This far into his screen career, it shouldn’t be a revelation to anyone that Zac Efron can act. He’s shown canny comic chops in the “Neighbors” films, wounded all-American ennui in “We Are Your Friends” and “At Any Price,” even a credible against-type chill as Ted Bundy in “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” — none of which has been enough to overtake his bland, floppy-banged, career-minting “High School Musical” persona in the popular imagination.
In “Gold,” an otherwise ordinary survival thriller from actor-director Anthony Hayes, Efron resorts to the same kind of extreme measures that fellow heartthrob Ryan Reynolds took to prove his worth in “Buried”: headlining a one-location genre piece so leanly conceived that it has scarcely anything to showcase but his commitment and grit. As a lone drifter guarding a precious quarry in deadly desert conditions in a faintly futuristic nowhereland, he’s good, as...
In “Gold,” an otherwise ordinary survival thriller from actor-director Anthony Hayes, Efron resorts to the same kind of extreme measures that fellow heartthrob Ryan Reynolds took to prove his worth in “Buried”: headlining a one-location genre piece so leanly conceived that it has scarcely anything to showcase but his commitment and grit. As a lone drifter guarding a precious quarry in deadly desert conditions in a faintly futuristic nowhereland, he’s good, as...
- 3/11/2022
- by Guy Lodge
- Variety Film + TV
A single, bare tree interrupts the vast emptiness of the indeterminate desert landscape where “Gold” takes place. It’s a pathetic speck of shelter that does little to prevent the relentless heat from tormenting Zac Efron’s nameless character for the bulk of the film, his progressively weathered face giving new meaning to the words “blistering sun.” The location brings to mind the sparse set design of “Waiting for Godot,” (Beckett’s stage directions read: “A country road. A tree.”) as does the film’s narrative itself, a tale of similarly hopeless anticipation in the bleakest of atmospheres.
. Overall, however, “Gold,” like its title, does little to stand out in a crowd, so committed to its stripped-down style of storytelling and monotonous sepia color scheme that there’s little left for the audience to connect with, leaving us parched for something to focus on besides the purulent third-degree sunburn on Efron’s face.
. Overall, however, “Gold,” like its title, does little to stand out in a crowd, so committed to its stripped-down style of storytelling and monotonous sepia color scheme that there’s little left for the audience to connect with, leaving us parched for something to focus on besides the purulent third-degree sunburn on Efron’s face.
- 3/9/2022
- by Susannah Gruder
- Indiewire
Altitude Film Sales has also closed sales for Latin America and the Middle East.
Altitude Film Sales has closed a raft of deals in major territories across Europe and Asia for Anthony Hayes’ upcoming survival thriller Gold, starring Zac Efron.
The film has been acquired for German-speaking Europe (Leonine Studios), Italy (Adler), Benelux (Just Entertainment), Spain (Youplane), Scandinavia (MisLabel), Cis (Exponenta Films) and Latin America (CDC).
Further deals have been struck for South Korea (Joy N Contents Group), Taiwan (MovieCloud), Greece (Spentzos), Hungary (Ads), Poland (Best Film), former Yugoslavia (McF), Baltics (Latvian Theatrical), Middle East (Phars), Turkey (Filmarti), Thailand (Sahamongkolfilm...
Altitude Film Sales has closed a raft of deals in major territories across Europe and Asia for Anthony Hayes’ upcoming survival thriller Gold, starring Zac Efron.
The film has been acquired for German-speaking Europe (Leonine Studios), Italy (Adler), Benelux (Just Entertainment), Spain (Youplane), Scandinavia (MisLabel), Cis (Exponenta Films) and Latin America (CDC).
Further deals have been struck for South Korea (Joy N Contents Group), Taiwan (MovieCloud), Greece (Spentzos), Hungary (Ads), Poland (Best Film), former Yugoslavia (McF), Baltics (Latvian Theatrical), Middle East (Phars), Turkey (Filmarti), Thailand (Sahamongkolfilm...
- 6/10/2021
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Anthony Hayes’ Zac Efron-starrer Gold has been snapped up by Screen Media, who has taken all North American rights.
The survival thriller was subject to a bidding war following last year’s American Film Market (AFM), out of which the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company came out on top.
