Displaying items by tag: Deborah Mailman

RUNT

Australia, 2024, 91 minutes, Colour.

Jai Courtney, Lily LaTorre, Matt Day, Jack Thompson, Deborah Mailman, Genevieve Lemon, Jack LaTorre, Celeste Barber, Joel Jackson, Sarah Roberts, Tom Budge.

Directed by John Sheedy.

Everybody loves Runt – well, everybody except the archvillain, Fergus Fink. Even those who might profess themselves as non-dog lovers are quickly on the side of Runt. He is a stray, mixed breed, chased around the town by the authorities and angry shopowners where he has nabbed some sausages. But, he is small, non-threatening, and often, as the Americans say, he is “cute”.

We are in a West Australian town in the middle of a long, long drought, threats to the farmers, threats to the economy, and the vain and greedy landowner with the significant pun in his name, Earl Robert-Barren, Jack Thompson enjoying himself playing most arrogant! We are in sympathy with dad, Joe Courtney, inheriting the land from his father, and grandfather, an inventor, and in sympathy with mum, Celeste Barber (very nice but a bit too often the target of complaint about the terrible pies she makes). And a lively gran is at home, Genevieve lemon.

But the focus is on the children, especially Annie, 10 years old, played very confidently by Lily LaTorre. She instantly bonds with Runt and he becomes part of the family. Also at home is her older brother, Max (played by Lily’s actual older brother Jack LaTorre) who videos all his action stunts building up an extraordinary fan following and providing some exciting moments as well is plot developments with his daring-do.

After establishing the family characters and their problems, attention turns to the local fair, especially a competition an Agility Course Championship involving a whole range of dogs speeding through quite a complex obstacle course. Enter the moustachioed villain, Fergus Fink (veteran Matt Day as we have never seen him before), moustachioed, glittering cape, histrionic and narcissistic performance, straight out of old-time pantomimes. Naturally, a great deal of rivalry, and a problem because Runt is unable to perform when anyone is watching. His whole focus is on Annie so no audience to see his victory. Of course, Runt winds, enabling Annie and Runt to go to the national championships, to the scorn of Fergus Fink and, again of course, his hostility and cheating. But the goal is to compete in London, Annie and Runt qualifying but the town rallying together to get enough money to pay the air fares in London accommodation.

With Matt Day and Jack Thompson providing pantomime villain action, the film is also something of a fairytale – especially a fairy godmother in the form of Deborah Mailman, a past champion, stepping in, with charm, to help Annie and Runt in their training.

By this stage all of us, non-dog-lovers included, are in for hope for Runt’s success and the downfall of Fergus Fink. No spoilers here – but it does not all turn out as we might have expected. The spoiler is, but really no spoiler at all, a very happy ending for everyone – and including rain!

An enjoyable film, from Western Australia, with characters who, in the old days, were called battlers as they tried to survive.

1. The title, the term, the underdog?
2. Western Australian setting, farms and drafts, the country town and life, atmosphere, homes, the sheep, homesteads, the dam, the dry river, drought atmosphere (and the final rains), dog trials, the transition to London, atmosphere, the competitiveness? The musical score?
3. The theme of the past, the Aussie battlers, making a living, exploitation by the wealthy, families keeping together?
4. The introduction to Runt, being chased around the town, stealing the sausages…? The meeting with Annie? Immediately bonding? Runt and his look, attractive, shy with people watching, dependent on Annie?
5. The family background, the father, the farmer, the inheritance from his grandfather and father, the inventions, rainmaking, his work with the sheep, the fences, but his interest in horticulture? The clash with Earl Robert Baron? Relationship with his wife, with Annie, with Max? His mother living with them? An engaging family? And the frequent jokes about the mother’s bad cooking and pies?
6. Max, his age, his derring-do, all the stunts, filming, the many followers on social media? Going up the tower, the grandfather’s rain making machine, failing – but the later success?
7. Grandmother, living at home, tough, supportive? The later meeting with Bernadette and their getting on?
8. The competition, the fair, the fairground and entertainment, again the jokes about the pies, the dogs, the introduction to Fergus Fink, pantomime character, pantomime villain, boastful, his dog, his put upon assistant? The competition? The hurdles for the dogs, the speed?
9. Annie, wanting to enter, with nobody watching, the time, winning? Fink’s reaction?
10. The visit with Bernadette, her past, with dogs, the advice, support, training?
11. The national trials, the prospect for London, Runt and the decision to have the eye shield, the reaction of Fink, his own display, the cheating? Stealing the shield?
12. Life in the town, the school, shops, the police, and everybody gathering to collect money to pay for the fares to London?
13. The trip to London, the poor accommodation, going to the competition, the crowds, the commentary, Runt, Fergus Fink? Runt and his being unwilling to run, the response of the crowd? The disappointment, and supporting Annie in front of the crowd, the response? Fink and his comeuppance?
14. The return home, the rain, the dam overflowing, the river filling, Earl Robert Baron and his comeuppance? The welcome home, Annie and the promotions, the father and his plans and growth?

