Beautiful (2009 film)
Encyclopedia
Beautiful is a 2009 Australian independent film, written and directed by Dean O'Flaherty, which was released by Adelaide
-based Kojo Pictures on 5 March 2009. The film marked the feature filmmaking debut of both O'Flaherty and Kojo Pictures. The South Australian Film Corporation
provided approximately 10 per cent of the $1.5m budget, while the rest came from private investors.
Beautiful was the first film in Australia to receive the new (at the time) 40% Producers Rebate from the Federal Government. The film received a poor response, taking only $56,000 at the Australian box office in its short cinema release.
It was invited to screen at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival
, in June 2010, and later sold "to France and all French-speaking European territories ... Japan ... Poland, Middle East, Russia, Mexico and HBO Eastern Europe."
While praising the "strong visuals" and "strong soundtrack", Fiona Williams of SBS Films said Beautiful was "another disappointing footnote in a submission for better script development in Australian filmmaking. It’s a good idea that’s been undercooked and overdone."
Jim Schembri of The Age
panned the film as a "dreadfully limp thriller". He diagnosed the problem as "the age-old one that bedevils too many Australian films - the movie cannot decide what type of movie it wants to be."
Thomas Caldwell of Cinema Autopsy described the film as "derivative", while mentioning Blue Velvet, American Beauty
, Happiness and Donnie Darko
. He also took issue with its "horribly written dialogue".
Annette Baille of Filmink Magazine praised the film for being "a truly transportive cinema experience - beautifully photographed, cleverly written and performed with precision - the only thing more intriguing than Beautiful's plot is what its gifted writer/Director will do next."
David Griffiths of Mediaresearch.com said: "Beautiful is a stunning film that should silence the critics who are ringing the death bell for the Australian film industry".
's Lolita
. According to footage in the DVD extras, the scene was shot at a house near the corner of Greenwood Grove and Meadowbank Rise (34°58′0.88"S 138°38′13.08"E), Urrbrae, South Australia
.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
-based Kojo Pictures on 5 March 2009. The film marked the feature filmmaking debut of both O'Flaherty and Kojo Pictures. The South Australian Film Corporation
South Australian Film Corporation
South Australian Film Corporation is a South Australian Government statutory corporation established in 1972. Former State Premier Don Dunstan played an instrumental role in the foundation of the Corporation and its early film production activities....
provided approximately 10 per cent of the $1.5m budget, while the rest came from private investors.
Beautiful was the first film in Australia to receive the new (at the time) 40% Producers Rebate from the Federal Government. The film received a poor response, taking only $56,000 at the Australian box office in its short cinema release.
It was invited to screen at the 12th Shanghai International Film Festival
Shanghai International Film Festival
The Shanghai International Film Festival , abbreviated SIFF, is one of the largest film festivals in East Asia.Along with Tokyo International Film Festival, the SIFF is one of the biggest film festivals in Asia. The first festival was held from October 7 to 14, 1993, and was held biennially until...
, in June 2010, and later sold "to France and all French-speaking European territories ... Japan ... Poland, Middle East, Russia, Mexico and HBO Eastern Europe."
Plot
Buried within the beautiful suburb of Sunshine Hills is a series of secrets and mysteries, most involving the disappearance of young women. Local teenager, Daniel Hobbs, a lonely outsider, is drawn into a plot by Suzy Thomson, a seventeen year old neighbor, to uncover the truth behind the missing girls. This mostly involves sneaking into the lives of the occupants of number 46. What he finds is the shocking truth about his own background. Or is it?Cast
- Deborra-Lee FurnessDeborra-Lee Furness-Biography:Furness attended Methodist Ladies' College, Melbourne where she graduated in 1973. She subsequently graduated at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York in 1981....
as Mrs Thomson - Peta WilsonPeta WilsonPeta Gia Wilson is an Australian actress and model. She is best known as Nikita in the television series La Femme Nikita.-Early life:...
as Sherrie - Sebastian Gregory as Danny
- Tahyna TozziTahyna TozziTahyna Valentina Tozzi is an Australian model, singer and actress, perhaps best known for her role as Perri on Australian television series Blue Water High on free to air channel ABC.- Early life :...
