Displaying items by tag: Rachel Griffiths

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?

ANYONE ABOUT YOU

US, 2023, 103 minutes, Colour.

Sydney Sweeney, Glenn Powell, Gata. Alexandra Shipp, Hadley Robinson, Dermot Mulroney, Rachel Griffiths, Bryan Brown, Michelle Hurd, Charlee Fraser, Joe Davidson, Darren Barnett.

Directed by Will Gluck.

Romcoms! Their success depends on whether we want more romance or more comedy.

Shakespeare, over 400 years ago, offered a title, perhaps a definition: Much Ado about Nothing. (But he also offered a comedy of errors and stated that all’s well that ends well.) And, despite appearances and less than Shakespearian dialogue, Anyone but You is a contemporary, slight re-working of Much Ado, a Shakespeare quote to begin with and quotes turning up in all kinds of places to keep us on track.

Actually, Shakespeare had tried the basic plot but seems to have awarded the winner of the battle of the sexes with the less than equal macho title, The Taming of the Shrew. And there was a nine updated version called To Things I Hate about You, which it also serves as a title here.

It all starts in New York City and an amusing toilet-seeking disaster, one way of bringing Bea and Ben (as we remember Beatrice and Benedict of old) together, a quick bonding, then misunderstandings and hostility, or, rather, enmity. They are played with enthusiasm by Sidney Sweeney and Glenn Powell.

In fact, most of the action takes place in Sydney, all the characters are gathering for Bea’s sister, Halle and her wedding to Claudia. But Bea is something of a disappointment and her parents always intervening, making suggestions, wanting to control. So, in Sydney, multiple glossy appearances by the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House, the harbour and ferries – and a koala! And, heavens, there are Bryan Brown and Rachel Griffiths, he Claudia’s father, she Halle’s mother, with Gilbert Mulroney as her husband..

Writer-director, Will Gluck (comedies from Easy A to Peter Rabbit) tries to make the comedy broad enough for everyone (and does) but there are many jibes of antagonism hoping that this will be as you like it.

At one stage, a character remarks that something is “stupid but nice”. Yes, more or less.

1. Romantic comedy? American style? 2023? And action in Sydney? The Australian tone?
2. Based on Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing, the quotes and signs of themes throughout the film? Bea and Ben?
3. The introduction to Bea and Ben, Shakespearian expectations, New York in the 2020s? The situation, Bea and the toilet, at the counter, Ben and his intervention, smooth talking, their walking, going home, his cooking, chatting, the night, her stealing away, returning, overhearing Ben’s derogatory remarks, upset? Her contacting her sister and friends?
4. Six months later, the club, the party, the prospective marriage, Claudia and Halle, Halle as Bea’s sister, Peter and the connection, Bea and Ben meeting, immediate hostilities?
5. The marriage in Australia, the flight, the two on the plane, Bea getting the cake, tangled in the seat? At the airport, Peter driving? Taken to the mansion, Sydney’s northern beaches?
6. The insertion of location photography, the harbour bridge, the Opera house, the harbour, even the koala? Attraction for American tourists? But the difficulty of Beau, the rather dumb Australian hunk!
7. The introduction to Claudia’s family, her genial father, her mother, family relationships, Australian? The introduction to Bea and Halle’s parents, very American, concerned about their daughter, their ambitions, controlling and interfering, law, not certain, secretly withdrawing? Her relationship with Jonathan, the break, her parents inviting him to the wedding, his awkwardness, the parents pressure?
8. The sequences of tension between Bea and Ben, the taunts, the wisecracks, animosity? The plans to bring them together, Peter and Roger and their drama for Ben? Claudia and Halle for Bea? The couple realising what was being planned?
9. The decisions, to appear as a couple? Conversations, pretence and then back to reality? The expedition to the country, the koala, the spider in Ben’s pants, the naked episode? The contrivance about the sunglasses on the yacht, swimming out? Issues of swimming?
10. The portrait of the parents, the Australian laid-back, the interfering Americans? And Jonathan in the middle?
11. Margaret, the past relationship with Ben, her being with Beau, provocative, wanting to rekindle the friendship, the various interventions, her being cautious, kissing Ben and Bea seeing it and misinterpreting?
12. Beau, Australian slang, the shower sequence, uninhibited, sports, immoral not to go for the best wave to surf!
13. Preparations for the wedding, travelling to the boat, the party, the Titanic joke, Bea in the water, Ben diving in, the helicopter rescue?
14. The buying of the cake, returning home, the dog, the ribbon, the upset with the cake? The impact on Claudia and Halle?
15. The buildup to the wedding, Roger presiding, his words about love, the declarations? The celebrations?
16. Bea and Ben, getting closer, the kiss, the realisation, the night together, his sudden leaving, her misinterpretation? Hostility, leaving and going for a walk?
17. Ben, the promise of meeting at the Opera House, going into the water, the rescue, deliver to the Opera House, the various proposals, his proposing?
18. A happy ending all round, all’s well that ends well, Shakespearian ending, and many comedy of errors along the way, parents behaving well, the finale of a Romcom?