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Review #204, Movie #274
Chopper
Chopper
Year Of Release
2000
2000
Director
Andrew Dominik
Andrew Dominik
Producer
Michele Bennett
Michele Bennett
Writer
Mark Chopper Read, Andrew Dominik
Mark Chopper Read, Andrew Dominik
Cast
Eric Bana, Vince Colosimo, Simon Lyndon, Kate Beahan, David Field
Eric Bana, Vince Colosimo, Simon Lyndon, Kate Beahan, David Field
Notes
Eric Bana's debut film propelled him to stardom. But the film had a few setbacks.
One was during the prison scenes as the prison itself was going to be shut down during negotiations between the filmmakers and the prison itself. As a result, the funding was pulled and held back the start date for shooting. We almost didn't get Bana's career making breakthrough.
Eric Bana's debut film propelled him to stardom. But the film had a few setbacks.
One was during the prison scenes as the prison itself was going to be shut down during negotiations between the filmmakers and the prison itself. As a result, the funding was pulled and held back the start date for shooting. We almost didn't get Bana's career making breakthrough.
Also, the film's stylised visuals were purposely made in such a way that the sterile prison seen in the first half, and the overly colourful second half of the film, would give stark contrasts to one another and added an incredible sense of paranoia and chaos, or sterile correctional facility order, in the audience's head depending on the scene.
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Australian criminal Mark Brandon Read, aka Chopper, flitting between petty theft and minor assault, to kidnap, violent robbery and even murder, Mark makes a name for himself over time in the 1980s and 1990s... eventually making enemies everywhere he goes by beating, torturing, robbing and murdering drug dealers, gang members and junkies...
... and becoming one of the most wanted men in Australian history, both by the law and from warring factions of gangs and petty criminals to even his friends that he's crossed.
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An incredibly unsettling turn of acting from Eric Bana brings to life what appears on the surface as a far out and occasionally excessive brutal story of crime and punishment.
Look a little deeper though, Chopper is a relatively complex nest of boxes that is easy to follow and never fails to impress no matter how many times you see it.
One thing the film manages to do is cross fantasy with reality very successfully.
One thing the film manages to do is cross fantasy with reality very successfully.
Labelled as a Biopic, the film is more of a Biography crossed with some hokum and make-believe that gives the impression that the input from Chopper Read himself played a part in the production.
It also adds weight to Chopper's character too. Throughout the film he flits from lying through his teeth and making up fantastic stories, to telling the truth no matter how bizarre it may sound and the overall playfulness with the script adds a brilliant depth to the story and Chopper's overall character.
It also adds weight to Chopper's character too. Throughout the film he flits from lying through his teeth and making up fantastic stories, to telling the truth no matter how bizarre it may sound and the overall playfulness with the script adds a brilliant depth to the story and Chopper's overall character.
The way the character is unravelled is also well written, and his rise to fame is shown in small detail, but it's still a recognisable turn of events when shown.
The lengths the guy would go to is shown in detail too. Including removing certain body parts to get what he wants.
The lengths the guy would go to is shown in detail too. Including removing certain body parts to get what he wants.
The film is also incredibly funny at times, especially the dialogue involved and the delivery from the cast.
There are numerous situations when the realistic tones of the film shine even more when the dialogue is laid on in a humorous fashion.
All of it is from Bana too and his naturalistic presence and approach to the role makes it all the more potent.
There are numerous situations when the realistic tones of the film shine even more when the dialogue is laid on in a humorous fashion.
All of it is from Bana too and his naturalistic presence and approach to the role makes it all the more potent.
There are some other scenes of violence throughout though that are occasionally gory. Particularly when Chopper himself gets stabbed that some people may find a little too realistic and almost stomach churning, but it's definitely not a fault, it makes the film more heavy hitting in terms of tone.
Eric Bana in the title role of Chopper absolutely makes this film though. Being the title role, you'd automatically think that. Bana actually spent time with the twitchy and unstable Mark Read in real life on Mark's farm in the Outback so he could study Mark and his characteristics...
It really shows too.
Bana is incredibly unnerving, even disturbing to watch at times and you can see something behind his eyes when the character starts getting "itchy" when he finds himself in situations he doesn't like.
As I said above, he hits the nail on the head with the humour too.
Bana also rocks the physical side of the role. Depending on the scene, 1980s or 1990s etc, Bana goes from unassuming criminal to an overweight thug to a beefed up muscleman and it makes the character development even more enjoyable to watch.
It really shows too.
Bana is incredibly unnerving, even disturbing to watch at times and you can see something behind his eyes when the character starts getting "itchy" when he finds himself in situations he doesn't like.
As I said above, he hits the nail on the head with the humour too.
Bana also rocks the physical side of the role. Depending on the scene, 1980s or 1990s etc, Bana goes from unassuming criminal to an overweight thug to a beefed up muscleman and it makes the character development even more enjoyable to watch.
Back up comes from Vince Colosimo, Simon Lyndon and Kate Beahan. They all make an impression, even though none of them are onscreen for very long. The film really is all about Mark Read and his adventures.
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All in all, not much else to say about it. Highly engaging storywise, full of character and characters, great writing and very funny too in between the sombre psychological thrills that come from Bana's immense acting.
Highly recommended.
My Rating: 93%
Your review is spot on!
