Clubland (2007)

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

The film may be flawed, but its message is not.

A clunky actioner with a handful of cool moments.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

I think Philby-3's earlier comment sets up the film well from a factual standpoint. However, I would be less harsh on Brenda Blethyn's performance. What Philby-3 takes as over-acting, I consider to be her playing the part as written. It's her character who "over-acts." I also think Philby-3 might misjudge Blethyn's character, Jean Dwight. What Philby-3 takes as indications that Jean is "not a very nice person," I think is a pretty good effort to show a middle-aged mom with grown sons, under stress from several directions.The story suffers (slightly) by too much time spent with the relationship between Chittenden and Booth's characters, Tim and Jill. Some of the time spent in the film on Tim and Jill's relationship could have been put to better use in setting up the credibility of the ending sequences ... reference anchors could have been better developed. This is not intended as a harsh criticism ... rather, the film, nicely done, could have been more more powerful. Likewise, the film does a very nice job in development of multiple characters, but a few of the minutes spent on Tim and Jill's time together would have been used better to develop some of the characters even more fully.Perhaps the film's strongest performance comes from Richard Wilson, who portrays Mark Dwight, Jean's brain-damaged son. The role of Mark also is critical to the chemistry of both the Dwight family and the film itself.This is NOT a comedy, but a dramatic film with comedic elements. Some of the lovemaking scenes and nudity might be offensive to some viewers. Overall, this is a low-key, well-done, enjoyable film.

There is much to admire in Cherie Nowlan's film. Keith Thompson's script is generally well developed, exploring interesting ideas about mother-son relationships and unrealised dreams. The film ultimately ends up feeling more impressionistic than narrative-driven, building up to a cathartic, Secrets & Lies-esquire gathering of all the characters, where Nowlan deftly captures the exhausting qualities of a large-scale airing of dirty laundry. It's an outstanding sequence, but her direction throughout is similarly assured, lending believability to the offbeat world these characters inhabit.Most of the actors milk their roles for all they're worth: Blethyn, at times evoking the miserable Cynthia from Secrets & Lies, is typically brilliant, as are Emma Booth as Jill, Richard Wilson as Mark and Frankie J. Holden as John.But the movie is nearly sunk by the inadequate performance of Khan Chittenden, who offers a wooden and uncertain interpretation of his character. There are many instances where he's simply unsure of how to deliver his lines, and few instances where his face does any of the talking for him. I actually thought he may have been trying to suggest through his performance that Tim was afflicted (as his brother is) with some degree of mental retardation. When it's revealed, however, that Mark's retardation is not the result of a genetic defect, I spent the rest of the movie feeling simply embarrassed for the poor guy. He is clearly out of his depth among these other superlative actors.I was also disappointed by Russell Dykstra's performance as Jeannie's camp manager. The role requires better comic timing than Dykstra is able to bring to it. I should say, though, that he isn't always aided by the sometimes stilted dialogue offered to him by Keith Thompson's script.This is going to be a difficult movie for some viewers, especially if approached with any degree of cynicism. The resolution of Jeannie's misgivings about staying in Australia is a little too easy and the final musical number will be viewed as either grossly misjudged or hopeful and uplifting. Fortunately, I erred towards the latter.It's a refreshing Australian film because, while it's not wrapped up in its Australian-ness, it's unafraid to show us as we really are. Despite the sometimes overwhelming influence of other cultures (especially British and American), and the apparent dreariness of the Australian suburbs, we still have much to celebrate.

This is an unashamedly free promotion I am writing here JUST because I loved this film so much... it is one of the best one's I've seen this year, so in case you wanted a good referral for excellent entertainment that catches you where you 'live' , here it is.It's Australian film "INTRODUCING THE DWIGHTS it is a feminist charmer (yes this is what makes it so great too ! ) , about a woman who raises 2 sons by herself with 2 jobs ...duh... but does so with such deep dedication good humor, honest caring and ingenuity...it's also about one of these sons finding his first true love...sounds corny ? yep. but the acting is so sincere & genuine that my cynical heart filled with empathy and laughter as well, recognizing the Reality of this show (not like stupid TV phony set ups).Reviewers (obviously male) refer to the film as a son's coming of age, male version of his sexual awakening INSTEAD OF focusing on the true hero which is the overworked dedicated Mother that never gives up on anybody! That is the strength and value (moral value) of this art piece.the script is well written, funny, totally believable, and rides along on pure whimsy and is smooth, with lilting talk that is haunting and enchanting, and each actor is one I would give $100 to spend a week with myself, that's how much I liked each separate one...each actor was 'real' and a decent human being....how hard is that to find, even in films ? they are a family we might envy, like the one we never had a chance of even knowing as a neighbor...much less our own...we might even want to trade into this one...for a while anyhow.If you see it ...well ..I guarantee it is so much more than it seems to be... if possible, take a chance. Go see it for yourself.I am choosing on my own to tell everyone I see in next few days about it, because when something is Good, I want to be part of having it seen, known, & experienced ... and I really want this film to succeed. Independent films have a hard time, but deserve a better than paid-for-commercial chance. This is one. I bet I chose a winner ! You will regret it later when it 'disappears' in our over-commercialized USA if you do not see it soon.

Thank God somebody has made a film here that deals with something other than drug-ravaged Westie kids or face-pulling outback clowns. This is a lovely, intelligent, and thought-provoking examination of dreams big and small, and the dignity of aspirations, no matter what they might be. Brenda Blethyn and her ex husband Frankie J Holden are both wonderful in depicting the bittersweet lives of the never-quite-made-it entertainers. Their lives consist of fading theatre posters and anecdotes of past triumphs, as they now lead lives of unimaginable drudgery, she working in a canteen, and he as a security guard in a K Mart. That's the setup. Emma Booth appears, a life force of sexual energy and optimism, which fascinates their son and turns all their lives upside down. Without telling any more about the actual story, suffice it to say this is a film that works on every level. Emma Booth is a great new talent--at times beautiful and drop dead sexy, at other times as plain and unremarkable as any checkout chick--in other words, like a real girl from that background. Highly recommended.