Dirty Deeds (2002)
Set in 1960s Sydney, this is the story of an Australian gangster whose booming business, buoyed by the influx of U.S. soldiers in town for R&R during their tours in Vietnam, attracts the attention of first the Chicago mafia, and then their East Coast competitors.
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Very disappointing...
Sadly Over-hyped
How sad is this?
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
This gangster comedy made in 2002 and set in 1969 Sydney was treated very badly upon first release by sneering critics and it struggled at the box office. However, I believe it is a well made farce about criminal life in the seriously changing times of the late 60s set in seedy nightclub strip of Kings Cross. With an excellent cast (look it up) and excellent wry set design and hilarious costume styles so perfect for the time, DIRTY DEEDS looks great on a wide screen and is dangerous and funny in equal measures. Writer-director David Caesar is a suburban everyman who celebrates the ordinary in his Australian films. His previous efforts, especially MULLET or GREENKEEPING are worth seeing in a series that looks at Aussie wannabees and losers and aspirants often well out of their depth or level of ambition. Caesar actually has something to say and it is not just cliché. However, DIRTY DEEDS was released during a spate of OZ crim comedies: TWO HANDS (good); CHOPPER (excellent), BAD EGGS just OK), THE (shoddy miscast) POSTCARD BANDIT... and was unfairly maligned. It captures a time and place perfectly and with some hilarious 'fish out of water' reactions by visiting American criminals allows for the driest humor about 60s Sydney since THEY'RE A WEIRD MOB. Don't' be put off by other bad reviews. DIRTY DEEDS is well worth your time. Tony Collette in her green petal-tile nightclub dress alone is worth the rental.... as is Felix Williamson stranded in his Y-fronts.
The main reason i watch this movie because it had one of my favorite actor in it. He is the star of the "Big Bo" and Monsters inc. I love his soothing voice and singing (Although its nothing like Barry White and Usher) but his acting is GREAT. Well anyways about that movie. I really didn't understand the plot of it. It was about casino machines and stuff. and at the end of the movie john and the other kid get framed. i got bored through half the movie and basically fell asleep. so i was kinda disappointed in john because of choosing such a bad movie to star in. but i'll give it 7stars anyhow. Do i recommend this movie? if your a John Goodman fan its something to rent. if not just ditch it and find a nice good new movie to watch.
A nice little mix of genres; gangster movie, period flick, fish out of water story, and even a travelogue!The cast is excellent, even though I have trouble buying John Goodman (an actor I adore) as a wiseguy. Sam Worthington comes across great as a slightly naive kid with a good heart just rolling with the punches and unsure of himself. Bryan Brown performs admirably, Toni Collette continues to wow me (I had no idea she was actually an Aussie) and the rest of the cast acquits themselves well.All in all, a really charming movie chock full of 60's era flourishes and cultural differences. Very entertaining.
Worth watching. OK acting by most characters and the story was entertaining. Maybe the ending was a little weak. Plenty of humour. "Two Hands' was preferred however as a similar style of Aussie gangster movie (also starring Bryan Brown) with more effective black humour with a darker plot.