Reviews

The reason I was riveted by this film is because it was so real. And so Australian. I know lots of blokes like Brett Sprague.

In the scene where Brett accuses Nola of calling the cops, Nola turns away from him and Brett says "Hey....hey, look at me." In the nonchalant way he says is more terrifying than if he was yelling at the top of his lungs. You can tell there's something evil festering away inside Brett.

David Wenham puts in one of best performances in Australian cinema. His domineering portrayal of Brett was one of the most chilling I've seen in recent years. I'd rank it alongside the animal presence in "In The Winter Dark" for pure scare value.

This movie is what Australian film is all about. Not cross-dressers going cross country in a bus, or a bunch of idiots having a zany family christmas, or even a full Australian cast falling over themselves because the main star is American.

1998 was a fantasic year for Aussie films, & The Boys was one of the best.

**** out of four.

The Game includes one of Michael Douglas's finest performances. It is one of the more atmospheric and stylish films I have seen. It would have even topped Se7en as one of my favourite films, except for one thing.

The ending! When Van Orton jumps off the edge of the building, we hear Christine scream his name and then see visions of his father. Right there! That's where should've been taken to another ending where Van Orton dies, just like his father.

I believe that was the original intention, it might have even been filmed. But the ending that is in the movie seems too much like a tacked-on Hollywood ending. They show the downbeat ending to a test audience, they don't like it because it's not Armaggedon or something. So the studio have to reshoot & rewrite the ending (That's where I think the "Gonna shear some more sheep" line comes from, it sounds like it was written in a hurry).

Why? Why? Why? You had a brilliant movie WITH the downbeat ending. That's why I ask David Fincher to please, please release a Director's Cut. I know the real ending is out there somewhere.

About three weeks ago I rented yet another of Rutger Hauer's latest exclusive-to-video titles called "Hostile Waters". It wasn't too bad at all, and because of this viewing my thoughts were cast back to this, my favourite Rutger film, "The Hitcher".

I have heard this film described as a senseless slasher film with no brains. This is far from the truth. The brains are there, you just have to have enough brains to find them.

Rutger's performance in the role of John Ryder is the crux of the film, chilling the audience to its very bones. And at the same time making us wonder who or, indeed what, exactly is John Ryder? I've heard the character been called supernatural and the like, but I don't think that's it. My opinion, is that the character of John Ryder is a human representation of pure evil. He has no identification, no background, but that's the whole point. He is not supposed to have any.

"I want you to stop me." he says to a terrified Jim Halsey. That line it what it's all about. Ryder is mentally & emotionally crashing. Sick of life, sick of killing. Jim Halsey is the perfect candidate for Ryder. Perfect candidate to end it all.

I sometimes think when watching this film, did John Ryder actually have a life? When he lies next to Nash on the hotel bed he shows affection only for a minute. Did he have a wife? A family? Probably not. The character is empty and complex all at once.

I would be very surpised if Rutger reaches this level of suspense ever again in one of his future movies. It's a shame because he does it so well. In an early scene, Ryder is thrown from Halsey's car onto the road. Ryder stands up, stares at the fading tail lights and with the look on his face and in his eyes he knows he has found someone to end his killing. Rutger does this so bluntly, we know he has something special in store for C.Thomas Howell.

**** out of four.