I really wanted to like this movie, but in the end it seemed rather familiar, a sort of retread of a lot of other things I've seen. And unfortunately, it was fairly boring really. A sort of soap scenario which never really surprises. Also despite it's rating, it was extremely unsexy, except for a few brief moments of Sean Keenan without his shirt. This was almost false-flagging, with an MA15 rating and nothing really to see from an eye candy perspective, although Sean is nothing if not pretty. Even the sex, the little there was of it, was curiously stilted and inhibited. For the budget, though, this was a reasonable effort, with solid if not outstanding performances. Unfortunately it seems Australian movies are no longer willing to take risks, even in low budget indie flicks, and the results are just, meh. Don't get me wrong, this is fairly competent, but I was hoping for something more interesting, and definitely sexier.
7 Reviews
Child Abuse
TruthLove1324 November 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"I've learned the hard way/to never let it get that far" (Kelly Clarkson, "Because of You").
I just watched this film. I have to say that it sent a very twisted, conflicting message. The movie may be mostly about a teen schoolboy who doesn't want to take on the hard responsibilities of life and eventually learns otherwise, but there was something even more stark happening here that was very disturbing.
The complexities of the character of the principal are very brutal and problematic. What starts as anger and frustration at a careless teenager eventually becomes violence and nearly reaches the level of cold-blooded murder. This man seemed to be disturbed; at first I thought maybe he was a predator because his relationship with the young main character was getting so weird and unprofessional. The principal gets violent with the boy Mark in his office after the teen shows defiance. Such an action would never be excusable for an adult in a school setting; misbehavior does not give you permission to put your hands on a kid.
But it gets much worse towards the end of the film. In blind rage, we see the principal hold Mark underwater to the point of unconsciousness in a horrific act of senseless cruelty. This scene may be especially disturbing for viewers who are easily affected. Afterward, the principal, in a strange reversal (possibly realizing/regretting what he has done) gets Mark out of the water and gives him rescue breathing. The teen survives, but as a viewer I was left shocked. Like, WHY DID HE DO IT? The principal does not even apologize and what he did is never found out or reported. And apparently at the end of the movie he is still in charge of the school. He should have gone to jail for child abuse straightaway! Even if one is trying to teach a child a lesson because he deserves it, one NEVER has the right to seriously hurt or kill a child. One can never let their anger go too far. Overall, there were aspects of the movie that were good; family closeness, a boy coming to realize his real priorities, but it is important to recognize that the principal's actions cannot be condoned.
I just watched this film. I have to say that it sent a very twisted, conflicting message. The movie may be mostly about a teen schoolboy who doesn't want to take on the hard responsibilities of life and eventually learns otherwise, but there was something even more stark happening here that was very disturbing.
The complexities of the character of the principal are very brutal and problematic. What starts as anger and frustration at a careless teenager eventually becomes violence and nearly reaches the level of cold-blooded murder. This man seemed to be disturbed; at first I thought maybe he was a predator because his relationship with the young main character was getting so weird and unprofessional. The principal gets violent with the boy Mark in his office after the teen shows defiance. Such an action would never be excusable for an adult in a school setting; misbehavior does not give you permission to put your hands on a kid.
But it gets much worse towards the end of the film. In blind rage, we see the principal hold Mark underwater to the point of unconsciousness in a horrific act of senseless cruelty. This scene may be especially disturbing for viewers who are easily affected. Afterward, the principal, in a strange reversal (possibly realizing/regretting what he has done) gets Mark out of the water and gives him rescue breathing. The teen survives, but as a viewer I was left shocked. Like, WHY DID HE DO IT? The principal does not even apologize and what he did is never found out or reported. And apparently at the end of the movie he is still in charge of the school. He should have gone to jail for child abuse straightaway! Even if one is trying to teach a child a lesson because he deserves it, one NEVER has the right to seriously hurt or kill a child. One can never let their anger go too far. Overall, there were aspects of the movie that were good; family closeness, a boy coming to realize his real priorities, but it is important to recognize that the principal's actions cannot be condoned.
Didn't know what to expect, loved it
sallycochrane22 November 2016
This movie starts slow and I didn't know where it was going, but then it just totally hooked me in. At the end I just wanted to watch it all over again. The actors are brilliant. Sean Kennan and Charlotte Best are so good. The guy who plays the teacher, Greg Stone, is amazing. And 360 just should have been in it more. It's not like a lot of other films but it's really emotional and I thought well made. The music all the way through it is really good and I saw somewhere that it won awards in England. Basically it's the story of a family, but really it's all about the middle son (Sean Keenan) and how he deals with school and a teacher who is a bit of a freak and how his family are kind of a mess.
Best Aussie movie I've seen this year
jameswelkington11 December 2016
I first saw this movie on a plane coming home and I'm not ashamed to admit I got really emotional at the end. The main guy in it is the original Lochie Leonard and was in Puberty Blues too (Sean Keenan) and he is brilliant in it. It's a story with all these gaps in it where you get to work out that happens and then by the end you kind of realise you've been totally drawn into a family and all the stuff that goes down when things don't go right. It's all so real. School looks real. Home looks real. And the BMX riding is super excellent. It's not an action movie, it's an emotional story with heart and brains. Okay, so I totally get this is not a mainstream flick, but for something out of the usual this is a winner.
excellent film
irfanmahem30 January 2017
Such a unique and moving story. It's the kind of film that you think you can second guess, but then completely surprises you, and then in the end kind of gives you what you are hoping for. I will not give detail about the story, but will say that the production is all round excellent. The acting is amazing. Sean Keenan is a amazing. Susie Porter is amazing. I had not seen the guy who plays the teacher before but he's an incredible actor too. His name is Greg Stone. I don't know how this film did not get more attention when it came out. It's one of the best Australian movies I've seen. Having said that, I just know it will drive some people crazy. It's not everyone's thing, I am pretty sure of that. If you want guns and cars and super villains who die at the end, this is not your thing. If you want a movie about people told in a really beautiful and honest way, then check out this hidden classic.
excellent film
daisymiller-0758523 March 2017
Sean Keenan is brilliant. Definitely worth watching. Really enjoyed it. (Thanks for recommending DL) All round a top film, funny and sad and cool. 360 should do more acting because he's cool AF. Charlotte (from H&A) is so great in this; she looks amazing and is really an excellent actress. It's actually worth watching a few times, as you miss things first time.
Good enough movie ruined by a cheap cop-out of an ending
onleyrichard10 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The story begins with a teenager rebellious more by circumstance and self-respect than inclination, who is so bullied and put-upon, not only by other students, but by the administration as well. Determined to fight the situation, and rightly so, he gets involved in an improbable (but satisfying, in a movie kind of way) reactionary revenge situation, and then the filmmakers had no idea how to end it, so they left it with the protagonist being repentant (of what? of nothing), and top it off with a miracle cure right out of the Disney playbook.
If you want to send the message to young people to just give up and accept injustice as a part of life they have to live with, sit them down in front of this film. But youth deserve better than this obsequious codswalllop.
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