Review of The Castle (1997) by Kok Hoong F — 02 Sep 2012

Viewed on 23/6/04 (Wed).

Missed the movie when it was screened here in '97. It was in the cinemas for only 1 week. I remember it was showing only at Lido. Well, after 7 years...

"This year's Full Monty!", "You can't stop laughing!","Uproarious" etc. These are the quotes on the cover of DVD. I was holding my belly and getting ready to laugh real hard. Nope, that didn't come soon. The narration was like going on and on and on. The family in the movie was too good to be true. Too loving and too encouraging. It appears more like an overly-optimistic clan promoting family values too aggressively for the government. I'm not a bitter old man but if this lovey-doveyness is to go on, ... where's the movie?

The family faces a crisis. They have to move out to make way for an expansion of an airport. They refuse but this is going against the big corporation. Principles. A man's home is his castle. Not that I didn't know the main plot but I can see where this movie is heading to. The usual one-man-versus-the-big-bad-corporation movie. Rousing court scenes, the swelling music upon victory, the hoorays, the we-finally-made-it teary eyes etc.

Nope, not the Hollywood way. This is an Aussie film. Everything doesn't seem to go overboard and that got me sit up. Yes, the ending is no surprise to all. By then, I was looking for excuses for that babbling narration and the 'disgustingly' loving family. The narration brings me closer to the story and what's wrong with families that are too perfect. Hee...

A simple story with simple characters. It is not uproariously funny but just a small sweet movie about keeping the family together.

Also, appearing as as the son-in-law is pre-The-Hulk Eric Bana looking all beefy and goofy. Mind you, his following movie, Chopper, made him an AFI's Best Actor. Eat that Brad Pitt.

Rating: B+.