Critical Film Review
THE CRAIC
Nick Horsnell
985750E
Tutor: Garry Gillard
Film Poster: http://www.festivale.webcentral.com.au/pics/filmrvu/craic1.jpg
Directed by: Ted Emery
Writing credits: Jimeoin McKeown
Genre: Comedy
Tagline: The bad guys want them dead. Immigration want them out. All they want is a good time.
Cast:
Jimeoin McKeown Fergus
Alan McKee Wesley
Robert Morgan Colin
Colin Hay Barry
Bob Franklin Bob
Nicholas Bell Derek Johnson (Immigration)
Jane Hall Alice
Catherine Arena Erica
Kate Gorman Margo
Charles "Bud" Tingwell Farmer
Beverly Dunn Farmer's Wife
Greg Evans Greg Evans (Game show host)
Dino Marnika Nick
Alan Brough Glen
Mark Crocker Tim
Matt King English Guy
Kyle Morrison Ron (Barrasi)
Jeremy Kewley Warm-up Man
Colin Hay Barry
Geoff Paine Russell
Anita Cerdic P.A
Reg Gorman RSL Manager
Tony Rickards Bald Doctor
Terry Trimble Backpackers Manager
Peter Aanensen Policeman
Den McCoy Mormon #1
Paul Collins Mormon #2
Lacey Fitzgerald P.A #1
Diana Tencic P.A #2
Chris Bidlo Australian Barman
John Walker Local in Pub
Fred Peter Potter
Richard Moss Immigration Officer #2
John Penman Simon
Maureen Andrew Newsagent Assistant
Bobby Davidson Jock
Gloden Mercer RSL Barmaid
Paul Nettleton Policeman #2
Wendy McDonald Barmaid (Megan)
Daniel Hedger Kid
Jack Hanford Joey
Bob Halsall Irish Barman
Steven Godfrey Hotel Manager
Eloise Gentle Chrissie
Serge De Nardo Fish and Chip Shop Man
Lincoln Edwards Expat #1
John Buultjens Expat #2
Danny O'Connell Expat #3
Wayne Stevens Expat #4
Gary Rens British Soldier #1
Cam Van Steel ASIO #1
Colin Warren Ditch
Chris Wilson Hardman #1
Bob Dalton Hardman #2
Anne Phelan Truck Driver
Produced by: Mark Gracie, Jimeoin McKeown & David Foster
Original Music by: Ricky Edwards
Cinematographer: John Wheeler
Film Editor: Michael Collins
Production Designer: Penny Southgate
Costume Designer: Michael Chisholm
Script Consultant: Bob Franklin
Script Editor: Alan Pentland
Casting: Cameron Harris
Production Manager: Jodie Crawford-Fish
Running Time: 86 Minutes
Language: English
Certification: Australia — M(15+), Medium level coarse language.
New Zealand — M(15+), Medium level coarse language.
Distributor: Roadshow
Release Date in Australia: April 29, 1999
Release Date in New Zealand: November 11, 1999
Video Release Date: January 11, 2000
Box Office Figures & Ratings:
In its first week of release at the cinema, The Craic accumulated the second highest ticket sales in the box office, just behind the number one, The Matrix. The film raked in $1,319,601 (AU).
In its second week The Craic earned $899,707 (AU) but dropped to number three in the Australian box office. It stayed in this position the next week also.
In its fourth week the film dropped to number five, earning $426,732 (AU) for the week.
By its seventh week in screening The Craic had dropped out of the top ten, plummeting to number sixteen, bringing in $65,155 (AU) in that week.
After the seventh week The Craic dropped out of the top 20 coming to the end of its screening period. From the 29th of April to the 14th of June the film accumulated a total of $5,121,025 at the box office.
