Correlli (1995) User Reviews

Character Driven Prison Drama that doesn't hold back

[teresa-harris · 8/10 · 27 May 2009]

I recently acquired the DVD set showing all 10 episodes of this Australian Prison Drama starring Deborra-Lee Furness and Hugh Jackman (in his first role after finishing Drama School).

Each of the 10 episodes has an individual story, whilst other continual stories and characters thread throughout the episodes, allowing you to build an interest in these prisoners stories and how their lives have unravelled.

There is no holding back with regards the experiences and difficulties of living within the confines of prison life, for both prisoners and the prison staff, and each actor or actress gives a strong performance.

Male rape, drugs, violence and stress are part of everyday life, and the beautifully acted scene by Hugh Jackman confessing to his Psycologist, played by Furness, that he cannot cope with going back to living in Maximum shows the future brilliance that is the mark of a really great actor as he runs through various emotions in the one scene.

Watching Jackman and Furness's characters sexual tension as they are attracted to each other is undeniable (they met, fell in love during the making of this series) and the final episode especially strong.

Each of the main prisoner characters that run continually through the episodes are believable and well acted, especially Jackman's young cell mate, who gives a wonderful performance as the first timer trying to be tough but inside falling apart.

Well worth watching if you can get your hands on the DVD set.

Underrated Australian prison/romance drama that made us first fall in love with Hugh.

[Lantana · 7 May 2004]

I watched this tv series when it first came out on good old ABC and found it addictive to watch. This is the show that the now world famous Jackman met his wife while making and the sexual tension between them (in the few scenes they actually had together) makes the scenes in the Sopranos between Tony Soprano and his psychiatrist look like a bad soap opera.

It's not just a romance though, although it was talked up as one when it first came out, it's mainly about prison life and Hugh Jackman's character dealing with being in jail and being in love with his screw.

There's a few strange cameos from other actors mostly only Australians would recognise and all in all it was a brilliant series with an appropriately heart wrenching ending.

Amazing performances from Jackman and Furness

[angelicvampyre · 10/10 · 6 December 2007]

This show was completely character driven, dependent on the depth brought to the characters by its two leads and the chemistry between them.

The performances are brilliant, showing both the reality of prison life and the slow build from attraction to friendship to impossible love between Kevin Jones (Jackman) and Louisa Correlli (Furness). They have relatively little screen-time together in many of the episodes but the connection between them is electrifying.

Jones is a flawed hero, a loner (at least initially) and repeat offender who is often bitter and angry or even savage but there is a added depth to him that makes it easy to understand Correlli's compulsion to reach out to the good heart that lies beneath his pain and sometimes shines through unexpectedly.

The supporting cast are also excellent, giving the leads strong characters to play off and mostly avoiding the pitfalls of two-dimensional caricatures of prisoners and guards. Prison life is starkly portrayed, showing the hope and despair that the inmates feel and the bonds of friendship or enmity that can form between them.

interesting and gritty

[wynne · 14 July 2005]

very interesting prison drama, with strong stories, and many great character portrayals.

It is mature and often ugly, realistic and very surprising for television. The lead characters generously share the glory as other stories come to the forefront, and are true to themselves - the ending is honest and atypical for North American audiences.

It is impossible to take your eyes off of Deborah and Hugh, they are so good together.

I wonder if the series continued without the presence of Hugh Jackman?

Underrated.

I wish they would show this on British TV

[deadly-1 · 29 May 2004]

Having read the comments, which are very favourable, it would be nice to see this on our own TV - as we have with other Australian series.

I can only imagine how good he was. I first saw Hugh live in London and was very impressed with the extent of his talent. It was quite some time later that I discovered he had started to make films. So I have collected what I can but I cannot get "Paperback Hero" or "Standing Room" - anybody know of any copies around ?

Every film that I have seen he always takes the acting credit. Being a stage actor he can bring so much more to the screen. So many 'small' touches that bring the performances to the fore. He is a real professional I really loved KATE & LEOPOLD. The theme music of the film is lovely and I would have loved to have heard Hugh Sing "Until" which won an Oscar. Pity about Meg's hair she too is a very talented lady but the hair spoilt the character.