2008 ARIA Awards
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TROPIC THUNDER: REVIEW This is a knockout comedy with combustible action and explosive gags that will literally leave you in stitches of laughter. Ben Stiller, who also co-wrote, co-produced and directed this minor masterpiece, is strident in his approach to the smart humour and sharp satire, similar in many ways to his former creation, Zoolander. What he did for the fashion industry then, he equally sends up behind the scenes of movie making now. Before the main feature even begins, we are treated to three fake trailers and a bogus soft drink commercial that set the standards high. The absurdity is relentless from the get go. Three Hollywood heavyweights are in Vietnam filming an adaptation of a highly regarded best-selling war memoir but the production is spiralling out of control. Action hero Tugg Speedman (Stiller) is having a hard time scraping up an emotional performance. His last film where he played a dysfunctional farmhand hand who spoke to animals was a serious flop. While opposite him is Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr) who has undergone controversial plastic surgery to up the authenticity. Rounding out the trio is overweight funnyman Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), a borderline junkie who needs his jellybeans. His main success has been based on flatulence, the crude but profitable comedies are a winner with audiences - just not with critics. Along with a rapper and a fresh faced newcomer, the five get forcefully dragged away from their entourage. They are dumped into the heart of the jungle by their pompously frustrated English director. In order to film guerrilla style that may add to the realism, it's also a last resort attempt to squeeze some decent acting out of them. With hidden cameras set up in trees and explosives set to detonate on cue from a trigger happy effects expert, the boys unfortunately encounter one big problem. Close by is a drug cartel operating a heroin laboratory who think the incoming troops are for real. What escalates from this point onwards is a fast mash up of hilarity gone into overdrive. The drug dealers have authentic bullets in their guns and are not afraid to defend their poppy fields. A hostage situation occurs and the boys realise this is no boot camp having to pull together to stay alive. Robert Downey Jr is having a great year with 'Ironman' a global phenomenon and now this unhinged performance. He nails the Aussie dialect for the second time on screen, his first being in 'Natural Born Killers'. Nick Nolte has some witty moments as the handless author of the memoir overseeing his story. Some of the cliché's that he sprouts include classics such as ' Beds give me nightmares'. Almost unrecognisable until he opens his mouth, an extended cameo from a bald and hairy Tom Cruise as a foul mouthed film financer who demands a box office hit and better acting is a scene stealer. The cinematography is dramatic, following choppers in full flight across lush green locations in Hawaii that stand in for South East Asia. If you're familiar with the television series 'Lost', you will recognise this island well. A knowledge of such Vietnam War epics such as 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Platoon' may accentuate the continuous nods to the genre while the inevitable Rambo discussion is pure solace. Right down to the classic 'Suzy Q', even the soundtrack is littered with familiar tunes of the era, 'Run through the Jungle' anyone? An open mind and an empty stomach are recommended for this movie within a movie… within a movie. A must see! Shane A. Bassett
TROPIC THUNDER: REVIEW
This is a knockout comedy with combustible action and explosive gags that will literally leave you in stitches of laughter. Ben Stiller, who also co-wrote, co-produced and directed this minor masterpiece, is strident in his approach to the smart humour and sharp satire, similar in many ways to his former creation, Zoolander. What he did for the fashion industry then, he equally sends up behind the scenes of movie making now.
Before the main feature even begins, we are treated to three fake trailers and a bogus soft drink commercial that set the standards high. The absurdity is relentless from the get go. Three Hollywood heavyweights are in Vietnam filming an adaptation of a highly regarded best-selling war memoir but the production is spiralling out of control.
Action hero Tugg Speedman (Stiller) is having a hard time scraping up an emotional performance. His last film where he played a dysfunctional farmhand hand who spoke to animals was a serious flop. While opposite him is Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus (Robert Downey Jr) who has undergone controversial plastic surgery to up the authenticity. Rounding out the trio is overweight funnyman Jeff Portnoy (Jack Black), a borderline junkie who needs his jellybeans. His main success has been based on flatulence, the crude but profitable comedies are a winner with audiences - just not with critics.
Along with a rapper and a fresh faced newcomer, the five get forcefully dragged away from their entourage. They are dumped into the heart of the jungle by their pompously frustrated English director. In order to film guerrilla style that may add to the realism, it's also a last resort attempt to squeeze some decent acting out of them. With hidden cameras set up in trees and explosives set to detonate on cue from a trigger happy effects expert, the boys unfortunately encounter one big problem. Close by is a drug cartel operating a heroin laboratory who think the incoming troops are for real.
What escalates from this point onwards is a fast mash up of hilarity gone into overdrive. The drug dealers have authentic bullets in their guns and are not afraid to defend their poppy fields. A hostage situation occurs and the boys realise this is no boot camp having to pull together to stay alive.
Robert Downey Jr is having a great year with 'Ironman' a global phenomenon and now this unhinged performance. He nails the Aussie dialect for the second time on screen, his first being in 'Natural Born Killers'. Nick Nolte has some witty moments as the handless author of the memoir overseeing his story. Some of the cliché's that he sprouts include classics such as ' Beds give me nightmares'. Almost unrecognisable until he opens his mouth, an extended cameo from a bald and hairy Tom Cruise as a foul mouthed film financer who demands a box office hit and better acting is a scene stealer. The cinematography is dramatic, following choppers in full flight across lush green locations in Hawaii that stand in for South East Asia. If you're familiar with the television series 'Lost', you will recognise this island well.
A knowledge of such Vietnam War epics such as 'Apocalypse Now' and 'Platoon' may accentuate the continuous nods to the genre while the inevitable Rambo discussion is pure solace. Right down to the classic 'Suzy Q', even the soundtrack is littered with familiar tunes of the era, 'Run through the Jungle' anyone?
An open mind and an empty stomach are recommended for this movie within a movie… within a movie. A must see!
Shane A. Bassett
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