The Aussies continue to make different, edgy movies. The Australian movies I have seen contain a lot of violence (imagine that) and this one is in that vein (check out The Horseman - 2009).
The premise is simple - three thugs on the run have stolen Guy Pearce's car - and he wants it back. The opening scene car chase is unusual and quite interesting. From there the movie moves into a fairly common place "Where is my car?"; "I don't know"; "Tell me or I will shoot you" story line.
There are several improbabilities in the movie. The thugs' SUV rolls over many times (with no one wearing seat belts) - and no one gets seriously hurt. In fact, it is still running. Guess they make em sturdier after the collapse.
And, this is not much of a collapse: everyone still has electricity; maids still service hotel rooms; people can still buy ammo; railroads are still running. The only real indication that there was anything wrong is the fact that no one had bathed and the Australian landscape is very bleak. (I suspect that the Outback is always like that.)
The other improbability is that although a myriad of people are trying to kill Guy Pearce and his traveling companion, Robert Pattinson, they pass up several opportunities to upgrade their arsenal, which consists of a snub nose 38 and a semi-auto handgun (I think a Glock). Although Guy Pearce's focus on getting his car back may explain why he was satisfied with the the weapons they had.
A surprise was the good acting job that Robert Pattinson did. Having skipped the Twilight series (since I am not a pre-teen) he did a credible job as Rey, the confused, pretty spastic, brother of one of the thugs who stole the car. Pattinson was irritating to watch, always jerking around and not quite all there, but the role was well acted.
After all this negativity, why did I rate it an 7? Quite simply - the ending.
The last scene explains why Pearce was so fixated on getting his car back. (My buddy kept saying - "there is something about that car" - and he was right.) After all, the thugs' SUV Pearce was driving was probably better suited to the conditions anyway. The ending explains his motivation and tells you what he values.
Throughout the movie, Guy Pearce ruminates on several ideas: what it means to kill someone; the viability of a society where you can kill your wife and her lover - and no one comes after you, etc. These thoughts and wonderings give you a glimpse into a Guy (pun intended) who is more than what appears on the surface.
It all comes together in the final, very satisfying scene. So if you are OK with a lot of gun play and dirt, wading thru this one is all worth it when you come to the final scene.
The premise is simple - three thugs on the run have stolen Guy Pearce's car - and he wants it back. The opening scene car chase is unusual and quite interesting. From there the movie moves into a fairly common place "Where is my car?"; "I don't know"; "Tell me or I will shoot you" story line.
There are several improbabilities in the movie. The thugs' SUV rolls over many times (with no one wearing seat belts) - and no one gets seriously hurt. In fact, it is still running. Guess they make em sturdier after the collapse.
And, this is not much of a collapse: everyone still has electricity; maids still service hotel rooms; people can still buy ammo; railroads are still running. The only real indication that there was anything wrong is the fact that no one had bathed and the Australian landscape is very bleak. (I suspect that the Outback is always like that.)
The other improbability is that although a myriad of people are trying to kill Guy Pearce and his traveling companion, Robert Pattinson, they pass up several opportunities to upgrade their arsenal, which consists of a snub nose 38 and a semi-auto handgun (I think a Glock). Although Guy Pearce's focus on getting his car back may explain why he was satisfied with the the weapons they had.
A surprise was the good acting job that Robert Pattinson did. Having skipped the Twilight series (since I am not a pre-teen) he did a credible job as Rey, the confused, pretty spastic, brother of one of the thugs who stole the car. Pattinson was irritating to watch, always jerking around and not quite all there, but the role was well acted.
After all this negativity, why did I rate it an 7? Quite simply - the ending.
The last scene explains why Pearce was so fixated on getting his car back. (My buddy kept saying - "there is something about that car" - and he was right.) After all, the thugs' SUV Pearce was driving was probably better suited to the conditions anyway. The ending explains his motivation and tells you what he values.
Throughout the movie, Guy Pearce ruminates on several ideas: what it means to kill someone; the viability of a society where you can kill your wife and her lover - and no one comes after you, etc. These thoughts and wonderings give you a glimpse into a Guy (pun intended) who is more than what appears on the surface.
It all comes together in the final, very satisfying scene. So if you are OK with a lot of gun play and dirt, wading thru this one is all worth it when you come to the final scene.