User Reviews

In 1969 Vietnam, handsome soldier Sam Worthington (as Darcy "Darce" Ryan) receives his release from war service. He goes home to live with the uncle who raised him as a son. Meanwhile, weighty gangster John Goodman (as Tony Testano) and his trigger-happy henchman Fred Williamson (as Sal Cassela) are dispatched from Chicago, USA to Sidney, Australia. Their mission is to take over the slot-machine racket run by crime boss Bryan Brown (as Barry Ryan) by infiltrating his organization. Experienced at killing people and blowing things up, Mr. Worthington's becomes Mr. Brown's young partner...

Worthington could follow in his uncle's footsteps, or open his own pizzeria. A romantic subplot involves amorous Kestie Morassi (as Margaret), who so predictably switches partners you have to wonder what writer/director David Caesar intended. There is no real evidence, but perhaps Brown was trying to save his marriage to older, but still beautiful Toni Collette (as Sharon)...

Not an Australian expert, but there isn't much here that looks like contemporary movies from 1969. Adept cinematographer Geoffrey Hall is employed to make up the difference by making the motion picture look like an aged Polaroid. It only makes you look for the "color restore" button. The original soundtrack is done well, but don't expect AC/DC's original "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" or a 1969 parade of hits. Direction and editing (by Mark Perry) do help keep it moving. Most elevated in the cast credits is Sam Neill (as Ray Murphy). There is something extra to see within the end credit roll.

***** Dirty Deeds (7/18/02) David Caesar ~ Bryan Brown, Sam Worthington, John Goodman, Toni Collette

Sad to say, but despite a fantastic cast, great design and some genuine laughs, "Dirty Deeds" is ultimately a disappointment. A frenetic comedy set in the Sydney mob scene circa 1969, David Caesar's tale of cross and double-cross does admittedly have a lot going for it if you're not too picky. Bryan Brown has one of his most engaging roles in years as mobster Barry Ryan, head of the pokie rackets in Sydney. Toni Collette is equally good as his no-nonsense wife, while a solid cast of Aussie professionals such as William MacInnes, Sam Neil and Paul Chubb fill out an amusing ensemble. Even the get-a-US-release stunt casting of John Goodman, as a Brown's even-tempered American rival fits nicely.

In addition, the design of the film is wonderfully evocative of late sixties Australia, complete with garish curtains, funky wallpaper, beehives and bowler hats. The soundtrack, produced by You Am I frontman Tim Rogers, is an amusing combination of vintage Oz-rock oldies (the title tune, performed by AC/DC and covered in the end credits by You Am I with Tex Perkins)and knowing modern-day covers. But there are flaws, very big ones on both sides of the camera.

While he demonstrates a keen eye for local colour and ocker humour, (witness "Idiot Box" and "Mullet") David Caeser is no action filmmaker. The car chase scenes are very poorly shot and flatly edited, with little sense of perspective or coherence. The low budget shows in a severely unconvincing opening sequence, set in Vietnam, but looking all-too-obviously like rural New South Wales. His screenplay works hard to pull off a "Snatch"-style multiple-whammy climax, but the pacing is off and there isn't enough build-up for it to really work. The romantic sub-plot featuring Sam Worthington (as Brown's straight-arrow nephew) and Kestie Morassi (as Brown's mistress) is flat and entirely predictable.

Relative newcomer Worthington sadly sticks out like a sore thumb among the otherwise distinguished ensemble with an inexpressive, lifeless performance, which undermines certain crucial scenes. Morassi is however a definite find and will certainly be one to watch in the future.

A lot of excellent talent has gone into making "Dirty Deeds" and that only serves to make the end result an even greater disappointment.

I seem to be among the majority of reviewers, who didn't find anything terribly objectionable about Dirty Deeds, but nothing particularly praiseworthy either. Great cast of actors, somewhat wasted on an ordinary and very predictable script. Lovely outfits and wallpaper, but none of the characters had enough depth to make me see them more than the actors who were playing them.

Ah, yeah!

This is a nicely paced caper and its only real crime is the weak ending.

It's been criminally undersold here, and sad to report I was alone in the dark corner of the multiplex I saw it in. As all the comments here are Australian and a year old, the film has obviously been leaked late to the rest of the world in advance of its video or dvd release. This is lacklustre treatment of a little gem.

First and most important, you don't need to be Australian to understand the dialog. I wouldn't fault any of the performances, which pretty much match the characters' function in the film. Bryan Brown and Sam Neill stand out, inevitably, but John Goodman and Toni Colette are sound in support.

I smiled from the moment this started to the closing credits, laughed out loud more than once, and salute the repeated use of "bouf-head" as a term of endearment.

