Genres

Visitors Review

kosmasp 2012-05-25 14:04:56

Best Dog

The story itself (based on a true dog or rather the true dog) is reallygood. And if you love animals just a little bit, you will adore themovie itself, the story it tells (mostly). I still got a beef with themovie though (no pun intended). For some reason there is a side storythat tries to round the whole thing up. Unfortunately it doesn't workat all, being too convenient and too cliché for its own and the viewersgood.You might think I'm pessimistic or too sarcastic with this view, butremember I really like the movie itself, if it weren't for that sidestory. The dog is really cool and the actors get upstaged by it(obviously). Though this being a movie, they did use more than one dog(haven't checked how many though). The director did a fine job withthat

renee-844-417622 2012-05-24 18:43:37

A Movie With Heart About A Dog With Soul

Everyone will want – but no one can have – Red Dog. It's one of themost beautiful things about him. And that kind of exclusivity ispriceless.This is the Australian Cattle dog that makes Lassie look lame and RinTin Tin look like an obedient idiot.That's because Red Dog is a dog for the soul.A new movie called Red Dog is the true story of a wandering pooch thatbrought people together and joy to a community. He exhibited ferocious,inspiring independence and fearless loyalty to freedom. This dog madeChe Guevara look like he didn't give it his best shot.He had the best qualities of every living creature while still stickingit to the man. No one owned Red Dog – until he met a man and gavehimself to that one man.In real life, all this took place in North West Western Australia at atown called Dampier during the 1970s. There's even a statue erected inhonour of Red Dog who had a reputation for sniffing out a party 600 kmsaway and turning up. He seduced and intimidated people into giving himfree rides all over the country and, as legend has it, hitched a rideon a tanker to Japan for a spell too.This dog was so clever, he even sorted free veterinarian care forhimself – kind of like scamming a fake medicare card.I laughed a lot during the movie and cried 3 times. And after seeingthe sale of spotty puppies go up after 101 Dalmatians and the sale ofClown fish go up after Finding Nemo, I expect the demand for Australiancattle dogs to go up too. But I hope it doesn't because they areworking dogs, not city dogs and apartment living would be like a prisonfor these very active and intelligent canines.The film is out August 4 and stars Josh Lucas, Rachael Taylor, NoahTaylor along with one of the last performances by Bill Hunter. But themost kudos has to go to director Kriv Stenders (Lucky Country, BoxingDay, The Illustrated Family Doctor) for shooting a beautiful film in astunning location while keeping the story elevated to the mythic statusRed Dog attained.Koko is the name of the real dog who plays Red Dog – you can see hisaudition tape with Kriv at the end of this review. And producer NelsonWoss was so taken with Koko, he adopted him. There's a wonderfultradition of this in cinema. Johnny Depp adopted a one-eyed horse aftera shoot when he learned the horse was going to be put down. And ViggoMortensen kept the horse he worked with in Hidalgo.The Australian Cattle dog has been a bit of movie star for a while now.One worked with Mel Gibson in Mad Max, Johnny Depp co-starred withanother in Secret Window, Billy Connolly paired up with one in The ManWho Sued God and Russell Crowe shared the screen with one in The SilverStallion. A few had lesser roles in movies such as Babe and BrokebackMountain.Famous people who have owned Aussie Cattle dogs include Owen Wilson,Kelly McGillis and Matthew McConaughey.And for truly extraordinary stories of Australian Cattle dogs pullingoff miraculous feats – look up Sophie in Queensland. She swam 5kmsthrough shark-infested waters then lived alone on an island for 5months before being rescued and re-united with her family. Another onecalled Ben in South Australia became the primary witness in solving themurder of his owners – neighbours reported that the dog didn't bark atall that day - alerting police to the fact that the killer was known tothe victims and to the dog.But back to the movie. I won't say too much other than – go see it. Wehaven't had a film like this in Australia for some time. You'll want tosee it again. And I reckon the world will go nuts for the movie, nutsfor Australian cattle dogs and nuts for touring the Pilbara.The soundtrack rocks too with lots of good ol' Aussie 70s classics.Red Dog is a movie with heart starring a dog that's good for your soul.** I'm co-hosting the episode of Movie Juice with Koko – the star ofRed Dog – which screens Monday August 8 at 6pm on Starpics channel 415and 8pm on Starpics 2.

