Clubland (Aka: Introducing The Dwights) Review
by Sean Lynch
Read our Exclusive Interview with Khan Chittenden & Richard Wilson Here
Ok, I'll get this out of the way early. I hated Muriels Wedding. And I hated Priscilla and Strictly Ballroom! There, I've said it, it's out there - do with it what you will. But
it's time to face facts. Wacky Australian flicks are terrible, and are
an embarrassment to our country. So it's with great pleasure to discover that our most recent export, Clubland (or Introducing The Dwights
as it will be known in the USA) is almost as perfectly an accurate
depiction of Australian life as you are to find on the big screen. It's
a near perfect gem. The flick follows Jeannie Dwight (the ever so
screechy voiced Brenda Blethyn) - loving mother,
divorcee, canteen lady and on the road to a comeback on the club comedy
circuit. Her
ex-husband John (Frankie J Holden) is staging a comeback of his
own, hoping to regain his title of Number One in the Country charts which last occurred in 1975.
With
parents like these and a brother suffering from cerebral palsy (played
to perfection by youngster Richard Wilson), it's not surprising that
life's not always smooth sailing for 21-year-old Tim who is shy, lives
at home, and is a disaster with women. Enter the beautiful and feisty
Jill who walks into Tim's life - but there is
another woman in Tim's life, one who will stand between him and the
perfect romance...his mother! The
story is simple enough, and never gets bogged down in bizarre and
'ocker' stereotypes that even our best Aussie film exports seem to do
(if anything, it shares more common traits with the likes of Little Miss Sunshine). And that's where the real strength lies with Clubland,
which recently made history after being picked up by Warner Independent
for $4 million at the Sundance Film Festival - as well as becoming the
first Australian film ever to receive a July 4th release in the USA. The
cast, too, are fantastic. While lead's Brenda Blethyn and Khan
Chittenden seem to work against the film on occasion, they do deliver
quite solid efforts. However, it is the support cast that really makes Clubland shine. They are nothing short of astounding. Emma
Booth (who plays Tim's love interest) is an absolute find. Not only is
she utterly gorgeous - but the depth of her performance shows glimpses
of Rose Byrne (who, in my opinion, is one of the most likable Aussie
actresses to have ever graced our screens). Frankie J Holden is
superb, delivering a performance that is both likable, funny and
empathetic. However, the real star of the film is without doubt that of
Richard Wilson's portrayal of Tim's disabled brother Mark. It's a
superbly executed performance that delivers some of the biggest laughs
of the film, without ever taking the low road of exploiting Mark's
disability. Sure, the flick lacks some pace and slick editing
throughout the first act, but the film still travels along - and will
rarely (if ever) leave you wondering or caring if it will end. There
are some superb "Ocsar Clips" during the climax, with the awkward
interplay between Blethlyn and Booth fantastic, and you will struggle
to find a dissatisfied viewer leaving the cinema. Yet another
addition to the re-emergence of quality, relateable and enjoyable
Australian cinema. Let's hope this is just the beginning... 4 out
of 5 Clubland
Australian
release: 28th June,
2007
Cast: Brenda Blethyn, Emma Booth, Russell Dykstra, Khan Chittenden, Katie Wall
Director: Cherie Nowlan
Website: Click
here.
Interview: Khan Chittenden & Richard Wilson - Click Here
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