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List Price: $9.98 | | Label: First Look Pictures
Salesrank: 38943
Released: April 11, 2006 |
| Our Price: $4.33 |
| Used Price: $0.68 |
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MPAA Rating: R (Restricted)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
After redeeming herself from a troubled past tracy sets a goal of owning her own business. But the return of her ex-boyfriend & the criminal intentions of her brother threaten to tear apart her goals & test her relationship to her mother. Will her dreams be enough to start a new life? Studio: First Look Home Entertain Release Date: 05/06/2008 Starring: Cate Blanchett Hugo Weaving Run time: 109 minutes
Little Fish Reviews:
Boring and Depressing.... 
2009-05-31 - I picked this movie up because I really enjoy Cate Blanchett and I hadn't even heard of this one, but I really just didn't like it. I would never buy this movie nor watch it again. The DVD case said "Psychological Thriller", "Your hairs will be standing up on end", "Weaving looks a lot scarier than he ever did as Mr. Smith in the 'Matrix' films"....needless, to say I was expecting to be watching an exciting, edge-of-your-seat-suspense film, but what I got was a slow, plodding, expose' in the screwed up, tragic lives of drug addicts and the people around them. It was extremely depressing given the fact that the end of the movie leaves viewers with nothing to feel good about. These characters don't seem to ever change or truly move past their addictive, manipulative behavior...and maybe that's the point, I don't know. I did think the acting by all the cast was good...they really seemed to be the people they were portraying...and I still love Cate, but I thought the movie was really dreary with very little suspense unless you count the anxiety of whether they'll get through whatever hare-brained scheme they've come up with to get what they want (ie drugs or money) for the day.
Swims with the big fish admirably 
2009-05-27 - This movie is as the best Australian movies tend to be,in your face,unflinching and with a realism that holds onto you long after it has ended.
I am an Australian who lives in America and i really wish that more movies here tackled issues no matter how distasteful or life affirming in this manner.
There are fine movies made here to be sure,but so many swap realism for a cutout or so called sexier version of it.
The performances by Blanchett and the rest of the cast are great.
Nothing is overused or watered down in the many scenes that while on the surface appearing mundane are loaded with venom or longing like the drug the movie is centered around.
The spareness of scenes like tracy back at the train station scoring then stumbling past the children's choir singing an anthen like version of Cold Chisel's Flame trees is so full of longing that i could almost feel myself thinking of situations and times in my own life.
If you like reality that hurts like life does at times watch this and it will remind you that movies that confront reality make understanding yourself that little bit easier.
Ian.
What happens to ex-druggies
2008-11-16 - Unusual look at reformed druggies and how their lives can be forever tied to addiction. The characters and plot are unusual. As the cover blurb notes, everyone is hiding something in this movie. That's its appeal. Intelligent script and great casting make this one a winner.
This is perfect for film school students 
2007-10-31 - Everyone else, however, will find it hard going. Film school students will admire the unrelenting portrayal of dreary lives, the eliptical script, the A listed high powered cast giving meticulous well thought out performances. Film critics, many of them film school graduates, have already pronounced it worthy, worthy, worthy. I found it boring, boring, boring.
Why do filmmakers often seem to forget that they are storytellers? It is a storyteller's obligation to entertain or at least involve the audience. Unrelenting portrayals of dreary lives are just that...dreary. And because the script is so eliptical (very arty though)it is difficult to get a grip on the emotional stakes for the characters in what is going on.
Watching this movie was like eating a trout filet with too many small bones, enjoyment is spoiled by having to pick pieces of story out of a script that gives one too little to chew on amid too many annoying and pointless distractions.
Despite that, Hugo Weaving does manage to engage some sympathy. He is a fine actor. I wish the script had served him as well as he served it. Cate Blanchett was wasted in a totally thankless role. The actress playing her mother, I would like to see more of. For their sakes, I gave this movie three stars.
This is a hidden gem 
2007-05-01 - I totally disagree with the reviewer who said this is a waste of time.
I bought this as a previewed dvd from Blockbuster as I love Cate so much. During the first 5-10 minutes of the film I was a little confused as to who the characters were and what the relationships were between them. But I think that makes for an interesting film...not the same old predictable movies that Hollywood seems to be making these days...soon enough you start to piece together how these characters are related to one another.
Cate and Hugo both give outstanding performances and the whole cast is excellent. I also like the fact that it is an Australian film and the film takes you to a place you might not otherwise have experienced.
I was so interested to learn more about the background of this film that I listened to the director's commentary got a great insight into the plot and the acting.
Cate continues to impress me as one of the best actresses around and this is not a waste of time in my opinion. It's a haunting and poignant film and I just cannot get it out of my head...it stays with you long after you've seen it.
