When Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton were reviewing Australian films on SBS they were always generous with their ratings, no matter how manifestly awful the film was. They felt it their duty to support home grown product and clearly preferred compliancy to controversy. The same can be said for some of the Aussie reviewers here who are just as clearly seeing the film through rose coloured glasses. Up front it must be said that Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving are typically flawless in their supporting roles, though I suspect the former had misgivings about one scene in which she feels the need to administer a rather dubious and extreme punishment to Charlie. Levi Miller is the find of the film, showing a maturity beyond his years with a sensitive and endearing multi-faceted performance as the set-upon Charlie, who is privy to Jasper's secret and uncertain what to do wit it. The rest of the acting, including the title performance, is at best uneven, as is the direction. I confess my aversion to "fart" gags in movies. When are fart gags going to be see as unfunny, as is one here, demonstrated by Charlie's dad and out of character with anything the role demands of Dan Wyllie on screen. Collette and Miller aside (Weaving has only one noteworthy scene), Jasper Jones lacks conviction and credibility. I caught up with it on Foxtel's "Masterpiece" movie channel. The best that can be said is that lesser films have been less worthy of the aggrandisement.
Review of Jasper Jones