"Dirty Deeds" takes a nostalgic view of the Sydney of the late nineties as we are taken along to meet a local gangster who is ruthless against his enemies, or the people trying to invade his territory. The action takes place in King Cross, an area where night life was the main attraction.

David Caesar and his cinematographer, Geoffrey Hall, created a film that seems to have been shot in that era, as they have given the movie a faded look that works well with the story they are telling. The film has some funny moments that come at unexpected moments. The inside joke seems to be about how to really make a good pizza, something that might not have been done at the time.

The film makers have to be congratulated in bringing a brilliant cast together for the movie. Bryan Brown plays the kingpin Barry Ryan with equal amount of meanness and humor. Mr. Brown is an actor that is always consistent in anything he does and he should be seen more often. Toni Collette is one of the best actresses working in films, who is at home in drama as well as comedy, and she has a rare opportunity to show her talent playing Barry's wife, Sharon. John Goodman is good as the American mafioso who is outsmarted by his Aussie counterpart. Sam Worthington is fine as the naive Darcy and Kesty Moressi also does a good job as Margaret. The only one that has nothing to do is Sam Neill.

"Dirty Deeds" works well as a drama and a comedy because there are elements of both in it thanks to the way David Caesar presents his material on the screen.

This film was not a block buster by any means. However, it is a very clever film and the acting really pulls it together. Bryan Brown is respectable as the leading role and he is helped out greatly by his supporting cast, mainly John Goodman. Goodman's trademark has almost always been the soft big guy type, and he proves in this film that he has playing those type of characters down to a science. Sam Neill plays the crooked cop, a part that seemed to fit him, but his character is dry and does not receive much screen time. The film starts slow, but after it gets going, enough of a storyline comes forth to keep most interested. The climax and is not what I hoped for but the conclusion of the film will leave most feeling satisfied and it does a good job putting everything together.

True story, in the 1960s the American government was trying to control Vietnam and the American Mafia wanted to take over organised crime in Australia.

Both failed, we know about Vietnam, this movie fictionalises what happened in Australia and uses it as a metaphor for what happened in Vietnam (and what is happening in Iraq today).

It is fun, it is very Australian (it has Bryan Brown in it, what more can I say), it downplays Australian criminals abilities but shows them as brutal thugs capable of some quick thinking.

It is not an American bashing movie and has a pro-American message and an Anti-American message that Americans could learn from. Which is basically, America we like you, we like your Pizza, but if you want to go out in the world you got to learn to play nice because the rest of the world is much tougher than you and will scone you if you don't.

It also lovingly shows how backward Australia was in the 1960s (no pizza, no colour TV), so everyone gets a fair suck of the sav (if you understand my meaning).

this movie is not at all what I expected. Sam Neill waltzes in about every 4th or 5th scene, says about 2 lines, and leaves. if you are a fan of john Goodman, this would be a great movie. but don't watch it to see Sam. you'll be sorely disappointed, as I was.

the only reason I gave it a 5 was because of a couple of twists that were worth the waste of time.

showing the "heart" side of the Australian mob is not really the best plot in the world, either. if you are a big mob movie fan, this in no way is as interesting as the godfather or scarface. but if you like police corruption, you're in.

Saw this stumbling my way through OZ on holiday and really glad i did - it's fast, funny and full of action.

I had no idea before i saw this of the real history of the slot machine wars, so it was good to learn about that but FAR MORE IMPORTANTLY this is just a great night out and makes you leave the cinema wishing you could remember more of the many really good lines.

The acting is fantastic throughout but John Goodman is just brillant. Every time i see him in stuff i'm amazed at his ability and here he gives a really moving performance. The young bloke is really good too, and some of the guys the filmakers have found to play small time hoods have fantastic faces.

The direction is cool, the script really is fast and funny and its got a great soundtrack as well. Hope this gets shown in the UK so all my mates can see it to?

The main reason i watch this movie because it had one of my favorite actor in it. He is the star of the "Big Bo" and Monsters inc. I love his soothing voice and singing (Although its nothing like Barry White and Usher) but his acting is GREAT. Well anyways about that movie. I really didn't understand the plot of it. It was about casino machines and stuff. and at the end of the movie john and the other kid get framed. i got bored through half the movie and basically fell asleep. so i was kinda disappointed in john because of choosing such a bad movie to star in. but i'll give it 7stars anyhow. Do i recommend this movie? if your a John Goodman fan its something to rent. if not just ditch it and find a nice good new movie to watch.

Yes, it's awful. As to say not one redeeming feature. It was just an opportunity for a bunch of Aussies to have fun without having to do any acting (John Goodman or no) and the scriptwriter to not have to do any writing, and the photographer to not have to see anything, and they stick in Toni Collette as if that is going to help. Who are these people that give a movie like this a rating of 7? Are they people without any critical consciousness? It's just a combo of cowboy=car chases without the horses or the vehicles, just filming people reciting lines that somebody thinks have some sort of meaning to them when they in fact have nothing. Is there any set of standards that anyone adheres to?

