Lantana

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Really engrossing, emotionally involving piece of cinema. I was very impressed by it. That said - like Magnolia - it wore the clothes of an issues film without really having a conclusion. Now I'm all for open ended discussion but the film whilst being about marriage and failing relationships was judgemental without making a judgement. Families with kids are better than those without. Poor people are happier. You should trust your neighbour even if you think he is a murderer. Messy is morally better than tidy.

Have you seen Lantana? Did you like it?

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 22 August 2002 13:29 (twenty-three years ago)

Really liked it, thought it was very clever with regards to social values, stereotypes and questioning what seems obvious in a situation - even if the chain of events was beyond realistic. Also very topical a la Soham thing.

I thought Vince Colosimo was fantastic in it.

― toraneko (toraneko), Thursday, 22 August 2002 14:15 (twenty-three years ago)

Odd to think that it's getting a bit of international attention now - it was huge in Australia about a year ago now. Great film obv. and if I wanted to discourage adultery I couldn't think of a better two hours' enforced viewing (sort of like contemplating trying smack after watching 'Requiem For A Dream').

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Friday, 23 August 2002 08:41 (twenty-three years ago)

Can't do anything other than echo what has already been said.

― Andy K (Andy K), Friday, 23 August 2002 13:34 (twenty-three years ago)

finally saw it this eve; pete = otm. i really loved it, though it did seem to have lasted for three hours rather than two. it was also rather one-sided in its portrayal of adultury.

more to say tomorrow, hopefully.

― toby (tsg20), Monday, 2 September 2002 21:05 (twenty-three years ago)

I really enjoyed it, and thought it more even-handed than some. The acting is just flawless. (esp. liked Glenn Robbins' character)

I don't know if the film was really about moralising. Maybe I got sucked in, but I left with the impression that the decision making was left up to the viewer.

And why is it in every film that Anthony Lapaglia does he seems to get more and more evil?

― Andrew (enneff), Monday, 2 September 2002 22:02 (twenty-three years ago)

(sort of like contemplating trying smack after watching 'Requiem For A Dream')

Yeah, I contemplated smack. Smacking the director in the head with a bat!

― Keith McD (Keith McD), Wednesday, 4 September 2002 03:33 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

Zing!

― Andrew (enneff), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 04:13 (twenty-two years ago)

Speaking of recent Aussie movies, has anyone seen Alexandra's project?

― ipsofacto (ipsofacto), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 04:17 (twenty-two years ago)

I've only ever walked out of the cinema in two films - this and Moulin Rouge. The first half was very boring and the dialogue was terrible and clichéd, as I remember.

― Cathy (Cathy), Wednesday, 12 May 2004 13:28 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

this has just been on UKTV and i've see it a few times now. obviously the whole thing hinges on some extreme plot contrivances and coincidences but if you see past those this is a pretty great flick. the coincidences are just a more extreme version of the ones that affect us day to day in towns and cities and maybe that's the point of the film?

anyway the stunning thing about the film is the acting, especially from Kerry Armstrong as LaPaglia's wife. she deserves to be hugely famous and win ten oscars.

http://www.enzogiobbe.com/celebs/Kerry_Armstrong.jpg

also, she's gorgeous.

― jed_ (jed), Monday, 23 January 2006 00:13 (twenty years ago)

Rachael is an australian movie standard. Remember when every australian movie seemed to star bryan brown and/or sigrid thornton?
Anyway, I hated this movie so much it was all I could do not to punch the nearest person in the face.

― sunny successor (katharine), Monday, 23 January 2006 06:15 (twenty years ago)

I've had a bit of a Kerry Armstrong crush for a while too.

― Mil (Mil), Monday, 23 January 2006 22:13 (twenty years ago)

I really loved it.

― adamrl (nordicskilla), Monday, 23 January 2006 22:45 (twenty years ago)

Yeah I really liked it too, even though the coincidences kind of got a little wearying. Great acting all around though.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Monday, 23 January 2006 22:52 (twenty years ago)

I don't really remember much about contrivances or coincidences but I haven't seen it again since it came out.

― adamrl (nordicskilla), Monday, 23 January 2006 22:58 (twenty years ago)

i really need to see this again.

also, what was the australian film from a couple of years ago where the woman was showing the japanese guy around the desert and then they ran out of fuel and... i don't want to say any more because of spoilers, but i think there's a thread about it somewhere here, and i'm pretty sure pete liked this, too.

― toby (tsg20), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 08:50 (twenty years ago)

That'd be Japanese Story.

― Trayce (trayce), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 08:56 (twenty years ago)

Yep, Japanese Story, and its great.

Not sure if there was a devoted thread. Its one of Toni Collette's best movies certainly.

― Pete (Pete), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 11:34 (twenty years ago)

Anthony Lapaglia rules forever in this. I don't care what's contrived and what isn't, because I cannot take my eyes off of him. "Searing performance" is an utter cliche, but these are the kinds of performances it was made for.

― rogermexico (rogermexico), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 19:11 (twenty years ago)

this has been on hbo or something nonstop all weekend, is that why this got revived? anyway I quite liked it but don't remember much about it, for some reason (it's been a while).

― kyle (akmonday), Tuesday, 24 January 2006 19:25 (twenty years ago)

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