TOTAL CONTROL/ SERIES 3

Australia, 2024, 6 x 60 minutes, Colour.

Deborah Mailman, Rachel Griffiths, Rob Collins, Wayne Blair, Wesley Patten, Huw Higginson, Anthony Hayes, Steph Tisdell, Benedict Hardie, Rosie Lourde, Lisa Hensley, Jozef Beer, Catherine McClements, Fayssal Bazzi, Maya Stange.

Directed by Wayne Blair, Jub Clerc.

The first series of Total Control made such an impact in 2019 that in 2021 the second series went to air on the ABC. Deborah Mailman as Alex Irving, politician, the central character, won many awards. Rachel Griffiths was a strong presence. There were dramatic complications about First Nations people, Alex and her life in Queensland, in Parliament, dependence on Rachel, their clashes. This was developed in the second series, also developing the relationship between Alex and her brother Charlie, Rob Collins, leading to strong tensions. There was also the relationship between Alex and her son, Eddie, Wesley Patten. And there was a great deal of political conflict.

This is taken for granted in the third series, Alex initially seen in Queensland, with her new advisor, very patient and sympathetic Jolie, Steph Tisdell. Alex is campaigning, challenging the government for floods in the North. This sets a pattern for her behaviour throughout this series, as an independent in the House of Representatives, outspoken, always challenging, confronting the new prime minister of a minority government, played by Wayne Blair (who also directed three episodes). She clashes with her brother Charlie, now married, his wife expecting, his working for the prime minister on policy and documents.

And, there is the continuing relationship, friendly and hostile, with Rachel, the latter wanting an alliance of independent members, difficulties in finance, possibilities of corruption, investigative journalist with threats. And there is the continued concern of Alex for her son, his being in Canberra, at a special school, involved in protests against racism, planning to be an exchange student.

There is also the issue of Alex’s health, her incessant work, collapse, surgery, secrecy.

The fifth episode is well worth seeing, parliamentary sitting, Alex warning the prime minister that she would be a threat, proposing amendments, the cause of social justice for the young, trapping the prime minister and his relentless advisor, Sharon, Lisa Hensley, getting the support of the boisterous leader of the opposition, Anthony Hayes, only to outwit him to get support for further amendments which the government is forced to accept.

One of the best of Australian television series.

