Damn if the Aussies don’t make interesting films. Especially indie films, there’s always
something edgy about the filmmakers and their filmmaking from Down Under.
The latest is from writer/director Louise Wadley, who has
crafted her filmmaking skills over the past 20 years with documentary and short
films — plus some independent producing as well — and now makes the jump to the
feature-length arena with All About E.
Wolfe has tabbed Dec. 1 as the domestic DVD debut date for
this sweet indie gem.
One is immediately reminded of Aussie filmmaker P.J. Hogan’s
1994 film release of Muriel’s Wedding, which made Toni
Collette and Rachel Griffiths international stars. That cinematic treasure was a nifty mix of
drama and comedy — you are laughing out loud one minute and near tears a few
moments later.
Wadley captures the same here as All About E swings from
the hilarious to the dangerous at a moment’s notice. Our heroine, “E” (Mandahla Rose — Wolf
Creek 2), is a somewhat promiscuous DJ at a popular gay nightclub in
Sydney, who just happens to be “married” to a gay Irish bloke named Matt (Brett
Rogers).
As with Muriel Heslop’s nuptials,
E’s marriage is a sham as well, but it does serve two purposes — it keeps her
family off-balance as to her sexual preferences and Matt is able to stay in
Australia (and besides, he’s her personal costume designer). Now even a casual observer could see through
this façade.
The MacGuffin that rockets this story into high gear is a
bag full of drug money, left in the back of a cab by an inept courier, and now
in E’s possession. This could solve a
lot of problems, but in no time her and Matt are on the run and there is simply
no place to hide … except, possibly, the one place where she is not welcomed.
Mandahla Rose and Brett Rogers are fantastic. There’s a chemistry between them that makes
the writing all the funnier and the gangsters-in-pursuit counterpoint all the
more tense in that we have come to like E and Matt and want nothing to happen
to them.
As to that “place” where they end up, it’s an outback spread
run by Trish (Julia Billington). The
pair — E and Trish — have a history that didn’t end well. But with everyone’s life on the line some
things can be overlooked … perhaps even a flame rekindled.
All About E is a wonderful “cross-over” film from Down Under
that deftly mixes genres, the direction and writing are solid and the technical
aspects (cinematographer and sound) are top-notch. Indeed, All About E could be a travel promo
for Australia (come on down, visit the outback), except for those nasty parts
where the sleazy drug dealers are trying to kill E, Matt and Trish!
No comments:
Post a Comment