And loses the plot completely.
Technically this is a good film - sound, lighting, location, actors gave it their all.
But it's a dud.
Constructive criticism: Anything set in a post apocalyptic scenario, especially in the Australian Outback, will be compared to Mad Max 1 & 2. Joel Edgerton old buddy, you can't write films - stick to acting. If you produce a film in this genre, it has to add to the noir, not copy it.
All stories need a beginning, a middle and an end - you MUST take the audience on a journey. If you don't grab the audience and hold them, attention wanders and pretty soon feet fidget, mobiles are switched on and messages are read - also opinions posted. I kept thinking all through this film "that's from Mad Max" "The Proposition" "No Country For Old Men", in fact anything by Cormac McCarthy, who has mastered the art of keeping a viewer compelled to watch.
Australia is a unique setting - use it. This movie is a transplant of a US road wander, The Book of Eli, The Road and many others. There were barely three lines of Australian vernacular, everything else was US based, including the senseless American brothers characters, and the silly obsession with US currency (what's wrong with Australian money - it's all just worthless effen paper !) - a cynic would simply conclude it has been inserted to gain favour for US release. Neither they nor the rest of the world is that dumb. Seen a few movies guys ? So have we...
The rest of the criticism is standard fare - stupid stunts, characters walking past perfectly serviceable weapons and vehicles, not collection spare ammunition, leaving automatic military weapons while sticking with 9mm pop-guns, suddenly producing cash when needed, "crazy" characters spouting supposed profound comments, the list goes on.
Don't make the public think you're just cashing in on the word Australia - it's worth far more than that.
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