1. The title, Alex, have Total Control of herself?
2. The popularity of the series, Australian life, society, First Nations people, politics, corruption, Canberra?
3. The value of the miniseries, six hours to develop characters and themes?
4. Deborah Mailman as Alex Irving? The three series? The origins, her journey, Queensland, aboriginal, the past, relationship with her mother, crisis and her mother appearing to her, her relationship with Charlie, relationship with her son, Eddie? The opening, the floods in Queensland, the need for aid, government inaction? Her visit, her assistant, representations to the government? Political will? The intervention of the Queensland government, opening the Winton Medical Centre, the irony of her mother and illness, delayed, her death?
5. Alex, her age, career, ups and downs, out of the Senate, House of Representatives, relationship with Rachel over the years, relationship with Paul? Paul as Prime Minister, First Nations, minority government, the crossbench, the Greens? Alex and her associations? Her courses, youth justice, the arguments with Paul, the dinner with him and her family, clashes with Charlie? Relationship with the opposition leader, using him, outwitting him? Her reliance on Jolie, price, the bond, the talk, Alex not wanting Jolie to pester her? Her health situation, secretive, the discussions with the doctor, the need for an operation, going to Queensland, the secrecy, collapse, her relationship with Dominic, driver and security, his challenging her – confidant, the later evening, dancing, the kiss? Alex has driven, her moods, strict mother, advised to be free with her son?
6. Rachel, the past, her leadership, losing government, the crossbench? Forming the alliance? The think tank? Nick and his influence? Matt, the opposition, her wanting to influence him? Her relationship with Alex, up and down, the visit for to discussions? Lobbying for boats? Rachel and the encounters with Marian, the interview, the material for the article, Rachel wanting the injunction, collaboration with the Greens, the think tank, the finances? Kathleen, the discussion, Helena, wanting to support? Her being the source of Marian’s information? Kathleen hacking Marian? Rachel and the confrontation? Rachel and her voting record? Peter and his advisory role, constant? Alex and her anger with Rachel, Rachel saying she was not above suspicion? Alex justifying herself and abandoning Rachel?
7. Paul, Prime Minister, aboriginal background, political savvy, the minority government, personal involvement, strengths and weaknesses? The parliamentary sittings and abuse?) Sharon, tough attitudes, advice, strategies? The relationship with Alex, the conflicts? Alex challenging? Charlie, his job, writing, the deadlines, policies? Charlie and his outburst against Paul, the aftermath? Alex and her visits, the threats, the setting of the house of parliament, her amendments, Paul being trapped?
8. The picture of the opposition, the gung ho leader, his abuse of parliamentarians, the Speaker correcting him? Conservative, his following? Supporting Alex, a new amendments, his being trapped, his eyes harsh attitudes towards youth? The walkout of his members who did not support him? Matt, principals, urged by Rachel, the rebel group, part of the alliance?
9. Eddie, his age, Queensland background, life and friends, at home there? In Canberra, the school, private school, the students? Skipping school, friends, elitist groups? His protesting, the bigoted security guard, filming him, his being arrested, Alex ambushed by the media? Her reaction? Taking him to Queensland? Her not telling him about her health? The friend whom he supported with the filming, the police, going to the party, Charley driving them home, drinking, drunk, sick? Supported by Dee? Her pregnancy, waters breaking, driving her to the hospital, his presence, support, calling the baby Eric? His wanting to be an exchange student, the decision coming through, Iceland? His demanding honesty from his mother?
10. Charlie, relationship with Alex, family, in Canberra, the previous attack on Alex and himself, the stabbing, the racist attack, the court case, the racists interview and apology? Charlie and his relationship with Dee, her pregnancy, nice couple, her professionalism, his job, the deadlines, the timing, policies? Phone calls with Alex? His outburst against Paul? His decision to go to therapy, the meetings? Late for the birth? Decisions about the future, haven’t Dee and her job, going back to Winton, the possibilities of New York?
11. Jolie, the big woman, motherly, advisor and confidante to Alex, Rachel offering her the job, concerned about Alex’s health? Thank advice? The final decision about parliament?
12. The Parliamentary sequence, the Speaker getting ready, the formalities, the rowdiness and the Speaker intervening? The issue, the amendments, the reactions, Alex and her presentation, having the floor, Paul and Sharon, the opposition initially supporting, Alex outwitting them, her speeches, the divisions, the press response? The success? The press and the accusations of corruption? Her collapse?
13. The issue of corruption, Marion in her article, the accusations against Helena, her resigning? Rachel offering supply? Marian leaving the confidential dossier for Alex? The press conference and her honesty, the final confrontation with Rachel? The alliance, and Matt announcing Alex as leader?
14. The finale, Alex talking to camera, about aboriginal leadership, accusations and challenges to the audience?