Lisa Tucker
Interactive Communications
Sunday night at Sundance marked the world premiere of Clubland, the Australian coming-of-age story by director Cherie Nowland and writer Keith Thompson. (My colleague, Angie Tipton, managed to score some tickets for the event after hearing of my interview with Nowland and the movie’s lead actress, Brenda Blethyn.)
Photo by George Pimentel - © WireImage.com
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must say that I really wanted to like this movie before ever setting foot into the Eccles theater. Both Cherie and Brenda were amazingly humble and kind people who you couldn’t help but root for. Nowland was even humble when she opened the movie, remarking that when she saw the line of people waiting at the door of the theater, she wondered if they were at the wrong movie.
Given all that, and trying to be as objective as possible here, I have to say that the movie was superb. Really. The casting was brilliant, especially with newcomers Khan Chittenden (Tim), Emma Booth (Jill), and Richard Wilson (Mark) delivering performances that made you believe they were really living the teenage angst they portrayed. Blethyn gives a perfect performance. As an aging stand-up comedienne, she’s also a mother who believes her two sons are her everything, and, therefore, owe her everything in return.
The movie was at once funny, sad, and touching without ever going over the top. It was if everyone held back just a little to avoid the heavy-handed drama that so many movies today often play. I laughed throughout the film -- and squirmed in my seat a bit -- as I watched a mother trying to let go and allow her son to go into adulthood.
The movie reminded me of last year’s Sundance darling (and now Best Picture Oscar nominee) Little Miss Sunshine in its portrayal of a loving, yet dysfunctional family. It doesn’t surprise me now when I recall director Nowland calling Sunshine one of her favorites from last year.
On a personal note, I couldn’t help but cheer – loudly – as the film came to a close. I felt as if I knew the director and her lead actress, and I was so proud of their accomplishments on this film. I hope when this film gets picked up for distribution (as I know it will), it will get all the awards and accolades it deserves. As they say in Australia, “Good job, mates!”
Sunday night at Sundance marked the world premiere of Clubland, the Australian coming-of-age story by director Cherie Nowland and writer Keith Thompson. (My colleague, Angie Tipton, managed to score some tickets for the event after hearing of my interview with Nowland and the movie’s lead actress, Brenda Blethyn.)
In the spirit of full disclosure, I must say that I really wanted to like this movie before ever setting foot into the Eccles theater. Both Cherie and Brenda were amazingly humble and kind people who you couldn’t help but root for. Nowland was even humble when she opened the movie, remarking that when she saw the line of people waiting at the door of the theater, she wondered if they were at the wrong movie.
Given all that, and trying to be as objective as possible here, I have to say that the movie was superb. Really. The casting was brilliant, especially with newcomers Khan Chittenden (Tim), Emma Booth (Jill), and Richard Wilson (Mark) delivering performances that made you believe they were really living the teenage angst they portrayed. Blethyn gives a perfect performance. As an aging stand-up comedienne, she’s also a mother who believes her two sons are her everything, and, therefore, owe her everything in return.
The movie was at once funny, sad, and touching without ever going over the top. It was if everyone held back just a little to avoid the heavy-handed drama that so many movies today often play. I laughed throughout the film -- and squirmed in my seat a bit -- as I watched a mother trying to let go and allow her son to go into adulthood.
The movie reminded me of last year’s Sundance darling (and now Best
Picture Oscar nominee) Little Miss Sunshine in its portrayal of a loving, yet dysfunctional family. It doesn’t surprise me now when I recall director Nowland calling Sunshine one of her favorites from last year.
On a personal note, I couldn’t help but cheer – loudly – as the film came to a close. I felt as if I knew the director and her lead actress, and I was so proud of their accomplishments on this film. I hope when this film gets picked up for distribution (as I know it will), it will get all the awards and accolades it deserves. As they say in Australia, “Good job, mates!”
Photo by George Pimentel - © WireImage.com
sundance, sundance film festival, sundance film 2007, hp, hewlett packard, clubland, brenda blethyn, cherie nowlan
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