The Castle
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Movie Reviews of The Castle
Movie Review: Darryl vs Goliath
Summary: 4 Stars
This was very funny little movie set in Australia about a close knit family and what happens when the wheels are set in motion by powerful forces to take their home away from them. Darryl Kerrigan and his family live in what most of us would probably call a ramshackle abode next to an airport. When I said right next to an airport, I mean the runway is practically in their backyard. The Kerrigan house is one of a four or five small houses built on this less than ideal tract of land, part of a development that never really got off the ground. All this matters not to the Kerrigans, as it's not just their house, but also their home.The plot centers around a large big business/government consortium taking the land that the Kerrigans' and the other's homes are on for further development of the airport. This is done by what is called 'compulsory acquisition', or a fancy way of saying someone has the right to force you out of your home and off your land for the common good. Seemingly fair compensation was offered, but Darryl wants no part of it, as he feels his house is his home, and memories and experiences cannot be bought and sold. His home is his castle, and so he organizes his neighbors and leads the fight to stop this seemingly unstoppable force.
One of the great things about this movie was the optimism of the Kerrigans, especially Darryl. It was like they had no real concept of the type of opposition they faced, but this helped them in that they saw themselves as equals, deserving equal and fair treatment, while most probably would have been resigned to their fate, deciding that they couldn't fight big business/government. And it wasn't just their optimism in their legal battles, but in life in general. Things most people would take for granted or not even recognize, the Kerrigans valued and cherished. For example, living so close to an airport would certainly be undesirable to most, but to also have power lines in close proximity would scare anyone away. For the Kerrigans, living close to the airport means they got a real bargain on their house, and also if they ever wanted to take a trip, they could just walk to the airport. And as far as the power lines, Darryl seems them as a testament to the modern world, a mark of man's achievement.
Another wonderful aspect to the movie was the relationships between the Kerrigan family members. While not always the brightest bulbs in the box, their hearts where always in the right place, and the family ties were strong and solid, based on love, respect and complete acceptance of each other. No one member seemed more important than the other, and they seemed to exist in virtual harmony.
As Darryl and his family struggle with the idea of having to leave their home, Darryl ends up taking his case to the highest court, with a little help from an unlikely source. Do they get to stay or do they get forced out? See for yourself, as this is a charming and often hilarious film that demonstrates a man's home is truly his castle, and the lengths some are willing to go to protect the inalienable rights most take for granted.
A nice wide screen presentation, there is very little in the way of extras, only a couple of trailers and some movie recommendations. I would recommend this to just about anyone looking for a funny, sweet, and engaging comedy.
Movie Review: A simple and fun Australian film
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a movie about people who are just happy with what they have, and who just want to live simply.
For the Kerrigan's, they think they have the best positioned house in Australia - backing right onto one of Melbourne's airports.
To the rest of us, we'd say they were tripping!
But like I said, their happy with what they've got and where they are, and they'll be damned if anyone thinks they are going to take it from them.
This film has a great reputation in Australia, and is definately worth seeing, this version is the "tweaked American version", so it is a little different from what we got over here in the cinema and the Australian VHS version, but I got this from Amazon.com a couple of years ago because strangely you couldn't get it on DVD in Australia for the longest time, although it has been released since with a stack of special features that you don't get in this version.
This is actually a favourite of Rob Schneider and Adam Sandler's which led them to use Michael Caton (who plays the main character in this movie of Darryl Kerrigan) in "The Animal" (I know this from Rob's commentary track on "The Animal" DVD).
This movie was made by a group called "Working Dog" that have just about done it all in Australia, they have had several radio shows, several TV shows, including their long-running and still going talk show "The Panel".
This was their first feature, and obviously done on a very tight budget and schedule, but with those two factors in mind it still makes for a good effort.
Their second film "THE DISH" is more polished, and a lot classier movie, and a LOT highly recommended by this reviewer (Check out my other reviews for more info on THE DISH).
Who knows when their next movie will be out or what it will be about?, (The Working Dog team are very secretive) but I can't wait for their next offering.
At the moment they are also releasing "Lonely Planet" style travel books to fictitious lands, the first two out are "Molvania", and the new one "Phaic Tan", which are currently not available on Amazon.com, but can be bought on-line elsewhere.
(do an search for "PHAIC TAN", you will be taken to a site for the book, and it is FUNNY!)
Anyway, buy this film! It's fun!
Movie Review: a little cracker of a movie mate.
