| Reference Type |
The Age
newspaper
|
| Title |
You looking at me ? |
| Author(s) | Adrian Martin |
| Publication Date |
03-08-2000 |
| Page Number |
1-2 |
| Comments |
Infers that backlash is outdated.
Most critical evaluation of the film. |
| Synopsis |
Martin laments the lack of Australian "true crime" films as Australia has an intriguing crime history and although he claims Chopper is worth seeing mainly for Banaâs acting, the ultimate Australian crime movie remains to be made.
The filmâs approach is more visceral than political as it seeks to emotionally involve us in Chopperâs drive and rough wit.
Martin compares Chopper to contemporary American movies about âanti-heroâ gangsters such as Scarface as we join vicariously in with his lawless spree but are comforted by recognizing he is a lost, damned soul.
However, he claims Chopper does not live up to this model as it suffers the problem of the biopic form - not finding a central core, coherent theme or idea and structural challenges. Martin criticizes the framing devices as weak and obvious and states the key themes are merely signaled in a throwaway fashion and the characterization of Chopper is messy as heâs compared with Christ, Ban Gogh, Mishima and Lake La Motta.
Dominik's attempts at psychologizing Chopper fail for Martin as Chopper appears to âtry onâ different interpretations including repressed homoeroticism, macho madness, brutalized âwhite trashâ upbringing and then discard them just as quickly.
The âtimid backlashâ by those who question the filmâs ethics and morality is considered outdated by Martin but maybe understandable within a local context (reference to Squizzy Taylor).
To Martin, Banaâs performance is the only completely successful element of the film and grabs at psychological motivation, thematic significance and filmic devices seem second hand and messy. âThe film is so derivative of Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Taxi Driver that Scorsese should be collecting royalties on itâ.
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