflect on the Aboriginal plight. We watched ‘Utopia’ recently and their case was presented very well by him. He didn’t hold back when interviewing the top dogs either.
Superb.
I like John Pilger, he tells it like it is. He is not always right but his mistakes are few.
Life expectancy for Aboriginals is about 17 years less than the rest of the population. Speaking very generally - they live mainly on the dole, their standard of education is poor because they don’t attend school. There have been attempts to improve this varying from income management to out right bribery - get 90% school attendance record and you will get a trip to Sydney. Domestic violence is rife, as is child abuse in some communities. Drugs and alcohol abuse and dependence is widespread, some aboriginal communities are totally dysfunctional. Aborigines are 3% of the population but 28% of the prison population.
‘Closing the Gap’ is the current initiative. All other initiatives have largely been failures; a lot of money has been spent with very little actual result. The Anti Discrimination Act had to be suspended for one such initiative. The whole business of aboriginal affairs is a road to hell paved with good intentions - small progress has been made but it has been very small and very slow.
There are aborigines in politics, in law, indeed all the professions who have done very well for themselves and some outback communities with strong leadership are functioning relatively well but generally it is a pretty bleak picture, a third world society along side a wealthy first world one. Frankly no one has the answer, there is such a long way to go.
‘Closing the gap’ - from what I have read there - it states within 5 years, as it is dated 2008, the 5 years is up. So - is there improvement there ?
It sounds ideal but has anything come to fruition yet ?
This should have been the agenda ‘many’ years ago, now, there is a lot of damage to be rectified.
From what I have seen, (docu) I saw no evidence of farm land given to these people, as with the Native Americans their self respect gradually eroded.
Children born into the deprived environment witnessing the deprived struggle only progresses the despair and hatred.
So I do fear for the future, I feel it should have been rectified long before it got to such a stage.
That sounds dreadful Bruce, is this what happens when you’re displaced in your own country? …the Native American Indians have similar problems from what I’ve read.
What an abysmal picture Patsy… there has to be an answer somewhere.
Well the picture hasn’t improved for the Native Americans in all this time has it. Absolutely no justification to treat people this way. Just take their land and give them baron land to die on. Breaks my heart to think on it…
Double bill of Suspicion With Cary Grant, Joan Fontaine and Rebecca with Laurence Olivier and Joan Fontaine
near perfect afternoon I think
So, to lighten the thread somewhat, son and I have just been to see the new Spider-Man which is a remake (or apparently a 're-boot) , of the Green Goblin, but in this version the Goblin is the son of the guy who was the original goblin.
Like so many of today’s films there was a large dependence on special effects, which I have to say were pretty amazing, and a lot of violence, and quite a bit of humour too. And I have to say that the latest version of 3D is actually much better and easier to watch with its emphasis on creating depth to a scene instead of simply constantly chucking stuff out at you.
Last night I downloaded Despicable Me 2 absolutely brilliant.
Am I the only cinema goer? Anyway, last evening we went to see Godzilla. Apart from the sound level which always seems way too loud, it was excellent. Special effects were seamless, back story quite cleverly created and also served to make the viewer feel more involved. That is, there was more to the ‘story’ than merely a vehicle for monsters battling it out. The director, although using cgi actually made Godzilla look like the original Japanese ‘man in a costume’ creature which true afficianados are raving over, although apparently the Japanese are saying that he is ‘too fat’.
Just watched One Chance, which is a biography of Paul Potts the Carphone Warehouse salesman from Port Talbot (6 miles from where I live) who reached stardom after winning the Britain Got Talent contest.
Must say I had tears in my eyes a few times there.
Very good film.
Blimey the vid below has nearly 124 million views!
Last night we went to see the new X Men, but my how things change. Anyone recall some years ago the publicity over Sly Stallone’s naked rear in Demolition Man? Well in this X Men film Hugh Jackman gets out of bed and walks across the room to stand looking out the window, stark naked, for a good minute or so, this, ladies is not a glimpse, this is a full on perve ;)and I have to say for a 50 year old the glutes look fit!!
The thing is MKJ, ever since the world cup in 1990, when Pavarotti sang this aria it has become emotive, guaranteed to raise a tear. One only has to hear the opening notes and hair stands on end, goosebumps rise and a lump forms in the throat. Would his story have had the same ending had he chose a different one to sing one wonders?
I watched Nebraska last night. Bruce Dern gave a wonderful performance as a man who’s convinced he’s won a million dollars and is going to Nebraska to get it. Good movie but rather depressing.
For sure. There is a video of him singing in a German shopping centre in 2009. Far more emotive. It deeply affects everyone - or nearly everyone - in the place - me included. If he had picked the shopping centre aria (if it was an aria) in the BGT show then he would have had just as much impact on the audience. He also won a talent contest in the local labour club where he was ridiculed as he walked up on stage cos he was dressed as a clown - and stole the show with another operatic piece. So yes, his talent is noticeable whatever he chooses to sing.
This is part of his biography which I have taken off his website …
The supermarket video was shot 5 years ago so I should think his confidence has risen and his voice also improved quite considerably since. I intend to acquire at least one of his albums to see indeed the difference - if any.
We watched Once Upon A Time in The West not much of a story and it is an old film but Charles Bronson looked ok 
and the music is good, I like Ennio Morricone no idea if that’s the correct spelling.
I don’t want to give away spoilers to anyone else, so all I’ll say is the “If I Could Put Time In A Bottle” sequence is worth the price of admission all on its own.
