[JMedeiros]

With HULK opening this weekend, I am in an Eric Bana kind of mood and the only film of his I have to watch this week is "Blackhawk Down".

Has anybody seen him in "Chopper"? Did you like the film? No spoilers please

John

 

[HappymaN]

Eric Bana!

Not the sort of name that I expect to see around here.

Chopper is a really good movie, he's brilliant in it. I don't know though, whether or not Americans would appreciate it in the same way as Australians did.

 

[JMedeiros]

Quote:

Originally posted by HappymaN Eric Bana! Not the sort of name that I expect to see around here. Chopper is a really good movie, he's brilliant in it. I don't know though, whether or not Americans would appreciate it in the same way as Australians did.

Thanks Happyman...my video store did not have it on DVD or VHS...so looks like it's Half.com...my postman recommended it today as well.

Would you happen to know if any of his standup comedian stuff is available on DVD...any region?

John

John

 

[Aong]

Quote:

Originally posted by JMedeiros Thanks Happyman...my video store did not have it on DVD or VHS...so looks like it's Half.com...my postman recommended it today as well. Would you happen to know if any of his standup comedian stuff is available on DVD...any region? John John

chopper was good. But his standup isn't that great. He had a short lived talk show in Australia for a while, until it was cut short because it was terrible....ouch...bad memories

 

[aeberbach]

Eric Bana is a talented actor. I used to think he was just a has-been comedy show guy but then I watched "Chopper" and the inetrviews with Mark Reid (the real life Chopper) afterwards. Bana became Reid in that film, the total commitment to the character reminded me of DeNiro in Taxi Driver. The film as a whole is not on that level but it's worth buying the DVD. If you hate it sell it on eBay - it will still cost you less than a rental.

 

[JMedeiros]

Thanks guys. I spent the day in NYC today scouring the shelves of Best Buy, HMV, Tower and Virgin Megastore...not a copy to be found....so I just ordered it from Amazon...said they had one copy in stock.

With The Hulk opening here this Friday, a smart DVD store owner would have stocked up on copies of Chopper I would think.

Anyhow..based on what I have heard from you guys about Eric Bana's performance in it...I am really looking forward to seeing it. I also like seeing an actor totally transform himself in a role...so Chopper sounds like my kind of film.

Like Ed Norton in American History X and Primal Fear. And DiNiro did it in Raging Bull as well as Taxi Driver. Both super character actors.

Sure...Bana transforms in The Hulk...but that's a Hulk of a different color (arrrrrrrrggggghhhhhhhh!) sorry

 

[stymie miasma]

I am sure you will enjoy Chopper - it is an excellent film, even moreso if you have seen interviews with Mark Brandon Reid. Eric Bana's perfromance was, in my opinion, outstanding. The movie is very confrontational in parts, but also quite humourous, but the humour is decidedly black.

Let us know how you find it

 

[aeberbach]

"Daddy why has that man got no ears?"

 

[becomethemould]

i just remember eric bana with his "poiter" in full frontol didn't get to see his late show, i think they are showing chopper on channel 9 this week. i'll catch it.

btw what do you guys think about micallef tonight? i reckon it's pretty funny, but the guests on the show sort of spoil the humour. it's sort of like conan or kumars at num 42. it's witty and sarcastic hehe

 

[JMedeiros]

Quote:

Originally posted by stymie miasma I am sure you will enjoy Chopper - it is an excellent film, even moreso if you have seen interviews with Mark Brandon Reid. Eric Bana's perfromance was, in my opinion, outstanding. The movie is very confrontational in parts, but also quite humourous, but the humour is decidedly black. Let us know how you find it

Chopper arrived today and I spent the evening watching the DVD and all the extras...wow...what a performance! I liked alot of the other casting as well.

And you are right....one of the bonus features is some video footage called "A Weekend With Chopper" that Eric Bana spent with him. ...it's incredible how he captured the man. Also,one of the deleted scenes starts with the real Mark Brandon Reid telling the Hooky The Cripple story...then cuts to Bana telling the story in a cut scene...brilliant.