(http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/News_Bums_on_Seats.asp)
Reviews:
Reviews of The Craic can be found at the following Internet sites:
http://www.filmink-online.com/hbs.cgi?movie=1681
http://entertainment.news.com.au/frameset_vertical/0,2733,ENTERTAINMENT%255FFILM%255Ehttp%253A%252F%252Farchive%252Eentertainment%252Enews%252Ecom%252Eau%252Ffilm%252Ffilm%255Farchive%252Ehtm%255Eexternal%255Eentertainment,00.html
http://www.netau.com.au/gregking/f795cra.htm
http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/article_view.asp?Article_ID=2280&Section=Video_files
http://us.imdb.com/TUrls?COM+0132907
http://www.fiftyplusnews.com/films/may.shtml
http://www.festivale.webcentral.com.au/filmrvu/9904frvj.htm
http://db.moviemafia.com.au:90/FMPro?-DB=Reviews.fp3&-Format=MMafia/MM_RevsD.htm&-RecID=24&-Find
http://www.ausfilms.com/cf_tag_verity_detail.cfm?ID=Craic%2C%20The%20%281998%29
Previous Work by Ted Emery (Dir):
"Fast Forward" (1989) TV Series
"Acropolis Now" (1989) TV Series
"Tonight Live with Steve Vizard" (1990) TV Series
"Bligh" (1992) TV Series
"Full Frontal" (1993) TV Series
"Jimeoin" (1994) TV Series
"Eric" (1996) TV Series
"Degenocide" (1997) Video (Comedy)
"The Micallef Programme" (1998) TV Series
"The Late Report" (1999) TV Series
How I Collected the Information:
I gathered all the information above and the review of the film itself, from websites on the Internet. I found there to be quite a few useful sites offering reviews, film information, box office statistics and listings of cast and crew. Since the film was released last year I did not look too much into books, I found the internet was sufficient, apart from the lack of interviews with the director or actors such as Jimeoin (except in Urban Cinefile). I started out searching big search engines such as Yahoo and Lycos, but not much was found there so I refined my searching by hopping from site to site looking for Australian film and information sites. Here are the websites I found most useful:
http://us.imdb.com/ (The internet movie database)
http://www.looksmart.com.au/
http://www.festivale.webcentral.com.au/
http://www.sna.net.au/
http://www.filmink-online.com/
http://entertainment.news.com.au/
http://www.netau.com.au/gregking/
http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/
http://www.cinemedia.net/AFI/ (The Craic did not win any AFI awards but it was helpful in discovering that fact.)
Critical Review
The Craic was released in the early stages of 1999. The title of the film translates as the Irish term for "The Joke". Well known Irish/Australian comedian Jimeoin (McKeown) not only wrote the script, but also acted out the main role of Fergus. Directed by rookie film director Ted Emery, who had previously worked with Jimeoin and other cast members in The Craic in Television series', the film is a humorous tale of two Irish buddies who get on the wrong side of an IRA boss, and are forced to flee Northern Ireland. The story continues with Fergus and Wesley (Alan McKee) relocating to Melbourne, being hounded by Australian Immigration officials, being hunted by the IRA boss, and generally having a fun time exploring Australia along the way.
Set in 1988 the film starts in what we are made to believe as rainy Belfast in a typical Irish pub with the two lads (Fergus and Wesley) enjoying a pint of Guinness. At the same time there is a surveillance mission in process photographing Colin. Unfortunately Fergus and Wesley come out of the pub straight after Colin and his entourage and are also photographed which is no help later in the film when the tough SAS soldiers guarding Colin recognize Fergus, this is yet another obstacle the two must overcome in Australia. Still in Ireland Fergus and Wesley are in the fish and chip shop ordering some food when they get in an argument with Colin ending in Fergus and Wesley being chased down the street by Colin firing bullets at them and swearing he will find and kill them. Then the film switches locations to Sydney. Fergus and Wesley are enjoying the easy going life in Australia washing cars for money, fishing and of course watching the great Aussie soap Neighbours.
The film includes many references to actual incidents that have happened in Jimeoin's time in Australia, going from an unknown to a household comedy name.
"This one is based on something I experienced — living with people who were illegal migrants. I shared a flat with four of them."
(Jimeoin explaining his film script)
To introduce the threat of Immigration into the plot, Jimeoin includes a typically funny gag, where two smart looking men in suits knock on the expats door. Of course the expats think it is Immigration to take them away so they make a dash for it, while their Australian landlord opens the door to find the men are from the Church of Later Day Saints. The landlord blurts out "Thank God for that!" and slams the door in their faces.
The story continues with another of Jimeoin's real life experiences, when he is selected as a contestant on a television dating game called "The Meet Market". It is a typical blind date show in the vein of the 80's hit TV show Perfect Match, and it even has the former show's presenter Greg Evans playing the presenting role on the film. The film does well mixing up both Australian and Irish culture, the other contestants are typical Australian "blokes", while Fergus is dressed in his Irish trousers and completely different. Like many other Australian films, especially The Castle, the Australian characters such as these contestants are portrayed as somewhat clueless, dumb or second class, the reason being Australians like to make fun of themselves and they find these portrayals on the film funny.