ashman66 2012-05-21 10:57:08

Superbly filmed emotional roller-coaster of a film

When you hear that the film is about a dog and how it brings acommunity in the outback of Oz you really think i'd rather sit andwatch the entire season 4 of Heroes. However almost from the start themovie grabs you and along with the camera work, the dialogue, the cast- the movie shines!!It's a tremendous piece of filmaking and something for everyone. Beprepared to cry 'cos at moments it's very emotional.A must see and the best dog movie since LAssie went home!8/10Go Red!

2012-05-20 19:40:00

Good family flick, nothing more

This is a family flick of the heartwarming tearjerker variety, butreally nothing much more. As a resident in the area that it is set, I think I took a lot morefrom the movie that the average viewer would have. It was great to seethe equipment, trains and scenery from my daily life up on the bigscreen. And while some of the reviews here have slammed therepresentation of the people of rural Australia, I must say that I feelit captured the warmth and community spirit and mixed bag of charactersthat is up here very well. It IS an unusual cross-section of intensecharacters with quirky personalities from all corners of the globe, andI think the film captures that spirit extremely well.Despite that, I do think it lends itself a bit too much to the cheesyside of things. There were several cringe moments in it for me where itwas overly soppy or melodramatic, it bordered on musical theater atpoints. But if taken in the spirit of an tall bar-tale, then that is OKI suppose. It still wouldn't make my top 100 films though, and Icertainly wouldn't be recommending it to anyone to watch other than asa sort of basic explanation of what it is like where I live.

marctams 2012-05-19 18:28:53

Wonderful movie

I watched this last night with my other half and we enjoyed everyminute of it.It mixes de Bernieres' magic realism with the true story of a dog thatroamed the Australian north west in the 70s. The movie only occasionally edges towards sentimentality but the strongcast and excellent direction more than make up for these very minorshortcomings.Be warned - if you watch this with your girlfriend or wife then beprepared for at least two bouts of uncontrollable sobbing. I had toleave the room myself once to have a bit of a cry in the toilet :)

DICK STEEL 2012-05-19 14:47:06

A Nutshell Review: Red Dog

Today's GV surprise screening wasn't what I had expected, and I meanthat in a good way. At first I thought it was going to be one of thoserom-coms slated for screening later this month or year, but what gotput out was way, way better than expected, even though it started alittle slow and bewildering (unlike most other surprise screeningswhere one can guess what it will be), Red Dog was more than worth theprice of the discounted ticket, an Australian film set in the 70sWestern Australia in a small mining town based upon a folklore thatsurpasses almost every conventional dog related cinematic tale put outespecially by Hollywood in recent years.A trucker drives into town and pit stops at a bar, only to find acouple of burly men pining a dog down, with the sheriff about to pullthe trigger, but for the trucker's intervention to put off their plan.Slowly but surely for any stranger riding into a new land, thetownsfolk soon grow in numbers, as everyone started to pour in to thebar to seemingly pay tribute to the dog, christened Red Dog byeveryone, with the narrative unveiling itself in episodic flashbacknature with characters taking turns to tell their version and storiesof how the dog impacted their lives and the lives of the mining town,and how the town got changed through their canine friend. These storiesspan a spectrum of emotions, and can be a simple, short scene, or anextended one especially when involving the principal characters of thefilmDirected by Kriv Stenders, the film has its fair share of quirkycharacters and comedic situations, being funny without really tryingtoo hard, go over the top or feeling too contrived. Everything felt asnatural as can be, with excellent pacing to allow Red Dog to slowlygrow on you. The tried, tested and tired route Hollywood typicallytakes is to load plenty of saccharine sweet, cutesy moments todeliberate tug at your heartstrings, which is why this Australian filmis that fantastic breath of fresh air as it busts genre conventions,yet possessing enough pathos to lift the film into its emotionalplateau, pulling you into the rowdy though genuinely sincere lifestylethe miners lead.As for star power, Josh Lucas stars as the wanderer turned bus driverJohn who becomes the one and only de-facto owner of Red Dog as theyform a loyal master-dog relationship, with Rachael Taylor (ofTransformers fame) playing Nancy his love interest whom he met whileserving the community, and she getting into a tussle with Red Dog onhis bus. Their romance will form the crux which the story will revolvearound briefly, although there are other stories which I enjoyed suchas how Red Dog got into assisting an Italian miner Vanno (Arthur Angel)go after a nurse (Keisha Castle-Hughes), and a heart-wrenching momentinvolving the themes of loyalty and longing.With an awesome soundtrack and beautifully filmed landscapes thatcaptures the conditions of the mining town in very picturesquelanguage, you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll be moved by the time themovie pulls into its final reel. Now all that remains is for this filmto find a proper theatrical release so that it can be watched,experienced and loved by a wider audience that it truly deserves. Theremay be famous dogs like Lassie in the US and Hachiko in Japan, so doadd one to that list with Red Dog from Australia. Definitely in myhighly recommended list as it goes into my books with the potential ofbeing one of the best seen in this year, leaving its genre peersclearly in its wake.

