The Brush-Off

In the second adaptation of one of Shane Maloney's crime novels, Sam Neill and writer John Clarke come up with another hilarious comedy about venal politicians, pretentious art aficiandos and dirty deals in the local art market.

David Wenham is again excellent as the hapless Murray Whelan, who is forced to go places that most political advisors wisely avoid. He is supported by some great performances: Mick Molloy as the lazy politician, Deborah Kennedy as Whelan's long-suffering offsider, Steve Bisley as a tricky businessman, Justine Clarke as a flighty art journalist, Leah Vandenberg as Wenham's love interest, Andrew S. Gilbert as another of Whelan's fellow staffers, Heather Mitchell as a supporter of the arts and plotter, and Bruce Spence as the exhuberant art gallery director.

The story is easier to follow than Stiff, but just as entertaining and funny.