The Night We Called It a Day (2003)

Note Générale:

6,1/10   

Réalisateur:

Paul Goldman

Scénaristes:

Peter Clifton (writer)
Michael Thomas (writer)

Date de sortie:

14 août 2003 (Australia)

Genre:

Biographie | Comedie | Drame | Musique

Accroche:

This nobody is about to catch a big somebody.

Intrigue:

Based on the true events surrounding Frank Sinatra's tour of Australia. When Sinatra calls a local reporter a "two-bit hooker", every union in the country black-bans the star until he issues an apology. |

Plot Keywords:

Apology | Frank Sinatra | Tabloid Journalism | Big Band | Female Reporter

Récompenses:

1 win & 3 nominations

Avis des utilisateurs:

They should have called it a day a lot earlier

Ensemble

Dennis Hopper	...	Frank Sinatra
Melanie Griffith	...	Barbara Marx
Portia de Rossi	...	Hilary Hunter
Joel Edgerton	...	Rod Blue
Rose Byrne	...	Audrey Appleby
David Hemmings	...	Mickey Rudin
David Field	...	Bob Hawke
Victoria Thaine	...	Penny
Stephen O'Rourke	...	Jilly Rizzo
Nicholas Hope	...	Phil
George Vidalis	...	Vinny
Peter Demlakian	...	Ruby
Tony Barry	...	Ralph Blue
Vincent Ball	...	Rex Hooper
Jennifer Hagan	...	Doris

Autre(s) titre(s):

All the Way (USA) (DVD title)
All the Way: The Kidnapping of a Music Legend (USA) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language.

Durée:

Germany:97 min (Filmfest Hamburg) | Argentina:97 min

Pays:

Australia | USA

Langue:

Anglais

Couleur:

Couleur

Rapport de forme:

1,85 : 1

Son:

Dolby Digital

Classification:

UK:15 | Argentina:13 | Iceland:16 | Finland:K-11 | Netherlands:AL | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R

Lieux de tournage:

Fox Studios, Moore Park, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Société:

The Night We Called It a Day Pty. Ltd.

Goofs:

Anachronismes: There are a number of anachronisms in the Sydney backdrops, ostensibly set in the 1970s. The most obvious is the catamaran harbour ferry that crosses the screen, in an early night-time shot of the harbour bridge. These were not introduced until 15 years later in 1988.

Guillemet:

Frank Sinatra: What's your name kid?
Rod Blue: Rod Blue from Wooloomooloo.

Connexions:

Références The Godfather (1972)

Bande son:

Boogie Part 1

They should have called it a day a lot earlier

This is loosely based on events that occurred during Frank Sinatra's tour of Australia where, after referring to a female reporter as a "two-bit hooker" he was black-banned by the local unions.

Sadly, what could have been an interesting look at a clash of cultures, values and strong-willed individuals descends into something resembling a comedy sketch put on by a country repertory company.

Dennis Hopper does a stirling job as Sinatra, with very little directorial support. After a while you start to believe he is Ol' Blue Eyes. But virtually all the other characters are painted in the broad brush strokes of low farce.

Joel Edgerton plays the hapless promoter as a dim-witted surfer with a tendency to fall over or get beaten up in every second scene. Portia de Rossi is so loathsome in her role as the maligned journalist that I found myself cheering for Sinatra and the mob for most of the movie.

And, in a masterstroke of bizarre casting and makeup, David Field blithely appears on screen looking about as much like Bob Hawke as my mum. Moreover, he seems to have made a conscious decision not to even attempt Hawke's accent, nor any of his well known mannerisms. The overall effect is as if the producers had decided to cast Dame Edna Everage in the role and hope that no-one would notice.

Almost every Australian character in the film comes across as either a bumbling half-wit or a self-serving thug. I'm surprised Tourism Australia didn't try to have it banned. The sole exception is the delightful Rose Byrne who, as the love interest/voice of sanity, seems to have been beamed in from a parallel universe.

Lamenting the state of the Australian film industry is a national pastime. I think much of it stems from the industry's long love affair with 'daggyness' for its own sake. Who finds this quirky and endearing any more? It's just embarrassing, and the rest of the world obviously thinks so too. This film, with its woeful dialogue, wooden 'school play level' direction, zero character motivation and absurd plot, admirably demonstrates the problem.