david-sarkies 2012-05-17 19:25:07

The story of a wondering dog

When I first started watching this my eyes rolled when I suddenlyrealised it was Australian, however despite my prejudices the more thatI think about this movie the more that I realised that I enjoyed it.Now, despite being Australia, there have not been all that manyAustralian movies that have really impressed me. Romper Stomper,Chopper, the Mad Max series were pretty good, but beyond that I havegenerally found Australian movies to be quite dull and contrived. Now,don't get me wrong, if you want a good chick flick, then Australia candeliver, and don't expect them to be of the standard Hollywood type,they do have their own unique twists to them.This movie for an example is what I would call a good Australian chickflick. Now, I have later discovered that it is designed to be a familymovie, but then again as a kid we never really went to the movies allthat much. Considering that for the average Australian family, a nightout at the movies could easily come to about $150 to $200, it is likelyto be something of a treat for many of the struggling households.However, that aside, while Australia does have a habit of creating someunique, and interesting films, many of those films I have really notbeen all that interested in.This film is about a dog, a red heeler to be precise and it is set inthe far northern mining town called Dampier. As it turns out, this isbased on a true story about a dog that wondered throughout the region,but seemed to always find a home in Dampier. In fact the dog issomewhat of a legend up there, with a monument being erected after itsdeath. The monument inspired a couple of authors to write stories aboutthis dog, and thus, in time, a film was going to be made.There is not much more I really want to say about this film. It isenjoyable, but as with a lot of other Australian films that I haveseen, it did feel a little bit contrived.

