Gregor Jordan's movie adaption of Tim Winton's acclaimed novel Dirt Music looks fantastic. Kudos to cinematographer. Sam Chiplin. He has perfectly recreated Winton's spectacular Western Australian locations in all of their sunny, radiant glory. Let me just say that despite the constant look of melancholia in Lu Fox's (Garrett Hedlund) eyes, there is nary a dark cloud to mar the sprawling azure skies, nor cast a shadow against the panoramic, ancient weathered landscapes.
And while we're tossing bouquets, let me just say that leads Hedlund, an American and Kelly McDonald, a Scot, do manage acceptable Australian accents. I have to give credit, where it's due. Though not quite up to the platinum standard set by the remarkable Kate Winslet in The Dressmaker. Hers was absolutely fair dinkum. As is befitting given the movie's title, there's also some quite reasonable music scattered intermittently through the film content. It was a smart casting decision to have well known Australian folk singer-songwriter Julia Stone playing a supporting role as a musician. Hedlund's acknowledged musical abilities arguably were a strong factor in him landing the role of Lu Fox, a disillusioned and disenchanted former muso who played in a band with Stone's Sal, as well as his brother.
Sad to say there's not much else to recommend about Dirt Music. It stands as a pretty ordinary advertisement for the much lauded and loved book (which I hereby give notice that I haven't read, at time of writing these words). The leads have little chemistry together and with the greatest respect I have to add that neither character, strikes me as being one of the sharpest tools in their respective sheds. Just saying!
What follows are just a few non - spoiling observations.
Not sure why the also unhappy Georgie just didn't leave the Buckridge household earlier. There was nothing holding her there. Even former boy friend Jim, wasn't exactly your traditional dastardly villain, curtailing her freedoms. He virtually invited her to go. Yet, she kept initially coming back. Why? I don't know.
OK, we find there may be some background reason for it, but let me tell you that rustling cray pots is not going to make you popular in any Western Australian coastal community. A bit nasty what happened, but somewhat understandable.
WA has long, hot, dry summers. Yet I don't remember the leads ever wearing hats in the movie. Quite honestly Hedlund especially, looked faintly ridiculous paddling around Kimberley coastal islands and water - ways in what is frequently 40 degree C temperatures. He would have been burnt to a crisp, long before doing the Robinson Crusoe thing.
Oh and by the way those waterways ... yes, saltwater crocodile infested. You want to be very, very careful of where you swim, or the beach you choose to lie around on up in those parts.
Despite being based on the best seller of the same name from well-renowned author Tim Winton, the cinematic adaptation doesn't really compliment the novel at all. My pass mark is largely derived from the brilliant cinematography. Overall it strikes me as being a pretty dull, self - indulged melodrama.
