Bran Nue Dae

"Bran Nue Day" was one of the most magical nights I ever had in the theatre. The young Aboriginal cast was a delight and although the young experienced cast may not have had the polish of more seasoned performers it was still a warm engaging production. I had reservations about seeing the movie; I was worried it would become too slick and too polished. Director Rachel Perkins has assembled a cast of slick professionals such as Geoffrey Rush and Ernie Dingo and both give fine over the top performances but she has also gathered some new faces such as Jessica Mauboy and Rocky McKenzie who hold their own really well against the seasoned performers. Dingo carries the film and gives a fabulous performance in what is a purposely corny contrived plot. The contrivances worked superbly with a live audience but I am not sure if a film audience will enjoy it. Wisely the director has kept the film character driven rather getting carried away with location. .The only jarring note is Missy Higgins who seems wooden and uncomfortable. I have always found her to be a mediocre singer but she is an even worse actress. Still there is plenty to enjoy in the feel good musical. I warn you it is contrived but that's its charm and there is plenty of energy in the film. Rocky McKenzie is a real scene stealer and one of the most delightful young actors I have seen

Where the heck did Rocky McKenzie come from? Someone must have forgotten to tell him that unknown indigenous boys with no previous film experience don't upstage the likes of Geoffrey Rush, Magda Szubanski and Ernie Dingo in their debut, because that is exactly what he has done. From the moment McKenzie appears on screen he lights it up. The aforementioned Aussie heavyweights all provide superb support though, as does ex-Australian Idol Jessica Mauboy in a role that should see her offered some more in the future. Fellow singer Missy Higgins, Tom Budge and well-respected aboriginal actress Deborah Mailman don't fare as well mind you.

Rachel Perkins has said that when she saw the stage musical of the same name she knew she would have to bring it to the big screen one day. Her obvious adoration of the source material is a blessing, the light-hearted and enthusiastic atmosphere seeps onto the audience and makes her paean a sure-fire Summer smash. Perkins has delivered what so many Aussies - indigenous or otherwise - have wanted for so long, a movie where all Australian races are poked fun at. It is the ideal anecdote to the current trend of Oz productions dealing with issues both serious and heavy.

The musical numbers are of varying standards. The finest of them – a booming Ernie Dingo-led traditional piece and an opening number in the Roebuck Bay Hotel with Mauboy and co which kicks the film off with a blast – are not only enjoyable but set the tone at their respective parts of the flick. Others don't progress the story quite as well – Higgins idyllic hymn to the 'dusty road' or her alluring melody to boyfriend Slippery – and have a distinct 'video clip' feel to them, however they're still excellent songs.

Credit goes to Perkins for proving that Aussies can still have fun on celluloid.

4 out of 5 (1 - Rubbish, 2 - Ordinary, 3 - Good, 4 - Excellent, 5 - Classic)

Bran Nue Day has its heart in the right place it just doesn't quite pull it off! Its basically a musical road movie but its just a bit too silly for my tastes. There are some good elements - it moves along nicely, there are some good performances (Jessica Mauboy for one, Ernie Dingo is OK too), reasonable songs, its bright & paints Australias Broome in an attractive light. Other parts really could have done with some work though. The Tom Budge character (he plays Missy Higgins hippie boyfriend) is a complete joke & Geoffrey Rushs character is over the top too. Some of the choreography & miming are so bad, characters pop in & out with little relevance & the finale is woeful. With all that it is a pretty reasonable excuse for a mindless popcorn movie, it thats what you are looking for, this is your film.

The people who say this film is badly acted and cheesy just do not understand it. Just like Grease, it is meant to be a musical comedy and has aspects of great parody. Even as Missy Higgins is acting the wide eyed hippie, she's poking fun at hippies and the hippie era, as well as being affectionate towards it. I think she's brilliant in this film. There are some pretty dark themes such as alcohol abuse, deaths in police custody and homelessness -- and humour is used as an effective tool. Rather than trivialise the issues, it makes us look at them in a different way. Rather than state that all Europeans or all Aborigines are bad, the film shows us that people are often a mixture of good and bad. I think it's beautifully shot and directed and the actors, who clearly had a ball making it, do a fantastic job.

With all the hype in the Aussie media about this, I expected an Australian equivalent to Cabaret, but this is closer to a "Road to..." movie with a black Crosby and Hope. This is farce with a touch of social comment, and when seen in that light could be funny and enjoyable. Personally I could not because of the gushy reviews I'd heard. One day I hope to not rush along, lemming-like, to see a movie because of a Julie Rigg exultation! Like many musicals, Bran Nue Dae has a barely believable plot, one dimensional characters, a resolution which makes a deus ex machina look believable and moderately interesting music.

Within these parameters director Rachel Perkins does a good job, but the star turn of the piece for me was Ernie Dingo as Uncle Tadpole. He's worth the ticket price on his own.