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Reviews
Christmas Ransom (2022)
Finally an Aussie Christmas film worthy of classic status
This is a film that is just non-stop fun.
It doesn't make me want to live a better life or change the way that I think, but I feel in no way that Christmas Ransom ever tries to do that. Instead you find yourself overcome by joy and feeling like a kid again when the wackiness of movie takes over. The fun that the cast and crew seem to be having when making this is infectious.
Christmas Ransom can exist on its own without comparison to other properties, as it feels more a result of childish fantasy, rather than an imitation of any other Christmas film.
Very enjoyable as an adult, but I can more surely say, that for child-me, this would've been my favourite movie. Worth it for the serotonin boost.
Down Under (2016)
Fantastic Australian movie
My hopes are never that high when it comes to Aussie film (despite being an Australian myself), but this blew my family and I out of the water.
We were laughing all the way through, connecting with the characters (despite their very obvious flaws), and oddly surprised by the high production values.
Acting was on-point and convincing. The characters seemed like real people, as stupid as some of them may be. By the end, the characters were humanised enough for us that we wanted NO ONE to get hurt (even those that may have deserved it) and whenever a hit landed, we felt it.
The missing star for me would maybe come from a lake of clarity for what the film stood for other than 'hate and prejudice is bad'. Maybe lacking a bit of nuance in that department.
After watching this film I immediately searched for ways that I could support it and the filmmaker, having only heard about it a few years after it's release (due to the streaming service Stan) - my mission begins with this review. I was honestly surprised at the relatively low reviews for this film as it set the bar for my family and I for modern Australian comedy film. Everyone involved kudos and KEEP DOING WHAT YOU LOVE - because I love it.