Matching Jack (2010)

A woman struggles with her son's illness and her husband's infidelity, but, after a chance encounter with an Irish sailor and his son, her life is turned upside down in a love story that defies explanation and breaks all the rules.

Director:

Nadia Tass

Writers:

Lynne Renew (story), Lynne Renew,

Stars:

Jacinda Barrett, Richard Roxburgh, Tom Russell

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jacinda Barrett	...	Marissa
Richard Roxburgh	...	David
Tom Russell	...	Jack
James Nesbitt	...	Connor
Kodi Smit-McPhee	...	Finn
Yvonne Strahovski	...	Veronica
Colin Friels	...	Professor Nelson
Julia Blake	...	Cleo
Marg Downey	...	Nurse Celia
Daniela Farinacci	...	Ange
Alexandra Schepisi	...	Janice
Nicole Gulasekharam	...	Kerry
Krista Vendy	...	Angela
Jane Allsop	...	Marianne
Jacinta Stapleton	...	Madeline

Storyline

A woman struggles with her son's illness and her husband's infidelity, but, after a chance encounter with an Irish sailor and his son, her life is turned upside down in a love story that defies explanation and breaks all the rules.

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 August 2010 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Encontro com Jack

Filming Locations:

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cascade Films, Film Victoria, Screen Australia

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening scene magician Sue-Anne Webster saws her assistant in half with a hand saw. This illusion had to be modified to suit the film from the chainsaw she normally uses as it would have been too intense for a children's birthday party.

User Reviews

Another entry in the Tass/Parker Hall Of Hell

Technically competent and adequately performed Hallmark fare. Nadia Tass has to be a contender for Australia's own version of the "Otto Preminger Upward Failure" Trophy - an infamous award from Esquire Magazine accorded to the Swedish Hollywood director who started his career with a half decent film and got steadily worse thereafter. Since "Malcolm" (1986) , it's been downhill ever since for Ms Tass - and yet she seems to get automatically funded. It must be a Melbourne thing (ref Paul Cox et al).

This film stinks on every level - because of its disguise as a quality film. It's cloying cast mug and perform by numbers. The plot comes from a weekend Robert McKee course and the resolution would probably even send hallmark executives asking for a shootout. The soundtrack is also pure saccharine, just in case you miss the point. There's no meat on any of the bones in this - it's all predictable and "charming". UUgh.

Avoid at all costs.

Oh, the score of 2 is for the her husband's cinematography ... which is excellent, as always.