Worth watching. OK acting by most characters and the story was entertaining. Maybe the ending was a little weak. Plenty of humour. "Two Hands' was preferred however as a similar style of Aussie gangster movie (also starring Bryan Brown) with more effective black humour with a darker plot.

This film is so violent. In the opening sequence the amount of violence is too extreme with so little integrity. David Caesar seems to like films where everyone is threatened and seems to think its fine to use meaningless violence as entertainment. It also portrays Australians as complete idiots.

A nice little mix of genres; gangster movie, period flick, fish out of water story, and even a travelogue!

The cast is excellent, even though I have trouble buying John Goodman (an actor I adore) as a wiseguy. Sam Worthington comes across great as a slightly naive kid with a good heart just rolling with the punches and unsure of himself. Bryan Brown performs admirably, Toni Collette continues to wow me (I had no idea she was actually an Aussie) and the rest of the cast acquits themselves well.

All in all, a really charming movie chock full of 60's era flourishes and cultural differences. Very entertaining.

This gangster comedy made in 2002 and set in 1969 Sydney was treated very badly upon first release by sneering critics and it struggled at the box office. However, I believe it is a well made farce about criminal life in the seriously changing times of the late 60s set in seedy nightclub strip of Kings Cross. With an excellent cast (look it up) and excellent wry set design and hilarious costume styles so perfect for the time, DIRTY DEEDS looks great on a wide screen and is dangerous and funny in equal measures. Writer-director David Caesar is a suburban everyman who celebrates the ordinary in his Australian films. His previous efforts, especially MULLET or GREENKEEPING are worth seeing in a series that looks at Aussie wannabees and losers and aspirants often well out of their depth or level of ambition. Caesar actually has something to say and it is not just cliché. However, DIRTY DEEDS was released during a spate of OZ crim comedies: TWO HANDS (good); CHOPPER (excellent), BAD EGGS just OK), THE (shoddy miscast) POSTCARD BANDIT... and was unfairly maligned. It captures a time and place perfectly and with some hilarious 'fish out of water' reactions by visiting American criminals allows for the driest humor about 60s Sydney since THEY'RE A WEIRD MOB. Don't' be put off by other bad reviews. DIRTY DEEDS is well worth your time. Tony Collette in her green petal-tile nightclub dress alone is worth the rental.... as is Felix Williamson stranded in his Y-fronts.

I was expecting something a little grittier and not quite so good natured, a throwback to 1970's Aussie cinema if you will, but I can hardly fault it for that. Nah, you lot'll have fun checking this one out, even if it lacks the depth and tension of your finest crime capers. It is it seems, after all, primarily a comedy but with enough moments of the other kinds to keep you cookin'. Not to mention that Kestie Morassi in saucy 60's gear...

It took a couple of attempts but finally David Caesar has come up with something watchable. Dirty Deeds is set in 1969 Kings Cross where Barry Ryan (Bryan Brown) runs a crooked scheme siphoning off a large percentage of pokie machine winnings. Other than the occasional tussle with competition this runs well for him when the US Mafia decides to get in on the scheme and send Sal (Felix Williamson) and Tony (John Goodman) to either buy or muscle their way in.

Barry's nephew Darcy (Sam Worthington), having just returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam is recruited straight away by Barry to, amongst other things, look after his mistress Margaret (Kestie Morassi). Before long they show a lot more interest in each other than Barry anticipated.

The two mafia characters, Sal and Tony are very different characters. While Sal is more of a shoot first, ask later type, Tony is a bit older and not particularly happy with what he's done with his life. Neither really trusts the other and are not sure what the other is really up to.

The film looks far bigger, budget wise, than anything David Caesar has done before and is far more entertaining to boot. It shows 1969 Sydney as a mix between Hicksville and happening place. There's a lot of fun to be had with 60's fashion, particularly some of the wallpapers and room decors are worth the price of the movie ticket alone.

Bryan Brown basically plays a similar character to most he's played so far, although here he is truly in mean mode. He plays his character very well and is well and truly the films centre piece. His character is superficially a bit similar to his Pando character from "Two Hands" but here he is much more scheming and the contrast from his family persona to the crook persona is not as pronounced.

Sam Neill has a minor role as a corrupt cop who can walk into a crime scene where Barry and Darcy are dragging away two people they killed and pronounce it a "murder suicide". He plays very much against character and is all the better for it.

