Dirty Deeds - the movie and the soundtrack
Dirty Deeds, is the latest movie from renowned Australian film-maker David Caesar (Mullet, Idiot Box). The film features some of Australia's finest actors in lead roles (Bryan Brown as Barry, Toni Collette as Sharon) as well as Sam Neill and the US's John Goodman. Set in Sydney in 1969, Dirty Deeds is a story about the American mafia wanting to be part of the illegal Sydney casino scene. Convincing the Australian hillbillies' to hand over the reins of their business wasn't going to be as easy as the American's had expected.
As with any big film, comes a soundtrack. Tim Rogers (frontman of Aussie band You Am I) once again teams up with David Caesar as producer of the Dirty Deeds soundtrack. Rogers previously produced the soundtrack for Idiot Box, also written and directed by Caesar. Just like the movie, the soundtrack is a showcase of some of the best Australian talent around today, as well as from the past few decades. Tex Perkins, Billy Thorpe, Powderfinger's Bernard Fanning and Grinspoon's Phil Jamieson are just a selection of musicians who can be heard on the soundtrack.
While Dirty Deeds may just seem like another Australian crime film, following in the likes of Two Hands and The Hard Word, it is a surprisingly amusing and well-written script. Don't get me wrong; it still contains the trademark Australian violence and swearing. There are a large amount of Australianisms' in the scripts, which are amusing, but excusable seeing that the film is set in the 1960s. It does go one step too far when someone is told to stop pinching the lamingtons. It seemed like a gratuitous Australianism directed at an American market.
Attention to detail is important for a movie that is set over three decades ago. This was obviously considered during the production of Dirty Deeds. The old paper money, fashion, décor, Australian and American airlines of the time, the lack of seat belts in cars and shooting locations were all extremely well done. It was also enjoyable to see the Americans wondering why the televisions were still in black and white. The cinematography was unusually creative for an Australian film. Askew camera angles, circular lenses, fast, flashy editing, and vivid colours were prevalent throughout the film. At one point a camera seemed to go through a pig's gunshot wound, which was unnecessary because it felt like that particular effect was used for the simple reason that it could be done, not because it added meaning to the story.
Australians know that it's best not to mess around with people's accents. Australian's were playing Australians and John Goodman was playing one of the Americans. Caesar must have enjoyed poking fun at the Americans and showing their ignorance when Sal (Felix Williamson) and Tony (John Goodman) were discussing what language was spoken in Australia. Other notable moments included when Sal attempted to shoot a snake in central Australia and the difference in seasons in different parts of the world. Some cultural differences like tipping were also addressed in the movie.
As a refreshing change from many American movies, all the songs from the soundtrack were featured at some point in the film. Some songs could be heard on the radio, while others were part of the film score. Tim Rogers even made a cameo in the film with his band You Am I playing their song `Draggin' Yer Bones' live in one of the clubs. The club had a very sixties feel to it and the band was apparently complemented on their endeavour to find costumes' that suited the scene! The soundtrack was a collaborative effort from Rogers and Caesar, making sure each song worked in the movie. Some songs were covers of Australian hits from the era when the film was set while others were written by Rogers after viewing the film. The Dirty Deeds soundtrack is an amazing stand alone CD, but I was able to appreciate it much more upon seeing the movie.
The title Dirty Deeds represents many aspects of the movie. The illegal casino set-up that even the cops were part of, Darcy doing Barry's `dirty work' and Barry `doing the dirty', by cheating on his wife, Sharon. Even the soundtrack includes a bit of dirty rock'n'roll. Tex Perkins and You Am I covering ACDC's `Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' is flaunted in all its glory as the end credits roll.
Dirty Deeds, is the latest movie from renowned Australian film-maker David Caesar (Mullet, Idiot Box). The film features some of Australia's finest actors in lead roles (Bryan Brown as Barry, Toni Collette as Sharon) as well as Sam Neill and the US's John Goodman. Set in Sydney in 1969, Dirty Deeds is a story about the American mafia wanting to be part of the illegal Sydney casino scene. Convincing the Australian hillbillies' to hand over the reins of their business wasn't going to be as easy as the American's had expected.
As with any big film, comes a soundtrack. Tim Rogers (frontman of Aussie band You Am I) once again teams up with David Caesar as producer of the Dirty Deeds soundtrack. Rogers previously produced the soundtrack for Idiot Box, also written and directed by Caesar. Just like the movie, the soundtrack is a showcase of some of the best Australian talent around today, as well as from the past few decades. Tex Perkins, Billy Thorpe, Powderfinger's Bernard Fanning and Grinspoon's Phil Jamieson are just a selection of musicians who can be heard on the soundtrack.
While Dirty Deeds may just seem like another Australian crime film, following in the likes of Two Hands and The Hard Word, it is a surprisingly amusing and well-written script. Don't get me wrong; it still contains the trademark Australian violence and swearing. There are a large amount of Australianisms' in the scripts, which are amusing, but excusable seeing that the film is set in the 1960s. It does go one step too far when someone is told to stop pinching the lamingtons. It seemed like a gratuitous Australianism directed at an American market.
Attention to detail is important for a movie that is set over three decades ago. This was obviously considered during the production of Dirty Deeds. The old paper money, fashion, décor, Australian and American airlines of the time, the lack of seat belts in cars and shooting locations were all extremely well done. It was also enjoyable to see the Americans wondering why the televisions were still in black and white. The cinematography was unusually creative for an Australian film. Askew camera angles, circular lenses, fast, flashy editing, and vivid colours were prevalent throughout the film. At one point a camera seemed to go through a pig's gunshot wound, which was unnecessary because it felt like that particular effect was used for the simple reason that it could be done, not because it added meaning to the story.
Australians know that it's best not to mess around with people's accents. Australian's were playing Australians and John Goodman was playing one of the Americans. Caesar must have enjoyed poking fun at the Americans and showing their ignorance when Sal (Felix Williamson) and Tony (John Goodman) were discussing what language was spoken in Australia. Other notable moments included when Sal attempted to shoot a snake in central Australia and the difference in seasons in different parts of the world. Some cultural differences like tipping were also addressed in the movie.
As a refreshing change from many American movies, all the songs from the soundtrack were featured at some point in the film. Some songs could be heard on the radio, while others were part of the film score. Tim Rogers even made a cameo in the film with his band You Am I playing their song `Draggin' Yer Bones' live in one of the clubs. The club had a very sixties feel to it and the band was apparently complemented on their endeavour to find costumes' that suited the scene! The soundtrack was a collaborative effort from Rogers and Caesar, making sure each song worked in the movie. Some songs were covers of Australian hits from the era when the film was set while others were written by Rogers after viewing the film. The Dirty Deeds soundtrack is an amazing stand alone CD, but I was able to appreciate it much more upon seeing the movie.
The title Dirty Deeds represents many aspects of the movie. The illegal casino set-up that even the cops were part of, Darcy doing Barry's `dirty work' and Barry `doing the dirty', by cheating on his wife, Sharon. Even the soundtrack includes a bit of dirty rock'n'roll. Tex Perkins and You Am I covering ACDC's `Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap' is flaunted in all its glory as the end credits roll.