as Suzy - Erik ThomsonErik ThomsonErik Thomson is an actor known for playing Hades in the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Dr. Mitch Stevens in All Saints and Dave Rafter in Packed to the Rafters...
as Mr Thomson - Aaron JefferyAaron JefferyAaron C. Jeffery is a Logie Award winning New Zealand – Australian actor.-Early life:Born in Howick, Auckland, Jeffery moved to Australia at the age of 17 and studied acting at NIDA.-Career:...
as Alan - Asher KeddieAsher KeddieAsher Keddie is an Australian actress who is perhaps best known for her role in the Australian television series Offspring. She is also known for her theatre work and leading roles in the television series Paper Giants: The Birth of Cleo, Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities and Love My...
as Jennifer - Socratis Otto as Max
Critical reception
Beautiful divided critics in Australia.While praising the "strong visuals" and "strong soundtrack", Fiona Williams of SBS Films said Beautiful was "another disappointing footnote in a submission for better script development in Australian filmmaking. It’s a good idea that’s been undercooked and overdone."
Jim Schembri of The Age
The Age
The Age is a daily broadsheet newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854. Owned and published by Fairfax Media, The Age primarily serves Victoria, but is also available for purchase in Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and border regions of South Australia and...
panned the film as a "dreadfully limp thriller". He diagnosed the problem as "the age-old one that bedevils too many Australian films - the movie cannot decide what type of movie it wants to be."
Thomas Caldwell of Cinema Autopsy described the film as "derivative", while mentioning Blue Velvet, American Beauty
American Beauty (film)
American Beauty is a 1999 American drama film directed by Sam Mendes and written by Alan Ball. Kevin Spacey stars as Lester Burnham, a middle-aged magazine writer who has a midlife crisis when he becomes infatuated with his teenage daughter's best friend, Angela...
, Happiness and Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko
Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Drew Barrymore, Patrick Swayze, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Noah Wyle, Jena Malone, and Mary McDonnell...
. He also took issue with its "horribly written dialogue".
Annette Baille of Filmink Magazine praised the film for being "a truly transportive cinema experience - beautifully photographed, cleverly written and performed with precision - the only thing more intriguing than Beautiful's plot is what its gifted writer/Director will do next."
David Griffiths of Mediaresearch.com said: "Beautiful is a stunning film that should silence the critics who are ringing the death bell for the Australian film industry".
Trivia
The iconic lawn chair scene, pictured above, is a homage to Stanley KubrickStanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick was an American film director, writer, producer, and photographer who lived in England during most of the last four decades of his career...
's Lolita
Lolita (1962 film)
Lolita is a 1962 comedy-drama film by Stanley Kubrick based on the classic novel of the same title by Vladimir Nabokov. The film stars James Mason as Humbert Humbert, Sue Lyon as Dolores Haze and Shelley Winters as Charlotte Haze with Peter Sellers as Clare Quilty.Due to the MPAA's restrictions at...
. According to footage in the DVD extras, the scene was shot at a house near the corner of Greenwood Grove and Meadowbank Rise (34°58′0.88"S 138°38′13.08"E), Urrbrae, South Australia
Urrbrae, South Australia
Urrbrae is a suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Mitcham.Located at the foot of the Adelaide Hills, it is bordered on the east by the South Eastern Freeway, and the Old Toll House, which marked the traditional entrance to the city of Adelaide in the 19th...
.
See also
- Australian films of 2009Australian films of 2009-2009:...
- Cinema of AustraliaCinema of AustraliaCinema of Australia, more commonly referred to as the Australian film industry, refers to the system of production, distribution, and exhibition of films in Australia. Film production commenced in Australia in 1906 with the production of The Story of the Kelly Gang, the earliest feature film made...
- List of films shot in Adelaide
- List of Australian films
- South Australian Film CorporationSouth Australian Film CorporationSouth Australian Film Corporation is a South Australian Government statutory corporation established in 1972. Former State Premier Don Dunstan played an instrumental role in the foundation of the Corporation and its early film production activities....