There's a bit of a running joke on the fact that no one in 60's Australia knows what Pizza is which I found a bit hard to believe. There were lots of Italian immigrants there by that time anyway. But then I'm not old enough to remember that.

This is a very enjoyable film and one where for once I truly didn't know which way it would end. That's achieved without even making the ending full of surprises and twists.

I am an Aussie, but far from a parochial one. The last Aussie film I saw prior to this I gave a 1 from 10 rating, and it had a top Aussie star. Needless to say, as a result of the prior film, and also because I had not heard of this film, I was not holding out much hope to see more than the first 15 minutes. I usually go for good actors when choosing a film to view, and that usually works, but as I said on the prior Aussie movie it did not. Someone faulted John G as a mafioso, and on reflection, that could be one flaw. As someone else said, Brownie is the typical Aussie larrikin, and was faultless in that role. In fact, I thought all of the performances were stellar, and portrayed the era exceptionally well.

Not sure how this did at the box office, but I hope it fared well. If it didn't, I suspect that may be because of it's promotion or reviews from critics who often do not reflect what the public like. I must also add that I thought Sam Worthington portrayed a kid from the era exceptionally well. Then again, they all did a great job. Sam Neil as the laconic cop also needs special mention.

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.

In an age when the Australian movie scene is dominated by "larrikin" family comedies, gritty urban dramas shot on cheap film stock and whatever epic movie Peter Jackson gestates in the grit under his fingernails, David Caesar has crafted a small celluloid gem. A movie about the enduring Australian goal of killing everything in our path until one day the entire world will hit itself on the thumb and say "Bugger!" instead of "Sh*t!", "Dirty Deeds" is a camp classic, a knowing pastiche of the Australia of the early 1970s with more lashings of violence than most people care to remember. The film's depiction of Australian organized crime is in itself fantastic, the gangsters drink lager, run poker machines and swear a great deal. To see them in action is to wonder if Vincent Vega and Jules Winfield would've stood a chance against these corduroy thugs. Why, it's exactly like the real thing! Dirty Deeds - A Movie For Anyone Who Remembers Australian Criminal Activity. Go see it, you'll never want to visit the Land of the Great Wide Melanoma again.

Approached this one with caution after some iffy reviews, but shouldn't have worried.

David Caesar shows he can handle big cast, big story, big entertainment;not just the character-driven, quirky little films he does so well.

Bryan Brown shows there's still no better dinki-di larrikin than him. Sometimes it wears thin, but here, it;s just right. All the cast are at their best, especially Sam Neill, who plays completely against type delightfully. The two young stars are good too, and Felix Williamson all but steals the show as John Goodman's not-too-bright, but definitely too vicious sidekick.

The 1969 Sydney underworld setting is wonderfully captured (even to accurately having Hair playing at the Metro Theatre), and its great to here so many old songs, and old Aussie sayings, that are barely remembered (and no, hardly anyone had heard of pizzas here then, except in the lyrics of "That's Amore".)

The design and camerawork are eyecatching, and all in all, while its not the deepest Australian film ever, it's very entertaining.

so the australians impress again. this film has a lot of Australian flair. Go and watch it you like funny Gangster comedies, want to get a feeling for the old Australia of the seventies and see some of Australia´s best actors in action. The unusual angled shots and the soundtrack get you really in seventies mood. Maybe the story is a bit predictable, but the whole thing is really well done and never gets boring. The right stuff for a cool, feel good, seventies evening.

A truly Australian film which captures the life of mobsters in the Cross in Sydney in 1969. Very funny and even true to some facts, this movie is worthwhile to see and if you still think Americans dont belong in Australia, well, this is for you. Plenty of plot twists help to keep it going and even if you dont understand the language, if its on DVD you can just turn on the subtitles.

Dont see it if you're not Australian - but if you are its a 8/10 easily.

'Dirty Deeds' is a great Aussie film on par with top Aussie films such as 'Gettin Square' and 'Swimming Upstream' that hasn't received the respect that it deserves. This film is thoroughly entertaining, perfectly representing Australian culture and giving insight into 1960's Australia. Veteran Aussie actor Bryan Brown puts in a strong performance as hard arsed Barry Ryan with great performances by Toni Collette and John Goodman.

Why the Australian people are so critical of films made in their own country continually shocks me. Yes, at times 'Dirty Deeds' was a tad predictable and the characters in the film were mere extensions of the actors themselves, but to the man on the street, this is a clever film with a strong sense of Aussie humour highlighted by it's setting in 1960's Australia.

'Dirt Deeds' deserves an 8 out of 10. Two marks deducted for it's predictability and it's slightly disappointing ending thrown in as a 'feel good' denouement.

See this for: the superb camera work, the bush jail, Toni Collette and Bryan Brown, the romantic tension between the four mains.