Due to coursework and Christmas I ain't gonna be on here too much for a while
Due to coursework and Christmas I ain't gonna be on here too much for a while
Member since:07.04.2007
Reviews:152
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Mark 'Chopper' Read maybe little known in the UK and Ireland but he's something of folk hero in Australia. He's spent almost all his adult life in prison and when outside he only finds a way to get back in again. A best selling author, this film is an attempt to convey the man through film to the world based on his books which are loosely based on his life as he is famous for saying 'Don't let the truth get in the way of a good yarn.'
The film starts and he is in prison for kidnapping a judge in a bid to have his friend Jimmy Loughnan found innocent (Good plan). Chopper is in a power struggle within the prison though. There's a hierarchy of tough nuts and Chopper is one from the top. However, by climbing the ladder of prison 'success' Chopper has made quite a few enemies and there's a price on his head in the prison. This leads to one of the best film scenes I have ever seen. Loughnan betrays Chopper and Chopper refuses to do anything about it. He is stabbed repeatedly but he will not turn on his friend. The tension and the atmosphere the director creates here is fantastic. The dull light blue room, the pulses of music and the flashing scenes of his friend vomiting with guilt as Chopper is repeatedly stabbed.
Chopper is separated from his 'friends' and has a cell on his own he requests to be moved to a safer prison but the prison authorities do nothing so he takes measures into his own hands and has his ears cut off so he can be moved to a medical ward.
The story then moves on to Chopper free from prison. Life on the outside doesn't suit him however, he is prone to paranoia, he doesn't trust his girlfriend with anyone and he thinks everyone his looking at his ears. Guilt from past crimes haunts him and causes him to be empathetic but ultimately causes him to be extremely violent.
The film then revolves around his time on the outside, escaping death and battling in the criminal underworld of Australia.
My Opinion
I started watching this film last night and I was talking to a friend on msn at the same time but I started to get more and more into the film. Chopper is portrayed as a very charismatic character, he is very witty and played by Eric Bana - once a stand-up comedian and thanks to this film a Hollywood star in such films as Munich and Troy (The real Chopper Read requested Eric to play the part) - he is great to watch and listen to. A taste of the dialogue
Fat guy: Neville's really hurt Chop. I think we need to take him to a hospital
Chopper: You want me to drive him to the hospital in my car? Why would I shoot a bloke - bang! - then carry him to the bloody car and wizz him off to the hospital at a hundred miles an hour? It defeats the purpose of having shot him in the first place. I find that bloody insulting.
Bana puts up a great performance for his first ever acting part. He brilliantly conveys the almost schizophrenic swinging of emotions that Chopper goes through. Stabbing a man and the instantly regretting it and wanting to help him and then going back to hating him. An excellent performance for any actor and especially stunning when you take into account this is his first ever acting role.
Any one who has seen 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' will know that Andrew Dominick is a great director. He's one of the reasons why I bought this DVD. The betrayal scene is amazingly really well down the environment and the actors are one he's filmed it so well. This was his first film and Jesse James his second and I can't wait till a third
Overall a fantastic film, a brilliant buy for £2.50, I even think I'll watch it again tonight. I highly recommend it. It is extremely violent and the 18 rating is appropriate. There are no DVD extras.
Pictures of Chopper (DVD)
The Real Chopper Today
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