Chopper
June 11th 2007 23:33
Chopper went on to become a legend in Australia, writing bestselling books, while the film garnered attention all over the world, winning numerous awards. It was Eric Bana's breakout role, one that lead people to forget he was on that comedy show, resulting in serious roles out of Hollywood.
Like other great roles based on a real-life figure, Bana spent a serious amount of time with the real chopper, trying to nail down the part.
The film starts off with Chopper in prison in 1978, and then jumps to 1986 when he was released. We're not sure about his criminal life, as the film leaves that to our imagination... instead, the story is about Chopper's attempt to get back into life. He returns to his girlfriend, but prison life has turned him into a barbarian, and he lashes out at her, and everyone, paranoid about his survival.
It's a wonderful film, one that accentuates Chopper's wit and charm, which causes the audience to let down their guard before he repulses you with another psychotically violent act. Bana shows ome incredible human emotion in the role, showing flashes to regret and kindness, before it's swept away by pure rage.
Bana does a tremendous job of playing Chopper, a character whose mannerisms and way of speaking have been immortalized in Australian comedy:
Your instinct is to be terrified by Chopper... wondering if he's lurking on your street corner or hiding in your closet with boltclippers. But as the man himself says:
'The average Australian bloke doesn't give a fuck about Chopper'
Filmed in nauseating, sterile colours, none of the natural beauty of Australia is on display.. just the bleak jails and the dirty apartments of junkie friends. In this environment, you can almost understand the drive to etch out a living in illegal ways. At one point, the film breaks the fourth wall, to sing a little ditty to the audience. It's weird, it's hilarious, it's a movie of rare construction.
It's easy to be captivated by this underworld figure, and Bana's angry eyes make it all the more compelling. I didn't know about Chopper before, and now I want to read his bestselling books. All this from a guy that can barely spell.
I say: If you're Aussie, you should definitely watch this. For one, you'll probably understand more of it than I did, with the strong accent. If you're not an Aussie, you'll watch it, enjoy it, and probably delay your vacation to Australia.
See it for: I can never get over the way Chopper waves at people.
Funtime link: Get a sense of what happens in the first 30 minutes of the movie by watching this animation from Bernard Derriman.
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Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Im a Chopper fan too, an essential piece of Australian cinema that is Directed with a unique eye. Eric Bana is spot on as Mr chop, chop and I find myself laughing more and more with each screening.
Comment by Cibbuano
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Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
Awesome movie, awesome performance.
And I remember Derriman's cartoon from Tropfest - it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen at Tropfest! It's a pity the whole version isn't up on the site...
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog
Comment by Cibbuano
20/20 Filmsight
Science News
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by yoda76
The Tube Blog