Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Richard Wilson | ... | Mike Burns | |
Noah Taylor | ... | Brian O'Leary | |
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Jeremy Madrona | ... | Asian Prostitute |
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Jae Mamuyac | ... | Asian Prostitute |
Guy Pearce | ... | Charlie Burns | |
Mick Roughan | ... | Mad Jack Bradshaw | |
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Shane Watt | ... | John Gordon |
Ray Winstone | ... | Captain Stanley | |
Robert Morgan | ... | Sergeant Lawrence | |
David Gulpilil | ... | Jacko | |
Bryan Probets | ... | Officer Dunn | |
Oliver Ackland | ... | Patrick Hopkins | |
Danny Huston | ... | Arthur Burns | |
David Vallon | ... | Tom Cox | |
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Daniel Parker | ... | Henry Clark |
Rural Australia in the late nineteenth century: Captain Stanley (Ray Winstone) and his men capture two of the three Burns brothers, Charlie (Guy Pearce) and Mike (Richard Wilson). Their gang is held responsible for attacking the Hopkins farm, raping pregnant Mrs. Hopkins and murdering the whole family. Arthur Burns (Danny Huston), the eldest brother and the gang's mastermind, remains on the loose and has retreated to a mountain hideout. Captain Stanley's proposition to Charlie is to gain pardon and, more importantly, save his beloved younger brother Mike from the gallows by finding and killing Arthur within nine days. Written by Armin Ortmann {armin@sfb288.math.tu-berlin.de}
Nick Cave's essay in the true and tried Western format, shows how a harsh land (Colonial Australia) brutalizes the men who try and conquer it. Yet this tale has passages of lyricism that counterpoint the sudden moments of savagery. It is a very gritty often grisly picture of 19th Century Australia, warts and all, right down to swarms of blowflies. Perhaps the sadistic violence gets a bit over the top especially towards the end, but thanks to a fine cast, crisp direction, and the scorched cinematography it generally works. A standout performance in a minor role by John Hurt rather steals the show, while Ray Winstone and Emily Watson are particularly sensitive together. One suspects the harsh conditions are somewhat overstated for dramatic purposes, though the story is supposedly based on fact. Tombstone Territory never looked as unpleasant as this. It is certainly one of the most interesting period dramas made in Australia.