I do enjoy this film, but Noyce has made much better ones. The weak drippy story of one courageous woman (who better than Judy Davis to play it) hitting back at wealthy hot shot developers, who want to pull down her residence, amongst a row of other two storey tenements, so they can put up new wave apartments, where underneath some real corruption, and shady characters (prominently Peter Hehir's one) isn't the best story pitch in the world. And too, we are in the midst of a real heatwave, in Sydney, something uncommon in this city today. The story takes place in December, and in Surry Hills or Paddington, if I'm correct as knowing Sydney spots well. Pity. We have a line up of a great cast, who honestly don't have much to work with. Judy Davis, brilliant, who like, Pacino, always has her moments, a particular scene or that, you remember the actor for. She definitely makes her stand here. The day of departure, will be a great falling for the Oz entertainment industry. Moir too, as one of the rivalling major developers, an ace architect, who falls for Davis, is an appreciated talent here, we wish we could of only seen him in more stuff. We too have the fantastic John Meillion, who left us too soon. And how can you not have a film without Chris Haywood, asked as a question or a fact. Him singing road to Gundagai, while promoting an campaign advertisement in the back of a limo, is just a classic frame shot, among many in Australian cinema. And too, the lead up to New Years, with Moir chasing Davis through a sea of people is great, visually, directed by a ace who knows how to capture moments. Not only that, we have a couple of violent scenes, one in particular, the blood looking more like dripped wine. We even see a Sliver star amongst the tenants. With all this going for it, inevitably, it's the story that's failed us, and to add, a stupid and unbelievable confirmation ending. Still this film would have wide appeal, if given a viewing, of favourable appeal from Aussies who have already seen it.
