Round 12: This Week in Rugby League according to At The Movies

“Ohhh Gallen’s dead set taken a dive there, give him an Academy Award!”

David Stratton: This week on At The Movies, the next instalment in film’s most famous franchise premieres in Melbourne, a megalomaniacal, autobiographical, but ultimately feel-good look at a former star enjoying a career renaissance after learning the error of his ways and a touching story of a hard working, socially awkward, loner’s efforts to win over a conservative regional town.

Margaret Pomeranz: Other new releases this week include a sequel to Once Were Warriors, a low-budget re-make of West Side Story and the winning entrant from the Canberra Short Film Festival titled Easy Peasy Without Campese.

But first, it is the much-hyped release of Fourward and Upward…? – the newest in the Star Wars series. David, you were at the premiere last night in Melbourne, what did you think? Did it live up to the hype? Did it give you hope that the rather disappointing instalments of recent years would be a thing of the past?

DS: You’re right Margaret, this franchise has become somewhat stale in recent years, although it must be tough to put so much effort into producing these works year in and year out for almost 30 years. However, to the directors’ credit, the infusion of much new talent for the Blues gave those behind the relentless hype machine a somewhat easier task. The angles of youth vs. experience and potential vs. proven performers gave the media much to discuss in anticipation of this premiere.

I won’t give too much away, but the youth (New South Wales) vs. experience (Queensland) theme plays a pivotal – and perhaps controversial – role early on in the battle and it appeared Queensland was about to exhibit major dominance over their hated foe, but it didn’t quite turn out like that. While the battle perhaps didn’t reach the heights of some famous past instalments – such as the first episode in 2005 or the third episode of 2002 – the directors must be given credit for an ending which leaves plenty of options for subsequent instalments later in the year.

However, I’m not sure about the neutral venue of Melbourne – I know the directors have used Melbourne before and they have their reasons but there was something of an…empty feel for much of the game. Perhaps it’s just that Melbourne is more of a Star Trek city, who knows? Margaret, what did you think?

MP: At the end of the day – channelling my inner Craig Bellamy here, David, heh heh heh! – I agree with you, the directors have to be praised. Keeping this aging franchise alive year after year for so very long and sustaining such significant interest is a noteworthy achievement.

But the potential vs. experience angle was identified early on, was present throughout this instalment and given its success, I’m sure will be used again later on in the year. Another time-honoured theme was refereeing mistakes and the passion this creates amongst rival supporters. It’s quite amazing, David, there have refereeing mistakes in Star Wars since we were at SBS heh heh heh but they still are such an effective means of engaging (or should that be enraging?) the audience.

While some have called for an end to Star Wars after such a long run, this latest instalment – and the fervour with which it was received – shows it has plenty of life left in it yet, especially as long as I can watch Greg Inglis gracefully striding down the field. Four stars from me.

DS: I’m not quite as big a Star Wars follower and fan as you, Margaret, but as much as I try and tune out of it and ignore the hype, the intensity of each battle draws me in. Four stars here too.

MP: Now it’s on to our second release of the week – Citizen Dell. David, you mentioned the relentless hype machine for Star Wars; perhaps they ought to engage the promotional talents of the producer, director and star of Citizen Dell – Wendell Sailor – in the future. Despite being released in the same week as Star Wars, Citizen Dell has still received significant publicity.

For the few people out there who have avoided the self-promotional blitz in recent months, Citizen Dell is an autobiographical account of Wendell Sailor’s turbulent career. However, it is mostly focused on the last few years, where he endured a two-year suspension for cocaine use but overcame the naysayers and doubters – or “haters” as he calls them several times during the film – to resurrect his career at NRL club St. George Illawarra.

For those who can handle Sailor’s consistently brash demeanour and are not entirely put off by Sailor referring to the film many believe is the best ever in the title, this is something of a feel-good story. Much of the film looks at Sailor’s role in a recent win for St George Illawarra over Penrith, where Sailor “carried the team on my back” to a win. Look out for Morgan Freeman as St George Illawarra coach Wayne Bennett and cameos from Pauly Shaw (as former Dragons coach Nathan Brown; although this is somewhat demeaning – to Shaw) and Brad Chard (as passer-by on Pitt Street Brad Chard whose brief early morning exchange helped motivate Sailor).

I’m going to give this three and a half stars. David, what did you think?

DS: As you know Margaret, I’m not much of a sports follower, but I am aware of Sailor and I am also aware of Anthony Mundine. I find both of them to be highly objectionable characters. Some may accuse me anti-American feeling for this, but there are many fine concepts, ideas or products which emanate from the United States. I’m afraid that loud, boorish, excessively confident sportsmen are not one of them, especially when they name their films after Citizen Kane. Two stars from me.

On to our next new release for the week: Mr. Smith Goes to Newcastle. Whereas Wendell Sailor’s puff piece had nothing in common with the masterpiece from whence its name was borrowed, this film has a number of similar elements to the 1939 film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, which of course starred Jimmy Stewart.

In both films, a replacement official is required to take over after a death. In Newcastle, the “death” was of the local team – the Newcastle Knights – as a premiership threat. If the decision for a new coach of the Knights was made as other decisions were in the mid 2000’s – at the whim of declining superstar Andrew Johns – the Knights would have recruited another Yes man, another lackey to coach the team, but those in charge knew that riding the coattails of Johns and one or two others could not continue. The signing of Mr. Smith – Brian Smith – was specifically undertaken to revitalise and transform what was an ailing club in a rugby league town.

