Ground Zero

One of the 80s best Aussie films. It is a stunning piece of filmmaking. Take it from me, this is worth crawling over broken glass to see. Great electronic, ethereal music.

An intelligent thriller is a rare thing these days, at least on the evidence of this well-intentioned but pedestrian story of nuclear paranoia and bureaucratic conspiracy, in which an innocent Australian cameraman uncovers a few radioactive skeletons in the closet of his country's atomic testing program. The Aussie government apparently has been hiding the details about native Aborigine victims of radiation fallout, but because the secret is out at the beginning of the movie there's no surprise and very little suspense: each new development in the already linear plot is introduced in sequence, with handy cues of ominous music to help viewers connect the dots. The script relies too much on convenient expository bulletins (television news broadcasts; telephone answering machine messages; home movies and so forth), and identifies too strongly with its hero, who like any unassuming TV cameraman is transformed into James Bond when under stress. A strong cast and attractive wide screen photography can't hide the wasted opportunity to expose an ugly true story and turn it into compelling fiction.

Directors Bruce Myles and Michael Pattinson have created a gem in Ground Zero.

It stars Colin Friels who has been in other classic flicks, The Nostradamus Kid 1993 and Dark City 1998.

Also starring is Jack Thompson who has also been in other classic flicks, Yolngu Boy 2001, Breaker Morant 1980, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith 1978, Mad Dog Morgan 1976, Wake in Fright 1971 and another classic nuclear bomb theme flick, Broken Arrow 1986 plus the television series Spyforce 1971-73.

Also starring is Donald Pleasence who has been in other classic flicks, Phenomena 1985, Halloween 2 1981, Escape from New York 1981, Halloween 1978, The Eagle has Landed 1976, Wake in Fright with Jack Thompson and THX 1138 1971.

I enjoyed the Australian outback scenes and the city set designs.

If you enjoyed this as much as I did then check out other classic nuclear bomb theme flicks, Miracle Mile 1988, Threads 1984, The Peacekeeper 1987, Panic in Year Zero 1962, Failsafe 1964, The Day After 1983, Chain of Command 2000, Black Rain 1988, Dr Strangelove 1963 and Atomic Cafe 1982.

Wonderful story. Great special effects and a haunting soundtrack

Based on a true, despicable act by the British government inflicted on indigenous and uniformed Australians, Ground Zero charts the cover up over the outback nuclear testing and subsequent fallout which took place in the 1950's.

This is a superb dramatisation which embellishes on the actual Royal Commission which took place in the mid 1980's.

Melding actual events with a fictional aspect may invite warranted scepticism, but the way in which Ground Zero plays out is compelling and superbly crafted with commendable attention to detail. It may not be the absolute truth but there's enough evidence to suggest certain action sequences weren't beyond the realm of possibility.

The acting of Colin Friels, playing the central character, cameraman Harvey Denton, whose fictional father was murdered for the damning footage he captured at the time, is ably supported by Jack Thompson and Donald Pleasance. Their impact on the quality of this film cannot be understated.

Track it down on YouTube, I doubt you'll be disappointed.