Browse all reviews by letter     A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 0 - 9

Australia 2004
Directed by
Peter Duncan
98 minutes
Rated MA

Reviewed by
Bernard Hemingway
3 stars

Hell Has Harbour Views

The two heart-warming themes of the little folk who beat the big bad guys and the power of redemptive love (provided by Lisa McCune) are twinned in this unremarkable yet skilfully-made and enjoyable ABC-backed telemovie, adapted from the novel of the same name by Sydney barrister, Richard Beasley, which follows the decline and fall of a young man, Hugh Walker (Matt Day), as a corporate lawyer. .

Although the film starts out inauspiciously with a contrived-seeming set up involving Day in the middle of nowhere, in director Peter Duncan's hands it snaps into life, unfolding economically and with impressive visual style. Whilst people in the legal profession will no doubt enjoy a story written by an insider, the uninitiated may struggle a little to keep track of who's knifing who. Day and McCune are likeable screen presences although neither manage to imbue their characters with much individuality, Day being the same nicely-presentable young man that he is in all his films. Steve Bisley on the other hand stands out as a very credible knockabout "businessman".

 

 

back

Want something different?

random vintage best worst