Review: Goldstone

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2019
Images from the Internet

Goldstone
Writer, director, editor, director of photography, composer: Ivan Sen
Lightyear Entertainment / Screen Australia / Archlight Films / MVD Entertainment
110 minutes, 2016 / 2018
www.lightyear.com
www.mvdb2b.com

Goldstone (as opposed to Tombstone) is a small Australian town where three cultures meet: the indigenous population, the white settlers, and the Chinese workers. This trio is bound to cause not just sparks but raging fires. Of course, it’s up to the police to put out those fare-ups, or is it?

Although taking place in modern times, this cop drama that relies heavily on motifs from the original Walking Tall (1973), this is considered by most to be a Western, and I can certainly understand why, with the beautiful Australian Outback being the backdrop, but more on that later. In an off-beat way, one could also say it’s a buddy movie, with the typical trope of two people (coppers in this instance) who don’t like each other initially learn to trust and rely on each other, even if hesitantly.



Alex Russell and Aaron Pdersen

There are a lot of powerful Aussie actors who make their presence felt here (big country, but small film industry). The two leads are Goldstone Sherriff and lone law enforcer, Josh (Alex Russell) and aboriginal federal agent with a sad past and a problem with the bottle, Jay Swan (Aaron Pedersen). character was resurrected from a 2016 film that was a hit in Australia, Mystery Road, and would reappear in the 2018 mini-series, also called “Mystery Road.”

 

This story relies a lot on corruption and questionable behavior on everyone’s part, even the police. But the main source of evil doing that needs to get eradicated is big business in the form of a gold extraction company that is bribing and killing to get land from the Aboriginal people of the area, and who delve their hand in human trafficking for the workers in the desolate areas.



Jacki Weaver and David Whenham

Running the whole evil gold company is Johnny (David Whenham, who played Faramir in The Lord of the Rings films), and his accomplice and lover, Maureen, who is the Mayor (Jacki Weaver, of Bird Box and Silver Lining Playbook fame). Their malevolence is felt before it’s identified to the viewer. In an extended cameo-yet-pivotal role we meet elder Jimmy (David Gulpilili, of releases like Walkabout, Crocodile Dundee, and Rabbit Proof Fence). Bringing in the gravy further is a dispassionate madam, Ms. Lao (Pei-Pei Cheng, from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) and the female lead and possible love interest, May (the highly attractive and tall Michelle Lim Davidson).

 

Needless to say, the acting level is superb, and I have no qualms with stating that. Sometimes the accents are a bit theek-ahhs-flyees, and a bit to grabble with, but it’s worth it, even on a subtle level; for example May’s mouth quivers when she speaks, but the Mayor’s teeth are fixed in a way like a shark ready to bite.



Michelle Lim Davidson

While this is a buddy movie offshoot, the police are among the weakest characters as far as flip-flopping morals (the “bad guys” are just flat-out evil with no other shades), and the trafficked women are often in peril (though lots of determination towards a goal all the way around), there actually is quite a gender balance as far as power goes, and that’s pretty refreshing.

 

There is a lot of action in the third act (i.e., the last 20 minutes or so), and I’m happy to say the ending does not follow a formulaic conclusion; the rest of the film is a very slow build-up to the final showdowns. For example, considering the buddy picture aspect, these guys are barely in the same scenes together other than the occasion, until they arm up to the nipples with ammo.



David Gulpilili

There are a lot of gems in this film, such as the photography and scenery. The desert looks beautiful rather than just burning sand and rock, and wherever it is that Jay and Jimmy canoe is just stunning. Plus there are a lot of great overhead shots I’m assuming done by a drone expert (consistent altitude with little movement, which was impressive). Although polar opposites, director Sen uses the desert as a character in a very similar fashion to Scorsese’s presentation of New York City in Taxi Driver: a forbidden wasteland that still manages to hold its beauty like a snake about to strike.

