Comments on: Best Australian films since 1991

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:19:34 +0000

keef thanks for the recommendations. I added them to the contenders list and I gave you Love Serenade. I’ll concede that Felafel is on shaky ground, but it didn’t scar me quite as much as it did you. Hang in there, Tiger.

By: keef

keef — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:37:26 +0000

also consider
Japanese Story (Toni Collette)
Death in Brunswick (Sam Neill)

By: keef

keef — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:21:51 +0000

Just stumbled upon your list and stopped by long enough to offer my two cents.
Noise and Love Serenade deserve to be in your list of the best Australian films. In my humble opinion these two films are far better than 80% of those you have already listed.
While there are a few films I consider lacking, I strongly urge you to drop ‘He Died With A Felafel In His Hand’ from contenders. A ridiculously awful film. Bad enough to have left a lasting impression on me – insulting. Perhaps you need to offer a worst Australian films section as well.
A couple titles I didn’t see that could be added:
‘Clubland’ starring Brenda Blethyn
‘Balibo’. (funny story, the Indonesian government banned the film, but you could and can still buy pirated copies all over the place here).

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 01:36:16 +0000

B. Jane, thanks, those are new to me. I’ve added them to the Contenders list.

By: B.Jane

B.Jane — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:35:33 +0000

For your consideration…
‘Australian Rules’ a film based on the ‘Deadly, Unna’ book

also ‘the Black Balloon’

both absolute classics

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:48:15 +0000

Thanks Scott, I’ll add it to the Contenders list. Looking forward to seeing it — and yes, Jane Campion is approved ;)

By: Scott Bynum

Scott Bynum — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:29:26 +0000

How about “Bright Star”? Are you OK with Jane Campion as an Australian? Abbie Cornish is for sure. And it was an Australian/British production, yes? It’s also an exceptionally beautiful movie.

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:38:33 +0000

Dan, thanks for the suggestion. I added Undead (2003) to Contenders.

By: Dan The Man

Dan The Man — Fri, 29 May 2009 16:07:07 +0000

Undead (2003) is the only Australian zombie movie so therefore deserves a mention

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:37:08 +0000

Anthony, Malcolm deserves an honorable mention, but it can’t make the list since it was released in 1986 (this list starts in 1991). Arbitrary, I know.

By: Anthony

Anthony — Tue, 05 May 2009 02:23:06 +0000

Please add “Malcolm!”
Set in Melbourne

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:38:45 +0000

Thanks Matthew. I looked for it on Netflix then discovered it was already in my queue. Adding it to contenders. Just saw Candy (2006). Added.

By: Matthew Coorey

Matthew Coorey — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 21:54:25 +0000

“Noise” has to be there.

Superb film.

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 01:13:28 +0000

Just added Somersault (2004). Saw this a couple of years ago, but somehow it slipped my mind. Really, really good.

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:53:28 +0000

Kris, awesome. Occasional Coarse Language is going in Contenders and Look Both Ways is going on the list. I have seen it, and I loved it.

By: kris

kris — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:53:43 +0000

Also, can I suggest Look both Ways? Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, and aesthetically, very different from the normal low-key Aussie realist feel.

By: kris

kris — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 22:34:44 +0000

Jodie and Ange: Occasional Coarse Language. It was really cute, and I’ve never seen anyone involved in it ever again.

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 02:27:10 +0000

Made the list: Peter, adding The Piano as I think it qualifies based on the original rules, and definitely makes the list. Bryce, Strictly Ballroom should probably make the grade. John, adding The Boys. On the plane home last August I saw The Square, written by Joel Edgerton and directed by his brother Nash, and that's going under a new section called The Rudd Years. Best film noir I've seen in a long time. Also moved Gettin' Square, Jindabyne, The Proposition and Wolf Creek into the list. Now in Contenders: Marilyn, I saw Innocence. Very good movie. Andrew, adding Boytown, Bad Eggs and The Dish. Daniel, adding Ned Kelly. Also adding John's other recommendations, Angel Baby, Head On and The Quiet Room. We still don't know what movie Jodie and Ange are thinking of, nor what Guru's thriller is.

By: Adrian Cooke

Adrian Cooke — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:23:18 +0000

Thanks John. You're totally right about The Boys, it had slipped my mind completely. It would have to be on the list. Which reminds me that I need to update this post... (Head On I heard was great, though I never saw it. Had not heard of The Quiet Room but Rolph De Heer is quite the tour de forcer.)

By: John

John — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 17:21:13 +0000

One of the best from the late 90′s has to be ‘The Boys’ with David Wenham and Toni Collette. Plus ‘Angel Baby’, ‘Head On’ and ‘The Quiet Room’ (in fact all Rolf De Heer movies) must be up for consideration. I’m glad you have ‘Praise’ in your list as Peter Fenton from the band, Crow, is excellent.