Secret Men's Business (1999 TV Movie) User Reviews

Not very original despite some great acting.

[Michael_Grech · 5/10 · 3 September 2005]

Secret Men's business would attract the attention of any Aussie film/TV lover simply because of the cast. Ben Mendelsohn, Marcus Graham, Simon Baker, Jeremy Sims etc (not to mention Joel Edgerton in one of his early roles as a bikie !!) are great actors and I was drawn to this because of them.

As the show goes on its reasonably interesting and it has some beautiful scenery. The sad point is that the climax of the film is very unoriginal and has been done so many times before. One guy realises that his wife is having an affair with his best friend. I mean how many times have we see that in a film/show ?? You would think that a film that was so well put together would have a more original script.

Overall its not bad and if you are doing nothing and it comes on TV then sure you may as well watch it but I would not advise you to go out of your way to see it.

ahhh, the sweet paradox of male bonding

[JamBap · 8/10 · 18 May 2005]

I would just like to echo the first 2 comments made about this beautiful Australian drama. This movie was shown on the ABC channel here in Australia about a month ago and I didn't see the beginning. I wasn't really paying attention but flicking channels while doing some paperwork at my desk. As I left the TV on ABC for a while I found myself noticing that this was not your average TV drama show or indeed Australian movie. I was quickly drawn into the story and performances and before long I had abandoned my desk and was sitting like a child in front of the TV screen utterly engrossed. It beautifully portrays the lives of a group of men desperately trying to reconcile their seemingly successful outer world with their very weak and disconnected inner selves. In this male bonding scenario, while they put on the act of machismo and bravado as dictated by social expectation, they reveal just what fragile and scared individuals they really are. At the same time however, the story is beautifully measured, not judging or making a villain of any of them but merely peeling away the layers to reveal what lies beneath the surface. A must see for all seeking an honest insight into the male psyche... I am a male by the way, so would know! ;-)

Honest and intelligent Australian film

[frbr · 11 October 1999]

Secret Men's Business is very much like the US movie "The Big Chill". A group of school friends are re-united after a death. They begin to deal with certain truths which have been ignored for some time. The characters are very Australian. Not the outback Australia kind (no big knives). Or even the suburban Australia kind (no car revving). Just real people. It's honest and intelligent. One of Australia's better productions.

Amazing - A must see!!!!

[themarkofcain · 10/10 · 28 June 2005]

This is simply the best Australian film ever made. EVER!!! It conveys the feelings as four friends are re-united after the death of their secondary school teacher. They must deal with their past roles in his dismissal as a teacher and re-establish the friendship that had existed.

It is a truly amazing film that must be seen and conveys feeling and emotion to the viewer just as effectively as Lost in Translation.

This is an absolutely incredible film. And really should be seen as an example of conveying and deeply involving the audience without any cliché'd flashbacks or other tools.

The acting is flawless and the script is very thoughtful and realistic.