West of Sunshine

If there was meant to be a redeeming quality in our "protagonist" it was lost on me. So you cut your sons hair. The man has the opportunity at all times through the film to set things right. Is this a movie about child abuse? Imagine going through everything they went through that day then coming home with a smile on your face for mummy. I am missing something. It doesn't have to be a happy ending but surely you want this to end better off than how it started.

I can't say that West Of Sunshine will be a movie that I will remember in the future. It's just an average movie, much too slow, lacking of interesting action. The acting isn't bad but with just good acting you're not guaranteed to have a good movie. For that the story is just not captivating enough. It's just about a gambler with a debt trying to earn the money he owes, whilst driving his kid around for one day. Not much thrilling going on, just bad decisions throughout the whole movie. Maybe with a bit more action the movie could have been something but here it's just a movie out of a dozen, a movie I will not remember anything of tomorrow.

I really enjoyed this movie. Apart from the fact it was a low budget debut film from an unknown Australian director - these factors alone already have my attention - I thought it was a tremendous effort to produce what they did on the limitations of budget and resources. It's a great story and the performances held together nicely. Would love to see more films from the director. Australia is producing a wealth of emerging indie directors lately and I'm very proud to be a part of this new wave of creatives. Congratulations to all on the production.

Greetings again from the darkness. Life's eternal mysteries include the question, how can one be a father when not yet a man? The feature film debut of writer-director Jason Raftopoulos focuses on fatherhood and the price of self-destructive behavior, while finally gathering the strength to right one's self.

Damien Hill stars as Jim, a blue collar courier with a gambling habit that likely cost him his marriage, his previous job, and a solid relationship with his son. Jim is basically a decent guy who can't seem to overcome his weaknesses, which leaves us judging him as a hapless dude who can't buy a clue. The story unfolds over a single day as Jim faces a deadline from the loan shark he owes thousands. Banos (Tony Nikolakopoulos) is a scary looking guy who, in loan shark circles, would be considered relatively patient ... although he has reached the breaking point with Jim.

Of course, Jim has a stellar plan to pay back the money - a "sure thing" on a horse in today's race #2. However, there's a blip (at least one) in his plan. His estranged wife reminds him that today is his day to look after their son Alex (Ty Perham, real life stepson to Mr. Hill). So father and son, rocky relationship and all, take off on a road trip around Melbourne as Jim proves to be one of the city's worst couriers, and a borderline incompetent father. When Jim's horse does in fact pay off, he makes the all-too-familiar mistake of a gambling addict ... rather than pay off the debt, he tries to win more. You can surely guess how that goes.

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and the father-son team go about tracking down Jim's old contacts in hopes one might help him through this dilemma. It should be noted that Jim and Alex are traveling in style - Jim's classic Ford Fairlane, with quite an impactful story of its own. Support work is provided by Arthur Angel (as Jim's friend and co-worker), Kat Stewart (a former girlfriend who runs an illicit business out of her bakery), Fay Smythe (Jim's wife), and Eliza D'Souza (a would-be girlfriend and yet another Jim lets down).

Being a role model for a kid is not easy for someone as self-destructive as Jim. The steady stream of "I promise" and "I'm sorry" make it clear where Jim's priorities rest. Alex wants to look up to Jim, but spends more time looking down on him. It takes a near catastrophe for Jim to wake up ... a wake up that only occurs when one grows weary of always racing against the clock. Leaving the past behind - both emotionally and with a symbolic sacrifice - is Jim's only path to redemption. Fine, naturalistic performances make these characters relatable to us, and filmmaker Raftopoulos does a nice job with keeping the pace moving along, while never losing that sense of reality.

I've never been a huge fan of Australian cinema, with one or two exceptions. I didn't find this movie too bad though. It's an interesting enough story, even if it's one we've seen before - 'deadbeat' dad has his son for the day and makes it really obvious why his ex-wife told him to pack his bags. He also has some nasty types after him for an unpaid debt. I suspect that some of the scenarios played out here may, sadly, be real life situations for some kids, which is tragic.

Fortunately, this movie is just short of 80 minutes long - any longer and it probably would have overstayed its welcome. As it is, it's an interesting enough diversion for an hour or so.