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Thunderstruck

MED231 – Australian Cinema
Ausfilm Database Assignment
By Iain Fraser
Semester 1 2005
Principal Cast and Credits

Principal Cast
Damon Gameau Sonny
Stephen Curry Ben
Ryan Johnson Lloyd
Callan Mulvey Sam
Sam Worthington Ronnie
Kestie Morassi Amy
Rachel Gordon Molly
John Merkel Rob Wallace
Al Clark Gary Geffen
John Sheerin Mr. Jones
Judi Farr Mrs. Jones
Peter Longbottom Male Jingle Singer
Nick Sheppard Advertising Guy
Monica Main Jen
Saskia Burmeister Chloe

Credits
Darren Ashton Director
Al Clark Executive Producer
Andrena Finlay Executive Producer
Barbara Gibbs Line Producer
Jodi Matterson Producer
Geoffrey Hall Cinematography
Martin Connor Film Editor

Writing Credits
Darren Ashton
Shaun Angus Hall

Production Companies
Eddie Wong Films
Wildheart Films

Release Dates
Australia 20 May 2004
New Zealand August 2004
Australia 20 November 2004 (video premiere)
USA March 2005 (South by Southwest Film Festival)
Iceland 22 March 2005 (DVD premiere)

(Source: IMDB)
Box Office Takings

Week Weeks Takings Total Takings Ranking
1 (27th May) 358 890 358 890 4
2 (3rd June) 193 248 658 111 5
3 (10th June) 91 898 821 020 13
4 Onward 85 896 906 916
(Source: http://www.moviemarshal.com/)

Thunderstruck was the number 4 top grossing Australian film for 2004.
(Source: http://www.afc.gov.au/newsandevents/mediarelease/2005/release_350.aspx )

Interviews with Filmmakers

• Tedmanson, Sofie 2004, "Damon's long way to the top" in The Australian Newspaper May 19, 2004, available from: http://www.crabsodyinblue.com/acdcthunderstruckthemovie.htm
(Interview with Damon Gameau who played Sonny)
Excerpt:
"I always dreamed of being a rock star. Being able to try it in a film kind of allows me to have that experience in a weird way.

"That's the joy of acting - you get these circumstances that are beyond reality and it's a gift, an absolute gift ... it's such a fantastic job for that reason."

Gameau is munching on a counter meal of schnitzel and chips at an inner-city Sydney pub and talking about his latest role in Thunderstruck - an Australian comedy about a group of AC/DC fans who drive across the country to scatter their mate's ashes over Bon Scott's memorial plaque in Perth. Scott was the wild front man of AC/DC who died in 1980.

• Smith, Roger, 2004, "Interview exclusive to Movie Vault with Darren Ashton & Damon Gameau: Director and star of Thunderstruck",
http://www.movie-vault.com/reviews/KesGuWQBESwrjlQd,
(Interview with Damon Gameau and Darron Ashton)
Excerpt:
R: First of all, congratulations!

DA & DG: Thank you.

R: I wanted to ask about something I heard Darren say elsewhere. There's a point in the film where Sonny is talking to Ben just after he spits the dummy. Sonny talks him around, and there was something that happened there that gave Darren goose pimples during the rushes. Damon, were you aware at the time that something like that was happening?

DG: I don't think I was. The irony of that was that I think Darren got goose pimples because that was such a difficult scene. Everything leading up to it was so complicated and I was having trouble with it. Trying not to make it too corny or too predictable. And then we actually shot it and logistically it was so difficult, quite windy and threatening rain, and we were backing up the road, we had to follow a steadicam, a very technical shot, while trying to be real.

Reviews
This movie generally received a critical scathing, with many reviews citing poor character development, lack of a clear plot and corny humour. Although the favourable reviews outnumber the unfavourable in this report, it should be noted that all but one favourable review take the tone of "Yeah, it wasn't bad, but!"

The review by Curruthers is only included out of curiosity. I wonder if she was watching the same film as everyone else?

Favourable
• Edwards Russell, 2004, Variety. New York: Jun 7-Jun 13, 2004. Vol. 395, Iss. 4; p. 34
Excerpt:
Helming is functional, apart from one sequence, depicting Lloyd's drug-induced psychosis, that shows a flourish of originality. Central perfs pass the time easily enough without any of them standing out. A myriad of minor Oz celebs appear in enjoyable supporting roles though their presence will be lost on international viewers - while coscripter Hall also has a minor but pivotal role in the film's mass of subplots.

• Morris, Clint, 2005, Film Threat Reviews: Thunderstruck http://www.filmthreat.com/Reviews.asp?Id=5920
Excerpt:
Granted, there's not as much AC/DC as the film could've hoped for (assume that had something to do with rights to the tracks), the film's mish-mash of oddball humour and heart-tugging drama is a little off at times and the always excellent Sam Worthington isn't with the film for much (can't be long before Hollywood discovers Sam), but their inconsequential justices for a flick that's reasonably well-rounded.

• Carruthers, Avril, 2004, "Review: Thunderstruck", http://www.movie-vault.com/reviews/KesGuWQBESwrjlQd (Gushingly Favourable)
Excerpt:
Both the characterisation and the acting are top-notch. At 29, the five boys are very different individuals from each other while still recognisable from their 17-year-old selves. Their fiery interactions are believable and original.

Unfavourable
• Urban, Andrew L. and Keller, Louise, 2004, "Urban Cinefile – Feature: Thunderstruck", http://www.urbancinefile.com.au/home/view.asp?a=8675&s=Reviews
Excerpt:
While the leads are amiable and credible, the telemovie-sized script gives them little depth and the 12 year time jump finds them undefined as people – except Ben (Stephen Curry in good form) who seems to have had a frontal lobotomy or a personality bypass.

• Hawker, Phillipa, 2004, "Thunderstruck – Film Reviews – www.theage.com.au", http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/19/1084917651577.html?oneclick=true
Excerpt:
The film remains a great simple idea on paper, a one-line movie pitch that doesn't come to life. The characters are never really explored, just stuck in one somewhat laboured comic situation after another, until rock'n'roll redemption comes - and whatever rock'n'roll spirit is being channelled in this film, it's a pretty mild-mannered one, more easy listening than high voltage.