youngspirit Reviews

The Surgeon (2005)

Tough and natural

[1 December 2005]

Australian television, particularly drama, currently appears to be in drought. How lovely then it was to discover "The Surgeon", with its characters moving within a day-to-day structure within Sydney General. Some plot threads extend across episodes, but the central story of each episode was a self-contained medical case.

I found Eve's journey tough and challenging. I liked the naturalness that this series conveyed, the everyday nature of life inside the medical profession. Most of all, I liked that these characters are 'real people', with doubts, personal problems, who make mistakes.

I would love to see another season of this great series, but should that not happen, I'm just glad I got to see this season - and hope to see more from the team behind it.

Last Man Standing (2005)

Something new and different...(minor spoilers)

[6 June 2005]

I'm surprised to be the first person commenting here, knowing that the show premiered in New Zealand before it was first shown here in Australia (last night, Monday June 6, 2005). But here we go.

"Last Man Standing" is a show that follows three Aussie guys (Cam, Bruno and Adam) making their way around the dating scene. The pilot episode takes place over the course of one day, during which all three guys are attending a wedding, only to realise that they've all slept with the bride-to-be since high school. This episode also introduces us to Zoe, Cam's ex-wife, who is returning to Melbourne after two years in New Zealand; and we see the beginnings of the awkward ex-husband/ex-wife relationship that will no doubt become pivotal during the series.

This show has been touted as the 'Sex and the City' for guys and is supposedly about men trying to figure out women. Being female, I saw it as the reverse - sure, the show is about relationships from the male perspective, but just as you need two to tango, the women in this series will need to place just as much emphasis on working out how the blokes work if this series is to escape falling into the repetitive sex-scene pit and grow into a mature, interesting series about adult relationships.

I'm glad I caught the premiere of this show, which I've been hearing about for months now. I think it got off to a good start and is worth a look, especially if you get into it early.

Tom White (2004)

Deeply thoughtful, carefully paced...

[10/10 · 14 August 2004]

I saw "Tom White" at its world premiere on Saturday July 31st, 2004; here in Melbourne.

"Tom White" tells the story of an ordinary guy whose life goes off the rails. When things fall apart at work, something snaps, and Tom sets out, leaving his home and family behind. What follows is almost a series of vignettes detailing Tom's run-ins with other people on the 'fringes of society', people in a world hidden in his city that he never really knew about.

I found this movie deeply thoughtful. Stepping away from the more lighthearted Australian comedy, this movie is a very thoughtful character study, looking into something for which most people have the capacity, but never really have the courage. Tom runs away from home, from his professional life in a desk job, and in doing so begins a new life, with a clean slate. He is no longer judged by his past, but by the person he is in that moment.

I watched this movie (set here in Melbourne) and found myself looking at landmarks I know in a totally different way when I passed them the next time: a day, a week later. This kind of film doesn't let go straight away, it has you thinking for quite awhile afterward too.

Recommended for audiences willing to take a chance with the relaxed pace and simply let the film wash over them. For me, the evaluation came at a later time: in the theatre I was swept away by the intriguing photography and the great performances by everyone, particularly Colin Friels (Tom White), Loene Carmen (Christine) and Jarryd Jinks (Jet). Dan Spielman and Bill Hunter gave stand-out performances also.

Three and a half from Five Stars.

Stiff (2004 TV Movie)

An enjoyable adaption, a humorous TV-movie

[9/10 · 21 June 2004]

An amusing and entertaining TV-movie, "Stiff" showcases David Wenham as Murray Whelan, political fixer and amateur investigator.

It made me laugh with its combination of in-jokes, political cameos, and physical humour: in this respect, the translation from the page to the screen allowed the telemovie to become the superior story - however, the detail of the book was obviously missing in the adaption.

Finally, Wenham came across as a cross between his characters Jim Doyle ("The Bank") and Johnny Spitieri ("Gettin' Square"): Knowledgeable but also slightly sloppy and tired. The supporting cast did a great job, as did John Clarke on the story adaption.

All up, Three and a Half out of Five.

Enough Rope with Andrew Denton (2003–2008)

Deep, meaningful, interesting...

[21 June 2004]

Denton's interviews don't just skim the surface: they dig down and tug at the heartstrings and the humour at the same time. He also tends to take people and their stories beyond what the viewer expects.

Denton interviews the famous, the infamous, and everyone in between. He uses his wit to allow his guests to make fun of themselves and in doing so, reveal their stories in a way and with a depth that is rarely seen.

Interviews happen every day on shows like "Good Morning Australia" and "Rove [Live]", but the difference can be staggering: for example, Hugh Jackman's interview on Rove was positively light and fluffy in comparison to the more meaningful interview presented about a week later on Denton's "Enough Rope".

It is said that the fact that Denton's interviews are broadcast after editing allows for a greater variety of questions to be asked and answered, with the guest secure in the knowledge that they can request the removal of any section. While spontaneity is lost through this process, if it is required to attain such high-quality, insightful and interesting interviews, then I am more than glad to lose the novelty of a live broadcast.

Four out of Five Stars.

Furê furê jinsei! (2001– )

A heart-warming show

[29 May 2004]

As a foreigner in Japan in 2001, this was a must-see show for me. My Japanese wasn't good enough to totally understand everything, but I believe the fact that I enjoyed the show despite my lack of linguistic comprehension commends the actors in their portrayals as a family that comes together in a very strange manner.

From what I understand... *Spoilers* A young woman (Mokoto) works her way into a family after receiving a letter from an old friend of hers (another woman named Mokoto)- the family's mother, who left the family when the three children were very young. Out of dissatisfaction in her own life, or perhaps the desire to assist the family and children, she assumes the identity of their mother and "comes home". The father soon works out that she is not what she seems, but when the father dies it is up to Mokoto, 'the imposter' to take care of the children, who are still in the dark.

In the meantime, the police discover the 'identity theft' and come and arrest the well-meaning Mokoto. She is charged but released, only for the real mother to return.

Due to my lack of complete comprehension, as well as the time that has passed since I saw the show, that's all I can remember, but it was an intriguing and heartwarming show with great performances all round, particularly by the three children. Matsushita Yumi did a great job as the new 'mother' with a secret, although the constant obstacles to the group's happiness sometimes felt never-ending: every week there was a new problem, something else to get in the way.

I'd give this show 3.5/5, and if I could buy it on DVD, I would.