The Rice Thresher, Vol. 90, No. 17, Ed. 1 Friday, January 31, 2003 Page: 14 of 24
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14
THE RICE THRESHER
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY. JANUARY 31,2003
They eone fromaland
It'sjanuary. The same buzz-worthy Oscar prospects have been around for a month, and the new studio
offerings are simply dismal. To brighten up this dark cinematic period, we offer video picks from a land
where the sun is shining. That's rigiiL - it may be frigid here, but it is summer in Australia. Here is an
eclectic mix of some of our favorite Australian films, conveniently available on video.
By Carly Kocurek, Jermfier Quereau and Jon Schumann
de
Baz
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rab
bers
Muriel's Wedding 1994
Meet Muriel Heslop, a frumpy, downtrodden
lass from Porpoise Spit, Australia. A social outcast,
Muriel is ABBA-obsessed and dreams longingly
for her wedding day. Ultimately, she decides to
leave her small town and start anew. With this
new life, she garners a best friend (the always
feisty and entertaining Rachel Griffiths) and a
new perspective. A funny and endearing tale from
director PJ. Hogan, who went on to helm My Best
Friends Wedding, this film showcases a star-making
performance by Toni Collete as the tide heroine.
The Castle 1997
In this hilarious movie about the
Kerrigans, a lower-middle-class family
fights for their home, which is being
threatened by the extremely nearby
airport. Though the location is poor,
the house gaudy and the neighbors
unsupportive, the Kerrigans resist,
taking support from each other. The
family itself is what most would call
"white trash." But after the initial
shock over their decorative scheme
passes, you see the incredible courage
and affection that holds them together,
and you begin to empathize with
them. Always enraptured by his wife's
cooking, Daryl Kerrigan constandy
praises his wife's creativity and talent,
even when her meals consist of mac
and cheese. The comedy is touching,
the timing is impeccable and the
appreciation the family has for their
modest station in life puts the rest of
us to shame.
The Adventures 1994
of Priscilla,
Queen of the Desert
Two drag queens and a transsexual
take off on a semi-disastrous journey to
a cabaret gig they've landed deep in the
Australian desert. They encounter a slew
of quirky and eccentric characters, some
helpful, some flat out frightening. Just
imagine the trio heading through rural
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada
to get to Las Vegas. Like To Wong Foo,
Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar, the
closest American parallel, Priscilla tackles
issues much larger than fabulous fashion
sense. The movie juggles humor and
drama while using the backdrop of rural
Australia to breathtaking effect.
Bootmen
2000
A bit like the Australian Full Monty, this comedy shows the plight
of a young steelworker, Sean, who wants to follow his dreams of tap
dancing. Though light and fun, there is also a dramatic subplot
involving the lead and his brother, Mitch, who sleeps with Sean's
girlfriend. Directed by a world famous tap dancer, and featuring the
international tap troupe "Tap Dogs," the movie manages to combine
a compelling plot with incredible choreography. With the abundance
of testosterone-infused subjects like steel-working, car theft and
trucking, even guys could appreciate this dance movie.
The Dish 2000
What do sheep have to do with the Neil Armstrong? Most Americans
would say nothing, but that's because they haven't seen The Dish. The little-
known true story of the Australian contribution to the U.S. walk on the moon
is the focus of this quiet comedy, set in rural (sheep herding) Parkes, Australia.
Cultural conflict, an adorable romance and the suspenseftil space race give
excitement and laughs to an expectedly dry subject. The dialogue is superb,
and Sam Neill plays a cynically understated Cliff Buxton.
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Rustin, Rachel. The Rice Thresher, Vol. 90, No. 17, Ed. 1 Friday, January 31, 2003, newspaper, January 31, 2003; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth443113/m1/14/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Rice University Woodson Research Center.