Summary: 4 Stars
I first heard good things about this "quirky little Aussie flick" a number of years ago but only got around to seeing it myself last night. What probably put me off (to be completely honest) was that it's an Australian film. And you know what they say about Aussies - they're all outlaw heathen scum, so what could they possibly know about making good movies. Right?Well knock me over with a didgeridoo mate - Rob Sitch has created a wee beauty of a film. Despite its Australian heritage, The Castle has bucket loads of charm and is a thoroughly entertaining movie with plenty of laughs and good feeling.
After watching so many films in recent years about dysfunctional families (think American Beauty, Ice Strom, The Royal Tennebaums etc) it really is a treat to see such a positive depiction of family life. The Kerrigan's really are perfectly content with their lot in life. They might be simple but they do love each other, love their castle, support each other and laugh together. While others may look down their noses at this working class clan the Kerrigan's don't care (in fact, if the truth be known, they're probably too dumb to notice - as Aussies often are) because they have the greatest gift of all - a nurturing home. And strewth mate, who could want more than that!
A couple of minor quibbles: although it is funny, the humor is more of the quirky Aussie variety and at times a bit too - well, Australian really. So while I found myself smiling through most of the movie, I wouldn't call The Castle a screaming comedy. It's more off-beat and quirky.
Also, the final quarter of the film seems a little bit rushed to me. Things were looking tough for the Kerrigan's there at one stage and then all of a sudden (right out of the blue mate) comes a white knight to save the day. You beauty! Yeah, right. A little bit too easy me thinks.
It's not a blockbuster by any stretch of the imagination but at least it knows its limitations. A warm, feel good movie that accomplishes what it sets out to do.
Four stars mate.
Movie Review: Typically Broad Aussie Comedy with a Warm Heart
Summary: 4 Stars
Rob Sitch has created a small comic gem in this unpretentious movie about an ordinary man's battle to save his family's home from compulsory annexation by the neighboring airport. Rife with the broad irreverent humor that practically defines the Aussies' national character (think of Paul Hogan's TV show or CROCODILE DUNDEE, or Baz Luhrmann's STRICTLY BALLROOM), the story manages to stay just one step ahead of farce. Though we can hardly take the characters seriously, they're good blokes nonetheless and it's easy to identify with their predicament.Darryl Kerrigan (Michael Caton) is a good-natured family man who lives by simple principles. He values his home & family above all else in life. When the billion dollar corporation that owns the airport tries to oust him from his home, he just knows it isn't right. And he's too ignorant to know what he's up against when he decides to fight. Though chuckles abound throughout the film, real belly laughs are in order when his hapless lawyer (Tiriel Mora) challenges the constitutionality of 'compulsory acquisition' in court. (His legal argument will doubtless soon become a fixture in law schools throughout the English-speaking world.)
In fact, the story offers a solid critique of common law just as incisive and nearly as funny as Jonathan Swift's scathingly satirical critique in Gulliver's Travels. And it's expressed so plainly and clearly that anyone should be able to understand it--even poor benighted Darryl Kerrigan, whose command of legal jargon may be slight, yet who knows in his heart when he's right. 3 1/2 stars for this feel-good little comedy with its heart in the right place.
Movie Review: The kind of comedy Australians do best
Summary: 4 Stars
Plenty of Australian movie comedy tries to ape its international counterparts, and doesn't really succeed (Muriel's Wedding, Welcome to Woop Woop, The Boyfriend from Hell, and a whole lot of 10BA trash). Big gags and outrageous characters just don't come off. In spite of the reputation Australians have for occasional loudness and coarseness, Australian humour is actually quite subtle. The people responsible for The Castle are also behind a droll series called Fronline, which is like Drop the Dead Donkey only funny.
Above all else, The Castle is a dialect comedy. Stand-ups on the Borscht Belt Circuit could raise a giggle just by saying "What a schmuck!". Lynda Gibson does it with a drag on her cigarette and "Get your hand off it, Daryl." The dialogue reminds me of Roy & H.G. pitched and paced at a level which can last for 90 minutes.
Most American viewers seem to like the characters; if you have even a limited understanding of the Australian dialect, it's much richer. Like the cute little exchange about moving the Camira to get out the Cortina.
Personally, I fell for the running gags. (I cracked up when I saw the overhead projector)
Castle fans visiting Australia will be delighted to hear that that Gleisner, Sitch et al do a witty chat show every week called The Panel. Catch it.
Oh, BTW. I can confirm that the lake at Bonnie Doon is now COMPLETELY dry.