Biggest_Loser 2012-05-17 06:58:51

Proud, funny and moving

In West Australia during the 70s, Thomas (Luke Ford) walks into a barwhere the locals are looking after a sick dog. He is told by thepublican Jack (Noah Taylor) that it's no ordinary dog: its Red Dog(played by a hound named Koko). Jack begins to tell his story about howhe first met the now mythical Red. Then an Italian man named Vanno(Arthur Angel) shares how he became acquainted with the dog too and howit provided him with some companionship. The men recall how Red Dogembodied such great human qualities that he was made into a unionmember by the local mining company. And adding to the myth is the storyof how Red Dog found his one and only master, John (Josh Lucas) and howhe fell in love with Nancy (Rachael Taylor). Second only to Mrs. Carey's Concert, Red Dog is the best Australianfilm's I've seen this year. There's so much to like about this filmthat any imperfections are swept by the wayside. This film looksoutstanding. It's been sumptuously photographed in South Australia andevery shot is filmed with a sense of grandeur. There's a transcendentbeauty about these large, open arid landscapes. They're dusty,seemingly empty and yet always so attractive on the big screen.Director Kriv Stenders (Lucky Country) has also structured Red Dog withmore confidence than some other local films. It's framed by thebartender telling the story and then having other people come in andspeak. Towards the end, the story continues from the bar and into thefuture. It's a very similar device to something like Forrest Gump(1994). Through this unconventional technique a number of differentcharacters and perspectives are voiced. Not all the characters are asstereotypical as they might seem either. There are some funny surprisesbecause Red Dog is a continuously brimming with Australian humour, likewhen the miner Peeto (John Batchelor) tells Vanno that if he mentionsone of his stories again the other miners are going to kill him. I lovethe film's emphasis on foreign characters, highlighting Australiandiversity, as opposed to having stereotypical blue-collar yahoos. Also impressive is the way that theme and image combines so seamlesslyin this film too. One of the highlights is when Vanno meets Red anddiscovers someone who is willing to talk to him. And this is where RedDog shows its colours. This dog as a character and an image representsthe Australian spirit. That might sound like cornball but it's actuallyrepresented quite subtly, without characters having to announce itverbally. We see it through the images of Red providing companionship,loyalty, and defence to the miners. And we remember these qualities tobe traits people like to associate with Australians. This is such ahopeful and positive film. But contrasting the pleasantries is that thefilm is also deeply moving at times. It's never sentimental or forcedthough. It comes through naturally because of the relaxed, colourfuland charismatic performances, including Koko who makes for a handsomeK9. And on another subtle note, there are several stories told that mayor may not be true. But smartly, the film lets you make up your ownmind. I love that sort of ambiguity in films. It's a shame that theending doesn't have the same level of poise though. It could have endedjust beautifully, with one single image, but it presses its point toofar and too obviously. No matter though, because people are still goingto find the rest of the film to be proud, funny and moving.

timhately09 2012-05-12 01:17:09

Worth a look

I saw Red Dog yesterday. Quite enjoyable, but what the hell does LukeFord have to do to get a mention. Fourth billing in the movie credits,but non-existent as far as reviews go. He is one of the better youngactors in Australia (Animal Kingdom), won best supporting actor at theAFIs (Black Balloon), but seems to be invisible to reviewers. He wassort of the glue that held the movie together. The scenery was great,and the music set up the shots well. I was not a great fan of animal movies, but this effort was prettygood. I am sure it will do well in the UK and America. It was good tosee Bill Hunter in what was probably his last role. He did not lookvery well.

equalthree 2012-05-11 14:10:01

Great Australian Movie

I've just experienced Red Dog with my daughter and we both loved it.It's the story of a dog and a mining community in far out north/west ofWestern Australia where Red Dog moves from person to person and familyto family with plenty of stories to be told about him - both funny andsad. To really say what is happening some spoilers will need to be made.Sorry.The film starts out by the mining community coming together with RedDog not in a good way (being accidentally poisoned). A truck driver haspulled up to the local pub and comes into this scene. The communitythen relates various stories about Red Dog and the way he has helpedmany of the people out there which is told in flashback.Red Dog has a mind of his own and does not accept that anyone is hismaster. He never stays in one place for too long. Until, one day, alongcomes John Grant (an American driving the bus for the miners to go towork at the mines - played by Josh Lucas). John is the same sort ofcharacter as Red Dog in that he has not stayed in one place more than 2years. Red takes an immediate fancy to John but John doesn't want toknow about him. And so, being spurned, Red sets out to turn John'sheart around.Once the two team up then they are inseparable leading to one of themost poignant of moments (or more accurately - sequences) in cinema Ihave seen in a long time which I won't spoil for you (but just makesure you have your handkerchief or tissues handy).Absolutely great film.10 out of 10.

imoriginal 2012-05-03 09:27:16

An Embarrassment to Australia

This movie is terrible. It is a perfect example of why Australia is nota larger part of the movie industry, we are making movies forAmericans.The entire movie is filled with stupid stereotypes which makeAustralians look like a bunch of idiots. One of the characters is atough guy who enjoys knitting, honestly could you come up with a morebottom the barrel joke than that! The whole movie is tailor made forAmerican audiences. The lead character is an American so that theAmericans have someone to relate to and understand. All the Australianshave over the top accents and have the obvious "outback blokes"personality, sure there are Australians like this but not everyone is!I wish that the Australian movie makers would try to make somethingoriginal so that our industry could be taken seriously instead ofmaking movies for Americans. I'm not saying all Australian filmmakersare like this but most of the popular one are.Finally, the actual movie is not good. The story is obvious and stupidand the jokes are corny.Please Australia, can we try to make some movies for ourselves.