 

There are a few extras here which are worth noting, all of them coming in under two minutes and featuring interviews of the major cast and director, describing anecdotes/motivations of the characters. These are “Detective Jay Swan,” “Alex Russell as ‘Josh Waters’,” “Jacki Weaver as ‘The Mayor’,” “Ivan Sen, writer, Director, Editor, Composer, DOP,” “The Corruption of Goldstone,” and “The Indigenous People of Australia.” Thanks in part to their briefness, they were enjoyable and easy watches. There are also two trailers for this film and two for others.

This may have nuthin’ to do with nuthin, but there are a lot of characters with “J” names in this film, such as Johnny, Jimmy, Jay, and Josh.

Despite the slow buildup, I can certainly understand the attention this film has received, and it is well worth the watch if you like Westerns or gun-based crime dramas.

 

 

Review: Savages Crossing

Text © Richard Gary / Indie Horror Films, 2014
Images from the Internet

Savages Crossing

Directed by Kevin Dobson
Winnah Films
Jingai Films
84 minutes, 2011
www.winnahfilms.au
www.mvdvisual.com

I’m surprised they didn’t use the Sly & the Family Stone song: “It’s a fam’ly affair…”

The film is co-written by husband and wife team John Jarratt and Cody Jarratt. It stars John and his son (from a previous), Charlie. It’s produced by Winnah Films, an Aussie production house owned by John. Oh, and did I mention that John is also known as the killer in the classic Outback thriller / slasher that quickly rose to fame called Wolf Creek (2005)? Supposedly he doesn’t like horror films, but his association with them is definitely strong.

But as far as families go, let’s not stop there. The central focus is on another father / mother / son combo. John Garratt plays a dad who is just out of a lock-down rehab after seven months where he was incarcerated against his will for his many vices (alcohol, prescription drugs, gambling, and anger management). His wife (Angela Punch-McGregor) is on the run for fear of her life, along with their university age son, Damien (Charlie Jarratt).

In the words of Noah, “It’s gonna rain,” and pour it does, leaving this trio stranded at an isolated gas station / restaurant at, yep, Savages Crossing [side note: I am not comfortable with this name, as I think it refers to the indigenous people of Queensland, Australia, where it is filmed; perhaps my sensitivities have been raised since the whole “Redskins,” etc., names have been under scrutiny of late.] Add in a couple of young women on a road trip (Sacha Horler, Rebecca Smart), the cowboy owner of the station and farm around it (Craig McLachlan) , and restaurant manager / cook / wait staff (the fetching Jessica Napier, who I doubt is any relation to Charles Napier of Russ Meyer fame), and obvious future love interest.  Then there is the crooked cop with nefarious motives (Chris Haywood).

The basic premise of a group of strangers trapped in an isolated location such as a restaurant, with a murder (or more) is hardly new. Who is on the side of “good” and who is on the side of “bad” is always in doubt, and that’s part of the paradigm as well. The question is, what do the Jarratts do with it that makes it their own?

I’ll be honest, I didn’t find many surprises in this as nearly everything is telegraphed. There is a mild twist at the end, of course, and it’s not the most brilliant, but I will say it is effective. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised at the level of suspense that is managed to be brought to the table of this oft told tale.

For me the biggest suspense, however, deals with a topic brought up by Carol J. Clover in her brilliant book, Men, Women and Chainsaws: Gender in the Modern Horror Film (1993). This film proves part of her theory, that in slasher movies, the men are, well, stupid, especially the “heroes.” You knock the bad guy out, you don’t just leave them you asshole, you tie them up, especially after they’ve proven they are not afraid to kill anyone. Especially when… well, I don’t want to give too much away. In another scenario, a couple being hunted hides in a place that not only has only one door (in the direction of the person hunting them), but it has a wall made of chicken wire (in the direction of the person hunting them).  Damn. That’s just a couple of examples.

The acting ranges on a wide scale. Being his first role, Charlie has a bit of training to do. However, both Horler and Jarratt senior act the pants off the rest, especially in a key scene they have together in the third act.

The only extras at two trailers, including one for this film.

The monster(s) in this film is the human kind, but it wears many skins and styles. It’s a good film with some mild blood and no nudity, so while you may not want to choose to watch it with your elderly auntie, it’s pretty safe for most.

 

Trailer: HERE