Dirty Deeds
Review by Clint Morris
 Like
an old mannequin with new clothes, David Caesar's Dirty
Deeds takes the late 60's 'Dirty Cops' scenario and exaggerates
it into the point of ludicrousness, and it works a treat.
From the moment the film's central posse of thugs takes on
a poker machine palace smashing its machines as a sign of
retribution, you know you've definitely walked into something
a little different. Good different.
Different to the point where you'll be laughing at the vulgar
band of heavies and at the same time tapping your toes to
the beats of AC/DC's titular track.
It's Sydney, 1969. Everyone's out to make a quick buck. The
criminals aren't half as crooked as the cops, but with the
support of the latter, the out-there dangermice can carry
on their underhanded operations without even a hiccup.
Barry (Bryan Brown) runs the women, the casinos and the poker
machines. Detective Ray (Sam Neill) keeps quiet about the
formers operations in exchange for a bucket of money now and
then.
Barry's nephew Darcy (Sam Worthington) is home from the War.
Immediately he finds himself a part of Barry's troupe. His
first task is to suss out a couple of Chicago mobsters (John
Goodman, Felix Williamson) who are in town to muscle in on
Barry's territory.
Pretty soon Barry's gang finds themselves the target of assassination,
and he's got a pretty good idea who's behind it all. Maybe
it's time he introduced them to the Australian outback...
With such sublime detail, Dirty Deeds has definitely
not been 'done dirt cheap'. Check out the hand pulled poker
machines, that classic Australian currency, the vomit inducing
decor, the dress sense, and the old cop cars.
Caesar has put a lot of work into coming up with a plausible
world for his larger than life characters to swim in.
Every player in the picture is a riot. Bryan Brown has the
true-blue Aussie ocker with a 'shottie' role down pat (and
so he should, after playing a very comparable part in Two
Hands). Toni Collette is basking in the chance to play
his equally dinkum wife, the loveable John Goodman is the
well defined good-guy of the iniquitous group, and Sam Worthington
is excellent as the youthful innocent and former soldier caught
up in a different war altogether.
Like Gregor Jordan's Two Hands, this film takes the
unmistakable element of Australian humour and mixes it with
a cops and robbers story. The result is laughs, and plenty
of them. Caesar knows this world and time like the back of
his hand, and it shows in the infinite believability of his
characters and the world they live in.
The only downfall of the film is the troubling middle and
end. There isn't really a middle to the film, simply a start
and an end. And that end comes all too soon. Just when you're
waiting for something more to happen, it doesn't.
But having said that, the preceding hour and a half before
is some of the funniest, most original stuff we've seen from
Australian filmmakers in a long time.
Dirty Deeds is a rip-roaring laugh riot from start
to finish. It's the return of the great Australian comedy
and a chance to see some local and visiting talents beef it
up for belly laughs.
3.5 out of 5
Dirty Deeds
Australian release: Thursday July 18th
Cast: Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, John Goodman, Sam Neill,
Sam Worthington, Felix Williamson, William McInnes, Kestie
Morassi.
Director: David Caesar.
Website: Click
here
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