Outside the building, Michael is confronted by protesters and a swarm of media, highlighting the public’s distaste for the plan. Perhaps that would have actually worked more effectively.īeginning in present-day Adelaide, retired businessman Michael Kingsley ( Geoffrey Rush) is venturing back into the offices of his company to vote on a controversial proposal to lease coastal land in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to a nefarious mining company. With the addition of an environmentally conscious message that’s as subtle as a sledgehammer and a completely unnecessary new framing device linking past and present, it’s commendable to see a filmmaker avoid the temptation to merely do a shot-for-shot remake. This is a heavy film without any thought or care for who its intended audience should be. Unfortunately, director Shawn Seet fails to answer that question admirably, with this rather bleak and monotone remake devoid of most of the joy and wonder that made the original such a beauty of a film. But when the original movie is such a beloved classic, the necessity for such a re-imagining has to be questioned. In an age of remakes, it was all but assured we’d be offered a new version some day. For the last few decades, most Aussie kids have all likely found it as part of their mandatory primary school curriculum. It’s just a shame the film surrounding them is somewhat of a dud.Ī new film adaptation of the classic 1964 novel of the same name by Colin Thiele that become a highly-successful film in 1977, the tale of a young boy and his pelican chum has a long history with Australia. A pelican hardly seems the next likely evolutionary step in this chain of cute creature films, but in Storm Boy, you’re likely to find yourself captivated by these awkward birds. From the gutsy little pig in Babe to the tough cattle dog in Red Dog to those toe-tapping penguins in Happy Feet, it’s a long-running subgenre we Aussies do particularly well. After the film is over, parents should be prepared to tell their children that, no, pelicans don’t make great pets in real life.Australian cinema has somewhat of an obsession with crafting adorable animal characters audiences instantly fall in love with. Percival affectionally wrapping his elongated neck around Michael’s shoulders. Even the most cynical adult viewer will find it hard not to melt at the sight of Mr. (The film includes the nice touch of a cameo appearance by the great David Gulpilil, who played Fingerbone Bill in the original film and here turns up as the character’s father.)Īnd while pelicans aren’t the most emotionally expressive of animals, they certainly come across that way here. Courtney delivers a solid supporting turn as the emotionally scarred dad, while Jamison nearly steals the film with his charismatic turn as Michael’s new friend. It also lends an environmental protection theme that provides both contemporary relevance and a crowd-pleasing happy ending.Ĭhild actor Finn delivers a terrifically naturalistic performance that has the audience rooting for young Michael from the beginning. And while the framing device in Monjo’s screenplay isn’t necessary, it does provide the opportunity for Rush to deliver one of his more subtle, effective performances in recent years. It’s a sweet, moving tale, leavened with enough grittiness in terms of characters and situations to ameliorate any cloying aspects. Percival, with whom Michael has formed a special bond, soon returns, with the boy and the affectionate pelican becoming inseparable through various adventures. Michael does such a good job raising them that he tearfully agrees to his father’s instructions to set them free. Overcoming his father’s reluctance, Michael cares for them at his home, naming them Mr. One day, Michael, who’s made friends with a local aboriginal man, Fingerbone Bill (Trevor Jamieson), discovers three baby pelicans whose mother was killed by drunken hunters. It was there that young Michael (Finn Little) grew up with his widower father (Jai Courtney), so reclusive that he’s earned the nickname “Hideaway Tom.” The Best Beauty and Grooming Deals to Shop on Amazon's Fall Prime Day Starting Tuesday (Updating)Ī delay in the voting cues the extended flashback in which Kingsley regales his granddaughter with the story of his childhood spent at the remote land in question.
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