Smith’s reform process of the Newcastle Knights was fast-tracked after the sudden retirement of Andrew Johns after just three games of the 2007 season. Smith knew he was at a club where home-grown talent was important, but he also knew how important reform was. These outcomes were quickly shown to be mutually exclusive and supporter and player discontent was rising. Poor on-field performances only made Smith’s position more tenuous.

However, during 2008, once the first wave of reform had begun and Smith was able to secure much of his new talent from elsewhere, the first signs of the transformation became apparent.

There has been much controversy over this film, as Smith has won few friends in rugby league circles despite a career spanning four separate decades. Smith’s enemies claim the turbulent 2007 season has been glossed over and key facts regarding certain events are omitted or altered, but I think this film has a strong enough story that the non-sport follower such as myself can really become involved.

The film ends midway through the 2009 season, where further development of the Newcastle Knights playing roster has seen a much improved performance, including victories over a number of successful teams, the last of which came against the Bulldogs. Look for a hilarious cameo by Stevie Wonder as video referee Paul Simpkins; Simpkins’ small involvement gave Newcastle a brief advantage over the Bulldogs, but one is left feeling good for Smith and for Newcastle. There is a feeling of satisfaction, where Smith can see the benefits of much hard work paying off.

Smith’s somewhat anti-social and workaholic qualities are beautifully captured by Tom Cruise, while others to watch for include John Candy (as former Newcastle player and now board member Paul Harragon) and a brick outhouse (as Newcastle player Junior Sau).

Margaret, I’m going to give Mr. Smith Goes to Newcastle four stars.

MP: A brick outhouse?! Ohhhhh David you’re too much. I also enjoyed this film, but I can’t help but think this was released too soon and failed to adequately go over much of his past. Yes, he enjoyed long stints at a number of clubs, but ultimate success – a grand final win – has always eluded him. While those behind the film may feel the story is in Smith winning over Newcastle after the turbulent 2007 season, for most other followers of the game, a much bigger story would be if Smith ever won a premiership.

Still, I enjoyed the film – I wonder if Smith’s career could sustain a number of films actually. Three and a half stars from me.

On to several new releases with much lower budgets and/or aimed at a much smaller segment of the movie-going public. Firstly, the winner of the Canberra Short Film Festival was the rugby league film Easy Peasy Without Campese. This film looked at the exploits of the local rugby league team, the Canberra Raiders, who struggled mightily during the first 11 rounds of the 2009 season with their supposed superstar Terry Campese.

Campese’s absence from Canberra’s team in Round 12 was thought by many to leave Canberra rudderless and vulnerable, but they developed an excellent gameplan and thrashed South Sydney. There is a mix of entertainment (from the pleasing Canberra play), humour (as David Caruso plays the parts of both Alan Tongue and Joel Monaghan) and mystery (as the Canberra players ponder why they couldn’t perform at this level previously and wonder if Campese was to blame).

A very nice short film, three and a half stars from me.

DS: From New Zealand comes our next film Always Were Mudrunners (a sequel to Once Were Warriors). Strangely enough, this sequel looks at a rugby league team called the Warriors. This film is part drama, part comedy, part excitement thanks to the high number of emotionally volatile but usually brain-dead Maori or Islander players who play for the Warriors. In truth, this documentary would be interesting enough without the Mudrunners tie-in, but watch for the Warriors transforming from inconsistent, erratic players into machines once rain falls in Auckland. The impact of this has been historically felt by their opposition in the featured game, the Wests Tigers, a team from Sydney (but interestingly with a high number of Kiwi players) who thrive in dry weather.

All in all, an interesting addition to films in 2009, but a bit specialised for my liking: two and a half stars.

MP: The final new release this week is a local low-budget remake of West Side Story. How low-budget is it? Well…it was shot on a mobile phone by a member of the passionate Cronulla Sharks Supporters Club! Heh heh heh – I guess you’d have to be passionate to still attend Cronulla games!

Anyway, I believe this Cronulla Sharks supporter has been filming every game from their vantage point in the crowd since news of the Sharks’ financial problems was announced, praying for a win and the ensuing celebrations to showcase that good can still come from Cronulla. Bless them…but while you can’t help but become involved in the emotions of the Cronulla supporters, their win against Parramatta was very much a struggle, containing very little in the area of excitement or drama.

Parramatta at times looked like exerting more of an influence on the game’s outcome, but their famous habit (so I’m told) of playing down to their opposition when favoured to win once again came to the fore. Cronulla stayed close (thanks to a rare highlight by Luke Covell) and basically fell across the line – well, Mitch Brown did at least. And Trent Barrett’s field goal was as ugly as they come.

That said, it might be worth going to see West Side Story just for the post-game celebration. For a club which has never won a premiership, Cronulla’s loyal supporters sure do know how to celebrate!

DS: Margaret, that’s cruel!

MP: Heh heh I know, David, I know. Anyway, for the battle between the Sharks and the Eels (not the Jets unfortunately), I give three stars.

On that note, we’ll leave Margaret and David. Hopefully something resembling normal Tuesday Roast transmission will resume next week.

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