steven 2012-05-02 10:19:28

not great

I thought I was in for the next great Australian movie. The movie looksfantastic, amazing cinematography, some decent character acting, butthe story just doesn't draw you in. The dialogue has no wit, nothing,it's just awful. The photography kept me watching until about halfway,when I just got too bored. It's really hard to fathom the rave reviews.There was a scene, some guy gets on a table and makes a speech to acrowd, someone asks him "how's the weather up there?" and the crowd alllaugh. That's the kind of wit you can expect in this movie.Check "Restraint" from 2008 or "The Loved Ones" from 2009 for betterexamples of Aussie films.

vitor-fernandes1983 2012-05-01 18:27:20

Best movie of the last 5 years

As the titles says, I really loved this movie, they don't make movieslike this, a unique experience, you'll be crying one minute andlaughing to dead the next one. This movie is perfect in every possibleway, beautiful picture, photography, location/setting, camera work. Thestory is truly moving, you care for the characters, specially the dog.Music fits perfectly every time. The movie runs at a very good pace,and I advise to watch with the family in the afternoon. The kids mightlove it as well. I've never raved so much about a movie such as thisone, I've recommended to everyone I know. As it is, I say, shutHollywood doors and let the Australians do the work.

Philby-3 2012-05-01 03:31:41

Feelgood dog story

The interaction of animals and people is a source of endlessfascination and this feel-good fable of a dogs's relationship with mostof the residents of Dampier, a tough port town in the Pilbara region ofnorth-west Australia, has a lot of charm. First there is the doghimself, a red kelpie with an amazing rapport with humans. Then thereis some pitch-perfect acting from a good cast, fine cinematographymaking the most of the spectacular landscape, and a neat blend ofcomedy and drama – "Crocodile Dundee" with a dog as the hero.The film has a most unlikely provenance, as it is based on anovelisation by the rather literary English author Louis de Bernieres("Captain Corellis'Mandolin") who came across the story of thelegendary red dog of the Pilbara on a trip to Karratha, near Dampier,for a literary event. (The locals have erected a statue of Red Dog onthe outskirts of Dampier). The film-makers have sanitised the storysomewhat – the real life "master" of Red Dog was not such a nice personas that played by Josh Lucas in the film, but they have effectivelycaptured the atmosphere of a town where almost everyone was friendswith a roaming Kelpie with a flatulence problem. It is the completeopposite of "Wake in Fright" with almost all the inhabitants of the hotand tough mining town being large-hearted, fair-minded blokes you'd behappy to have a beer with. Even Bill Hunter shows up in a very briefrole as a survivor of a shark attack.Although there was nothing wrong with the major players, John Batchelorwas a stand-out as the mountainous Peeto. He was able to dotough-tender in perfect pitch. The dog, however, stole the show – the"Greyfriars Bobby" of the Pilbara.The story does have some sad bits and I noticed some seven and eightyear olds crying at the end, but this is such a good-hearted story Iwouldn't keep it from them. It does show that doggy devotion can bringout the best in people.The Pilbara was the setting for an earlier comedy-tragedy in "JapaneseStory" in 2003, and this film exploits the magnificent land scape tothe same extent. Essentially this film is a piece of folklore, with theexploits of Red Dog given mythic proportions. He almost certainlydidn't get to Japan, for instance, but Perth and Darwin were probablyon his itinerary. It's nice to know this film has done well at the boxoffice – it doesn't patronise anyone, even cats.