Quite predictably Fergus wins the blind date weekend with the female contestant Margo (Kate Gorman) where they get a weekend in sunny Surfers Paradise. Of course there is more Jimeoin humour is found in abundance in between scenes. Things don't go so well for Fergus and Margo hits it off with their chaperone Nick (Dino Marnika) who accompanies them on the trip. Meanwhile the real Immigration raid the house where the expats are staying, but Wesley manages to get away running out the back door and down the street in his underwear. The next stop for Immigration is the hotel where Fergus is staying in Surfers, but once again he eludes the officers as they think Nick is actually Fergus after finding him in bed with Margo.
The next addition to the plot is the arrival of Colin, the IRA boss/informant, in Queensland. He was sent to Australia in a witness protection plan with two tough SAS soldiers and an Australian secret service agent (played by ex Neighbours star from the early 80's Cam Van Steel). Here we can really see how many actors that Jimeoin and Emery have used from previous television series' they have worked on. The first SAS soldier is Bob (played by Bob Franklin), who appeared on Jimeoin and other television comedy shows, plus Jimeoin chose his boyhood friend Alan McKee to play the part of Wesley, it really is like part of a life story of Jimeoin. Another interesting fact is that Colin Hay, frontman of legendary Australian band Men At Work plays the role of the second SAS soldier, Barry.
After their brush with Immigration respectively, Wesley and Fergus meet up at a Backpackers lodge in Queensland. The pair then purchase a Volkswagen Kombi, a typical cheap car for tourists in Australia, it even has a map of Australia painted on the outside. Fergus' next purchase is a surfboard, another typically Australian cultural product. Gradually we see Fergus and Wesley becoming more Australian, from Irish clothes to Australian clothes, for example thongs, singlets and sunburn. The two lads get a job picking fruit at a local farm, the farmer is played by Aussie film legend Bud Tingwell in a very different role to what the public is used to. Tingwell plays one of the funniest characters in the film, a typical unshaven Australian farmer who has a major problem with the crows who eat his crop, he swears a lot which I'm sure the Australian public has seen in any other film Bud has been in. One reviewer, Lex Hall from Film-Ink.com stated that it is worth seeing this film just to hear Bud Tingwell swear. Another worthy Australian icon introduced is the Canetoad, a major pest problem in the state of Queensland. Emery and Jimeoin have done well to establish all parts of outback Australia.
While all this is going on Barry the SAS soldier has noticed that Fergus is in a surveillance photo from Belfast, and assumes that he is out to get kill Colin for grassing. While getting to know an Australian girl at the backpackers, Jimeoin comes out with one of his trademark one liners after she asks "Do you surf?" he replies "Yeah I can surf, I just can't stand up yet". But Fergus doesn't get a chance to get to know this girl any better after Immigration lead by Derek Johnson (played by Nicholas Bell) turns up at the farm. Colin has also noticed the two he swore vengeance against are in the same town as him. Fergus and Wesley flee towards Alice Springs to get away from the two parties chasing them. Colin takes off after them in what other car than a Kingswood, a piece of Australian culture in itself. Colin is a very tough, but rough looking character (tattoos and all), and rightly so Fergus and Wesley the harmful easy going Irish fellows should be scared.
When Fergus and Wesley crash the Kombi and it blows up they are left in the remote outback with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. More typical Australian animals can be seen it the following few scenes. Fergus and Wesley see their first Kangaroo, the only problem is that it is dead because they accidentally ran it over. When Colin finds the lads he chases them deep into the bush with a shotgun, they continue running into the night. When Colin awakes he finds an Emu standing over him. I feel this film should have been marketed to countries other than Australia and New Zealand, particularly Ireland and England because many British people dream of coming out here and seeing all these Australian animals and the culture itself. Although we are following the story of the two being chased by a madman and Immigration, the viewers also get a great look at all things Australian and how nice and easy going it can be.
Fergus and Wesley meet an aboriginal boy the next morning, who leads them through the bush into a town called Mundi Mundi. The humour continues, well for those people who know something about Australian Rules Football, when Fergus asks the boys name and he replies "Ron Barrassi" (former Sydney Swans coach). Another funny moment in The Craic is the following conversation between Ron and Fergus:
Ron: "Do you blokes get much shit for being Irish?"
Fergus: "Oh eye" "Do you blokes get much shit for being Aboriginal?"
Ron: "Everyday mate…every day mate"
It is one liners like this that get the most laughs throughout the movie, typical Jimeoin style not unlike jokes during his television series. But by adding the Aboriginal children into the film he has added another aspect of Australian culture that needed to be included in a story like this. By now Fergus and Wesley are tired of running away, though the bush and all, and want to be deported back to their homeland so they get Ron to call in Immigration.
