Highly Overrated But Still Good

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I think Philby-3's earlier comment sets up the film well from a factual standpoint. However, I would be less harsh on Brenda Blethyn's performance. What Philby-3 takes as over-acting, I consider to be her playing the part as written. It's her character who "over-acts." I also think Philby-3 might misjudge Blethyn's character, Jean Dwight. What Philby-3 takes as indications that Jean is "not a very nice person," I think is a pretty good effort to show a middle-aged mom with grown sons, under stress from several directions.The story suffers (slightly) by too much time spent with the relationship between Chittenden and Booth's characters, Tim and Jill. Some of the time spent in the film on Tim and Jill's relationship could have been put to better use in setting up the credibility of the ending sequences ... reference anchors could have been better developed. This is not intended as a harsh criticism ... rather, the film, nicely done, could have been more more powerful. Likewise, the film does a very nice job in development of multiple characters, but a few of the minutes spent on Tim and Jill's time together would have been used better to develop some of the characters even more fully.Perhaps the film's strongest performance comes from Richard Wilson, who portrays Mark Dwight, Jean's brain-damaged son. The role of Mark also is critical to the chemistry of both the Dwight family and the film itself.This is NOT a comedy, but a dramatic film with comedic elements. Some of the lovemaking scenes and nudity might be offensive to some viewers. Overall, this is a low-key, well-done, enjoyable film.

Diane and I watched this fabulous, loving film as a double today and we both loved every minute of all that we saw. We see a reasonable number of films but neither of us have see such a feeling glimpse into the lives of people such as we saw today. As a country we should be so proud of the manner in which we can deal, through film and in reality, with the more difficult parts of human existence; we seem to have a gift unlike, if I can be permitted this generalisation, other countries and their approaches to cinema with the "pieces unexamined". There seems to be a rare acceptance of the breadth of human experience and our conditions; a breadth that passes beyond mere acceptance while the ear and the eye are absently directed away from the focus of interest and here I am dealing with Tim's multiply challenged brother Mark. Mark is allowed to be an integral character in this film rather than a challenged vision in the background. The scene where the girls take him onto the ice in a Sydney rink is priceless, as well as the last scene of the film at the wedding where he and his Downs girlfriend lead the dancing; again, priceless film with scripting, directing and acting at its magical best.Little can be added to the outstandingly sensitive portrayal of Tim's mum by Brenda Blethyn, an actor who deserves every accolade that has been given her for this portrayal that is ridden with pathos. I know, I know, already I can read viewer comments that I have not looked at yet who will damn this film for its "formulaic" script and its accompanying acting where characters are "cardboad" and not sufficiently drawn and I say Rubbish! Let us look at ourselves in situations where the actors fit perfectly into life's costume as if that costume were custom made such as this wonderful film.Go out of your way to see this fabulous viewing experience.

I have to say that I have not been entertained as much by an Australian movie since the early 1990's when Muriel's Wedding and Priscilla, Queen of the desert hit our screens. A very human drama of a working class family in Sydney's western suburbs that strikes the right note between comedy and drama which is often difficult to pull off. Brenda Blethlyn, playing the domineering Mother does so very well with the result that perhaps her character tends to grate a little by the end of the film but that was only after approximately two hours spending with her and not a life time that the characters around her have had to endure. She is perfectly cast in this role but for me the real stars were Emma Booth who plays the love interest of her son and Khan Chittenden her boyfriend and young man experiencing his sexual awakening. Also worthy of mention is Frankie J Holden as the father and ex-partner of the Blethlyn character. An entirely believable human drama that will have you totally engrossed in the characters until the final reel. How good it is to see that the Australian film industry can still put out such quality cinema with a universal appeal. Go see it you won't be disappointed!

"Clubland" is a wonderful laugh-out-loud "dramedic" tearfest sporting an amazing tour de force performance by Brenda Blethyn who received a standing ovation at Sundance '07 for her remarkable portrayal of the aging mother desperately clinging to her handsome virginal son as he strives to build a romantic relationship of his own away from her controlling maternal influence. To reveal much more would be a disservice to this charming little film, but suffice to say that Blethyn turns in a performance that is transformative. She hits every note and takes the audience through every emotion in the human experience as we watch her arc from a cute upbeat "fun-mother" at the beginning to a mean, controlling, jealous, self-pitying witch - yet all the while, we love her dearly. This film continues the emerging tradition of strong Australian performances with solid acting from the entire cast. The "coming of age" element is likewise sweet and adeptly handled by the two gorgeous young stars. Brendan Clearkin gives a passionate and artfully understated performance as the alienated and powerless father who still chases his dreams of musical stardom. Finally, Richard Wilson issues yet another barn-busting standout supporting role, this time as the retarded brother who alone in the family has the intelligence to recognize the white elephant in the family room. Wilson is the comedic relief, the bittersweet soul, the character foil and the dramatic precipitant of the entire story; and he carries it off masterfully. Wilson is certainly destined to be a major star, and I cannot wait for him to appear in a leading role. Every character has a dream, and watching them strive towards it as reality comes crashing against them makes for one hundred ten minutes of warm and deeply moving entertainment.