Mad Bastards is a 2011 Australian drama film written and directed by Brendan Fletcher.[2] Set in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, the film uses mainly local Aboriginal people in the cast, and draws on their stories for the plotline.[3] It is Fletcher's debut film and it premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.[4]
| Mad Bastards | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical film poster | |
| Directed by | Brendan Fletcher |
| Written by | Brendan Fletcher |
| Produced by | Brendan Fletcher David Jowsey Alan Pigram Stephen Pigram |
| Starring | Dean Daley-Jones Lucas Yeeda Greg Tait |
| Cinematography | Allan Collins |
| Edited by | Claire Fletcher |
| Music by | Alan Pigram Stephen Pigram Alex Lloyd |
Release date |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3.2 million[1] |
| Box office | $203,598 (Australia)[1] |
Plot
editYears ago, TJ abandoned his wife and son, and as time passes his conscience tells him it is time to face up to his responsibilities as a father. TJ is an Aboriginal man living in Western Australia and has a weakness for alcohol and a habit of getting into fights. TJ's son Bullet is nearly as troubled as he is - at the age of 13, he has already been arrested for arson, and instead of serving a sentence in a juvenile detention home, he is released to the custody of Elders. Bullet is not eager to reacquaint himself with TJ, but both realise they need to settle their scores with one another, and Bullet's grandfather Texas steps in to help.
Cast
edit- Dean Daley-Jones as TJ
- Lucas Yeeda as Bullet
- Karla Hart as TJ's sister
- Alex Lloyd as Musician
- Douglas Macale as Uncle Black
- Patrick McCoy-Geary as Bullet's mate
- Kelton Pell as Mad Dog
- Alan Pigram as Musician
- Ngaire Pigram as Nella
- Stephen Pigram as Musician
- Greg Tait as Texas
- John Watson as Bush Camp Elder
Production
editDirector and scriptwriter Brendan Fletcher, usually based in Sydney, wrote the film in collaboration with the lead actors, who were local Indigenous people, and John Watson, an elder of the Jarlmadangah people. The storyline was developed from the true stories of local Indigenous people of the Kimberley region in Western Australia, where the film was shot.[3]
Greg Tait, a Gidja man was a reformed young offender who became a policeman, was given a leading role.[3]
The film was co-produced by musician brothers Alan Pigram and Stephen Pigram, who also provided an original score and performed in the film, along with David Jowsey and Fletcher. Ngaire Pigram, Stephen's daughter, played the female lead role.[3]
Reception
editMad Bastards received positive reviews from critics and audiences, earning an approval rating of 88% on Rotten Tomatoes. Michelle Orange of SBS gave the film three stars out of five. She observed that the "over-reliance on score sets up an avoidant rhythm that begins to feel like a lack of narrative confidence." However she also points out that "Fletcher’s atmospheric approach is not without moments of emotional power, and the raw, unyielding landscapes of Northwestern Australia are framed to resonant effect."[5]
Awards and nominations
edit| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Award (1st) |
AFI Members' Choice Award | Brendan Fletcher, David Jowsey, Alan Pigram, Stephen Pigram | Nominated |
| Best Film | Nominated | ||
| Best Original Screenplay | Brendan Fletcher | Nominated | |
| Best Young Actor | Lucas Yeeda | Nominated | |
| Best Sound | Phil Judd | Nominated | |
| Nick Emond | Nominated | ||
| Johanna Emond | Nominated | ||
| ADG Award | Best Direction in a Feature Film | Brendan Fletcher | Nominated |
| AFCA Award | Best Director | Nominated | |
| APRA Music Award | Feature Film Score of the Year | Nominated | |
| Alan Pigram | Nominated | ||
| Stephen Pigram | Nominated | ||
| ASE Award | Best Editing in a Feature Film | Claire Fletcher | Nominated |
| ASSG Award | Best Achievement in Sound for Film Sound Recording | Nick Emond | Won |
| Inside Film Awards | Independent Spirit Award | Brendan Fletcher, David Jowsey, Alan Pigram, Stephen Pigram | Won |
| Sundance Film Festival (2011) |
Grand Jury Prize | Brendan Fletcher | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ a b Sam Dallas, "Box Office: Insidious posts modest opening", If Magazine 17 May 2011 Archived 24 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine accessed 24 May 2014
- ^ Smith, Ian Hayden (2012). International Film Guide 2012. p. 65. ISBN 978-1908215017.
- ^ a b c d The West Australian (14 January 2011). "Bright lights beckon Kimberley's Mad Bastards". The West Australian. Retrieved 2 August 2022.
- ^ "Debuting Director Brendan Fletcher's Mad Bastards Shapes Textured Relationships Within a Vividly Drawn Milieu". Hollywood Reporter. 27 January 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2012.
- ^ Orange, Michelle. "Mad Bastards (review)". SBS. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
External links
edit- Mad Bastards at IMDb