Don't forget the SAS soldiers, they are out searching for Colin who chased off after the pair of larrakins. After finding the blown up Kombi they think Fergus and Wesley had kidnapped and killed Colin the informer. Switching back to the small outback town, Fergus and Wesley enter into the local pub to find a typical scene of about ten dirty Aussie blokes in their uniform of singlet's and Akubras. Another actor from Ted Emery's previous projects takes centre stage in the pub as an arrogant local Aussie bloke.
John Walker from Full Frontal and Jimeoin provide perhaps one of the funniest scenes in the film while conversing at the bar.
John: "Coupla poms are yas?" "What part of pommy land are ya from?"
Fergus: "Oh we're Irish"
John: "Same diff"
Fergus: "What part of New Zealand are you from?"
John: "What are you talkin about, I'm Australian!"
Fergus: "Same diff" (Followed by lots of laughter around the pub, John then shouts them a beer.)
It is lighthearted jokes like these that make the audience take Fergus and Wesley to heart, they are loveable, harmless, nice people who are funny.
In a somewhat predictable ending to the story, Colin, the SAS and the Australian Secret Service all converge in Mundi Mundi. Yes you guessed it right, Immigration have also found their way to the pub in Mundi Mundi to collect the two men for deportation. This results in a standoff between Immigration, Colin, the SAS and Australian Secret Service, who all want Fergus and Wesley for themselves. While this standoff is taking place Fergus and his best mate manage to escape into the bush. That is how The Craic finishes, with Colin Hay, who played an SAS hardman providing an acoustic version of the song "Down Under" while the credits roll. Incidentally the last shot is upside down of the two running away into the sunset, down under being worldwide symbol or sign of our country situated near the lower half of the globe.
The Craic does not have a plot that is technical are deep, it works around the various jokes and skits Jimeoin has written into it. Ted Emery and Jimeoin have worked together on numerous television series together, as have many of the other actors included in this picture, I think that is why the film achieves its smoothness and humour. Cinematographer John Wheeler was able to capture the beauty of various locations around Australia, which added to the culture and sub plots involved in the story and gags. The lead actors Jimeoin and Alan McKee play there roles superbly throughout and will probably go on to work in more feature films in Australia due to the popularity in the box office. Although the film was hardly what you would call a Hollywood blockbuster (the film was made on a reasonably small amount and only screened in Australia and New Zealand) style film, but it does fit into the 1980's genre type films, this being comedy. Another point is that there are no international or popular stars in this film. But The Craic does draws heavily from the 1970's Australian film making style which is self parody and ocker. The storyline and plot continually poke fun at Australians, but not in a mean way, in a funny way which is not offensive. We like to laugh at ourselves from time to time, and Jimeoin knows exactly that after spending years here.
The Craic is very alike another Australian comedy The Castle. Both were directed by rookies, and men that had previously worked in television. The Craic was filmed on location in Melbourne, Wentworth, Broken Hill, Gold Coast and Sydney, even the scene in Belfast. Money for the project was raised through private investors under 10BA tax incentive scheme. The only thing that differs is that The Craic was not acclaimed at any festivals or awards, and it was not released in the United States, Britain or any other countries apart from Australia and New Zealand. Jimeoin tried to steer clear of Hollywood style makeovers which can be found in many films portraying the Irish, he stated:
"Now, being from Northern Ireland myself, and seeing films like Devils' Own and Patriot Games, I though we never see any films that show what people are really like — people who're not political."
Perhaps people in the United States would not be able to understand or find a lot of this film funny (thus losing a whole lot of money) but surely England and Ireland would have prime places for release for a story like this. This text is definitely medium sized English language cinema, a very minor release on the global platform. The position of Australian film in the late nineties is quite different to that of the 80's where there were more funds available for blockbuster type films such as Crocodile Dundee. But this film shows that there is still value in Australian comedy albeit half Irish. I think The Craic is a breath of fresh air compared to that of the general direction of late, there has not been many comedies released in the last few years. Despite a rather predictable plot and ending, the film is funny, shows a whole lot of Australian culture while following a believable storyline with a believable bunch of characters, the film was a success in Australia (as we saw in the box office figures).
Filmography and Bibliography
The Castle, dir. Rob Sitch, 1997.
Crocodile Dundee, dir. Peter Faiman, 1986.
O'Regan T. (1996) Australian National Cinema, Making a National Cinema, Routledge, London and New York.
Television References shown above in Ted Emery's previous work.