imdb10-asb 2012-04-25 06:49:36

A moving, yet lovable, film

>For parents of kids I'd say mature 7 plus kids would enjoy >but warnthem that they could get upset.I would emphasise this. I would be cautious about taking younger kidsto see this film as there are some quite upsetting parts. When I sawit, there were several kids in the cinema who were distressed. (Therewere plenty of adults too who seemed to have a speck of dust in theeye. The red dust was that real!)Other than that ... an engaging story from a time when the north westof WA was the frontier. There's also plenty there for people of acertain age to revisit their musical youth.

summerdaisies_8409 2012-04-24 21:11:19

A great Aussie film

Red dog was a heart warming film and I thought it was a great movie forall ages to see. I saw it with my mum and my sister at the cinemas andwas hoping for it to be great and when I got out I was very pleased.The film is based on a true story about a Kelpie who has been roamingthe outback and then one day he finds a town called Dampier. As heregularly visits this town he becomes loved by most of the people wholive there and then gets the name Red Dog. Later on in the film hefinds an American man named John. He then forms a really strong bondwith him and thinks he is he's long lost master. With great Aussiehumour and a great setting, it is now one of my favourites. After yousee it you'll want a Kelpie just like Red Dog. An amazing film, 10/10.

rmmontgomery 2012-04-23 00:44:22

amazing movie

I watch a lot of movies, can claim to be quite jaded with formulaicmovies and would normally not bother much with an "animal" movie. Thatbeing said this movie was brilliant. The warmth and relationships in itare sympathetically portrayed and anybody who doesn't love thecharacters needs )like Red Cat) to go a few rounds with Red Dog.I saw one reviewer who asked "Do the English natter on about splendidperiod pieces? " Well, yeah they do and they are usually so incrediblyboring with long looks of frustration. Is there some predictability? Ofcourse there is.But I have just seen the movies and the unfavorable posters really needto get over themselves. Jaundice is not sophistication. But do bewarned if any of the viewers have a slightly sentimental tendency,stock up on the tissues beforehand! Enjoy this one, it is very good.

sepiltz 2012-04-22 13:39:41

Avoid it like the plague.

Possibly the worst movie I have ever had to sit through. I cannot thinkof a worse Australian movie ever, including Reckless Kelly (and I am 52and Australian). A whole bunch of emotional trigger scenes that arecompletely forced and have no dialogue or plot to support them. Thismovie is so bad it doesn't even deserve a review. ANY dog (or animal)movie you can think of is better. The plot and script is rubbish anddoes not bare analysis. Even seasoned actors like Noah Taylor areforgettable and can't save it. This movie could have been designed by acomputer and I am worried that this is the future of movie making - aseries of emotional trigger scenes that cater to the lowest commondenominator. I despair that this film is currently rating 8.0 on IMDband wonder what the point of a site such as this is. I do actually loveanimals and watched Lassie Come Home, Old Yeller and Greyfriars Bobbyas a form of therapy after this dross. Any first year film studentcould make a better film. If you have watched more than one film inyour life, are over 10 years old or know what a broadsheet newspaper isavoid it like the plague.

moviexclusive 2012-04-20 09:04:01

Forget Hollywood's fluff about man's best friend- this Australian film packed with wit, humour and warmth is the real deal, and a true crowd-pleaser for all ages