Thanks for pressing me to get it...I really enjoyed it and have at least two friends who will also love this film and Eric Bana's performance. I am now watching the film with Mark Reid's commentary track switched on and really digging it.
Great flick...glad I did a few somersaults to track a copy down.

Oh..and as a super bonus...one of the audio tracks is DTS 5.1

John

 

[stymie miasma]

Glad you liked it J - hopefully this will not be your last foray into the world of independent Australian film. There is so much good stuff out there, I'm just not sure how easy it is to track down over here in the US.

For what it is worth, when I have a few spare clams, I plan to get Mad Max 1 (Special Edition) and Mad Max 2 on DVD. If you haven't seen these two classics of cinema, you owe it to yourself to check them out.

Other worthwhile titles:

Romper Stomper
Angel Baby
Bad Boy Bubby
Two Hands
Malcolm
The Castle
Death in Brunswick
The Big Steal
Metal Skin
The Boys
Dogs in Space
Ghosts of the Civil Dead
Proof
Lantana
The Interview

 

[JMedeiros]

Quote:

Originally posted by stymie miasma Glad you liked it J - hopefully this will not be your last foray into the world of independent Australian film. There is so much good stuff out there, I'm just not sure how easy it is to track down over here in the US.

Thanks for the great list...I have only seen three...the two Mad Max films (was a big Mad Max fan) and Romper Stomper. I saw the original US American International release with the dubbed "Americanized accents" soundtrack of Mad Max many years ago and want to get it with the original soundtrack. The Castle is already on my wanna see list and I'm happy to have all your suggestions as well.

PS..I have an account at HMV Australia and a region-free player

also just visited my DVD rental club online and have reserved The Castle, The Interview and Lantana.

Thanks!
John

 

[stymie miasma]

Quote:

Originally posted by JMedeiros Thanks for the great list...I have only seen three...the two Mad Max films (was a big Mad Max fan) and Romper Stomper. I saw the original US American International release with the dubbed "Americanized accents" soundtrack of Mad Max many years ago and want to get it with the original soundtrack. The Castle is already on my wanna see list and I'm happy to have all your suggestions as well. PS..I have an account at HMV Australia and a region-free player also just visited my DVD rental club online and have reserved The Castle, The Interview and Lantana. Thanks! John

I can't begin to imagine how bad the overdubbed Mad Max must sound

I am glad the DVD has the original voices, but I'm not too sure about Mad Max 2.

Hopefully, you will get a real kick out of The Castle - just keep in mind that some Australians (but not all

) are like that. I sometimes wonder what the rest of the world thinks of us!

The Interview is very interesting, especially given Hugo Weaving's more recent role as Agent Smith in The Matrix series. You will see what I mean when you see it.

I only saw Lantana recently, after moving to Philadelphia. I loved it, a really good plot and story, great acting and that decidedly Australian cinematography that you just don't get anywhere else. Maybe it is the lighting, or the colours of the landscape - I even noticed it a bit in the first Matrix movie when they were shooting outside (in Sydney). Whatever it is, I find it very appealing.

 

[Mystyler]

Quote:

Originally posted by stymie miasma Glad you liked it J - hopefully this will not be your last foray into the world of independent Australian film. There is so much good stuff out there, I'm just not sure how easy it is to track down over here in the US.

Stymie, seeing as you are now in Phily, I doubt you caught, "The Postcard Bandit"?

Basically the life of Brendan Abbott.

 

[JMedeiros]

Quote:

Originally posted by stymie miasma I can't begin to imagine how bad the overdubbed Mad Max must sound I am glad the DVD has the original voices, but I'm not too sure about Mad Max 2.

It's pretty bad...but Mel at least did his own track, I believe. By the time we got Mad Max 2...it was called The Road Warrior and had the original Australian voice track.

The only other Australian film I own is Paperback Hero...kind of fluff...but it's fun to see the landscape, locations and Hugh Jackman pre-Wolverine