MOVIE REVIEW ... BRAN NUE DAE
Based on a popular Australian stage play, Bran Nue Dae defines the term 'dare to be different'. It's not often an Aboriginal movie musical comes along let alone any from this country. Despite its many short-comings you can't help but admire a production carving its own place amongst a sometime stagnant industry.
Desperately in love with Rosie (Jessica Mauboy), Aboriginal teenager Willie's (Rocky Mackenzie) shyness prevents him from asking her out. Sent to a boarding school run by the fearsome Father Benedictus (Geoffrey Rush), Willie determines to finally grab his dream girl. Wanting to return home, he flees the school with the help of his Uncle (Ernie Dingo). Chased by an enraged priest, tripped out hippies and a randy cafe owner, Willie's quest is made easier by the serenity of song.
One feels a bit of a Scrooge by criticising too much as its energetic enthusiasm is certainly beguiling. Running for barely 80 minutes, its dance sequences are very well staged with tunes blended well amongst the wafer thin screenplay. Whilst there is some enjoyment, the thinly drawn stereotypes and badly written script work hard in undoing any plusses. For any story to work there must be a chance to know the characters and learn what drives them. None of that is in evidence as the briefest of introductions make way for a pedestrian road trip formula.
Another factor is its reliance on sheer co-incidence in putting characters together. Particularly bewildering at its conclusion, the film strains credibility without offering something in return to the viewer. Obviously Bran Nue Dae's chief function is to provide up-lifting entertainment, but some care in establishing a credible cast of characters would have done wonders. On the acting side, Mackenzie and Mauboy show promise with Rush over-acting outrageously much to the film's detriment. Thankfully the cast can sing and act at the same time with the cinematography making the most out of the stark outback locations.
Even with a short running time, Bran Nue Dae is a bit of a struggle to get through with a very crude narrative structure barely masked by the spirited singing. To its credit it presents something different with the hope that the recent glut of forlorn dramas will make way for productions willing to take more risks.
Movie review Rating 5 / 10
Movie Review by Patrick Moore
BRAN NUE DAE released in Australia on Thursday 14 January 2010
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Nice pictures and blog is also very nice...No doubt movie is also awesome...I really liked the trailer of this movie. now i m going to watch Bran Nue Dae movie with my friends.
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