Before you go dismissing this as yet another Hollywood fluff aboutman's best friend, know this- 'Red Dog' is based on a true story of astray Australian Kelpie who wound up in the remote mining town ofDampier, Australia and found its way so firmly into the hearts of thelocals that a statue of him now greets all visitors to the town.Intrigued yet? You should, for this adaptation of Louis de Bernières'book based on the legend is a surprisingly engaging yarn that isprobably one of the best canine movies you'll see this year.Unfolding in flashback, the movie begins in the late 1970s when thelong-haul trucker Tom (Luke Ford) lands up in a bar in Dampier andfinds its occupants gathered in a back room trying to put down acopper-hued kelpie cross. The canine affectionately called 'Red Dog'has been- for reasons which go pretty much unexplained- poisoned bystrychnine, and the town vet only confirms the worst fears of thosegathered there that their beloved companion is dying. The quizzical Tom inquires about Red Dog from the bartender Jack (NoahTaylor), who will be the first among the rest of the locals to recounttheir fond memories with him. It is a befitting start, for Jack and hiswife Maureen (Loene Carmen) were responsible for bringing Red Dog tothe newly established mining town after meeting him on the highway. Atfirst largely ignored among the rowdy mining community, Red Dog findshimself the centre of attraction when a homesick Italian worker Vanno(Arthur Angel) takes to talking to him about his hometown that no oneelse would bother listening to.Just like that, screenwriter Dan Taplitz effortlessly hands over thenarrating baton to another of the townsfolk gathered in the bar- andVanno's account tells of Red Dog as everyone's dog but no one's inparticular, not the burly Peeto with a secret love for knitting nor thereticent Jocko (Rohan Nicol) nursing a tragic secret. Both charactershowever are among those personally touched by Red Dog's presence whichTaplitz brings to the forefront of the film, and these vignettes areinfused with such gentle humour and warmth that you can't quite helpbut be charmed by them.The man Red Dog finally chooses as his master is the American busdriver John (Josh Lucas), a drifter who never stays more than two yearsin one place. John steps out to save the dog from humiliation, and justlike that, a permanent bond is forged between the two. So strong istheir connection that John senses jealousy on Red Dog's part when heasks the company secretary Nancy (Rachael Taylor) out on a date- thedog placed in Peeto's care finding its own way to the open air movietheatre screening Steven Spielberg's 'Jaws'. Yet it is to Brisbane born filmmaker Kriv Stevens' credit that onefeels equally for the relationship between John and Red Dog as much asthat between John and Nancy, instead of manipulating his audience'semotions to favour one over the other. Stevens blends the lives ofthese characters beautifully, which pays off enormously when the filmtakes a sombre turn after John's abrupt disappearance following hiswedding proposal to Nancy. It's no secret tragedy has befallen- andthis becomes a turning point for Red Dog and his legend as the loyalfriend waits patiently at John's house for three weeks for his returnbefore setting off on a journey around Western Australia in search ofhis master. To say that this bittersweet second half is poignant is anunderstatement, and we advise you to be ready when you feel a lump inyour throat or for that matter tears in your eyes. Stevens doesn'toverdo the grief, and the restraint that he displays in handling theproceedings goes a long way in ensuring that the sentiments portrayedin the film always remain genuine. Melodrama is also not his intent,and the sober tone changes to a more decidedly humorously offbeat onewhen Red Dog faces off with his infamous nemesis, a snarling kittysimply called Red Cat. The ease with which the film switches between comedy and poignancy isin part due to the spontaneous quality of the storytelling, whicheschews any pretension, showiness or heavy-handiness for a straight-upapproach. The outback against which Red Dog's story unfolds never feelsless than authentic, thanks in no small measure to Geoffrey Hall'swonderfully evocative cinematography which captures the rugged beautyof the Pilbara and its mining industry. The chemistry between themostly male actors is also excellent, and Lucas and Taylor make for anextremely likable couple. But the star of the film is first-time leading dog Koko (owned byproducer Nelson Woss) who proves to be truly a revelation, respondingto the emotional beats of each scene with great eloquence. It isn'toften we praise the acting of an animal, but Koko is a large part ofthe reason why the film works marvellously. The charm of Red Dog'sstory however lies not with what he did, but rather who he was- as oneof the characters in the film points out early on- through his actionsto each member of the Dampier community. And told with wit, humour andwarmth, it is a crowd-pleaser for all ages.- www.moviexclusive.com

jillwozhere 2012-04-19 15:51:14

Entertaining, amusing and heart warming

Brought back a lot of fond memories of Western Australia in the 1970's.Maybe the trains weren't correct, but there was a lot of dinkum 70'smemorabilia. Obviously the story was not entirely factual andembellished to make it more entertaining to the public, but the basicand most important facts were about a Kelpie with a huge personality,who won the hearts of many on his travels. I loved the way the storywas mixed with many humorous moments and a few 'cactus jack' typescenes. The acting was very good and the storyline gave interesting,though probably mostly fictional, insights into the lives of the maincharacters. My conclusion was that it was a great movie about anadmirable dog and I'm sorry I never got to meet him myself.