The South Australian-shot film follows two men, travelling through remote desert, who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate the gold, which sees one leave to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery… at all costs.
Starring alongside Efron are Hayes and Susie Porter. Hayes directed from a script he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.
Producers include John Schwarz, Michael Schwarz and Hayes, with executive producers Andrew Mann, Peter Touche, Simon Williams, Paul Wiegard, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, Nick Forward and Mike Runagall.
The Dop was Ross Giardina,...
The survival thriller was subject to a bidding war following last year’s American Film Market (AFM), out of which the Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment company came out on top.
The South Australian-shot film follows two men, travelling through remote desert, who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate the gold, which sees one leave to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery… at all costs.
Starring alongside Efron are Hayes and Susie Porter. Hayes directed from a script he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.
Producers include John Schwarz, Michael Schwarz and Hayes, with executive producers Andrew Mann, Peter Touche, Simon Williams, Paul Wiegard, Will Clarke, Andy Mayson, Nick Forward and Mike Runagall.
The Dop was Ross Giardina,...
- 6/8/2021
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
The Zac Efron survival thriller “Gold” has sold to Screen Media following a competitive bidding situation that saw several studios and distributors circling the project.
The film co-stars Anthony Hayes who co-wrote the script in addition to directing the picture. Susie Porter rounds out the cast.
“Gold” centers on two men who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found while traveling through a remote desert. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate the gold, a scheme that requires one man to leave to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery… at all costs. “Gold” was filmed in South Australia late last year and is currently in post-production.
“It is always every filmmaker’s dream to make a film and snag a large North American release for their film and a bidding war is even more rare,” said Hayes. “It is a testament to our...
The film co-stars Anthony Hayes who co-wrote the script in addition to directing the picture. Susie Porter rounds out the cast.
“Gold” centers on two men who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found while traveling through a remote desert. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate the gold, a scheme that requires one man to leave to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery… at all costs. “Gold” was filmed in South Australia late last year and is currently in post-production.
“It is always every filmmaker’s dream to make a film and snag a large North American release for their film and a bidding war is even more rare,” said Hayes. “It is a testament to our...
- 6/7/2021
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Two feature films, three TV dramas, one children’s series, and one online project will share in $5.9 million of production funding from Screen Australia.
The projects include feature How To Please A Woman about a woman’s choice to take her all-male housecleaning business to a more intimate level; the previously announced ABC anthology drama series Fires, set during last summer’s devastating bushfires; Stan feature Gold, and a comedy about a single woman and her database of potential sexual partners in Spreadsheet for Viacom CBS.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said it was a testament to the resilience of the screen industry to have so many projects move into production during such a challenging period.
“It’s fantastic to kick off 2021 with such a great sample of the premium dramas that have been greenlit across the country,” she said.
“We’re so pleased to have supported...
The projects include feature How To Please A Woman about a woman’s choice to take her all-male housecleaning business to a more intimate level; the previously announced ABC anthology drama series Fires, set during last summer’s devastating bushfires; Stan feature Gold, and a comedy about a single woman and her database of potential sexual partners in Spreadsheet for Viacom CBS.
Screen Australia’s head of content Sally Caplan said it was a testament to the resilience of the screen industry to have so many projects move into production during such a challenging period.
“It’s fantastic to kick off 2021 with such a great sample of the premium dramas that have been greenlit across the country,” she said.
“We’re so pleased to have supported...
- 2/3/2021
- by Sean Slatter
- IF.com.au
Altitude launched the project at last month’s AFM.
Screen can exclusively reveal a first look at Zac Efron in Anthony Hayes’ Gold, which Altitude launched to buyers at last month’s American Film Market.
The film is in week three of production in the Flinders Ranges region of South Australia, with the shoot due to wrap in late December; UK-based Altitude is handling international sales and co-representing domestic with CAA Media Finance.
Efron plays one of two strangers who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found when travelling through the desert. The pair hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty,...
Screen can exclusively reveal a first look at Zac Efron in Anthony Hayes’ Gold, which Altitude launched to buyers at last month’s American Film Market.
The film is in week three of production in the Flinders Ranges region of South Australia, with the shoot due to wrap in late December; UK-based Altitude is handling international sales and co-representing domestic with CAA Media Finance.
Efron plays one of two strangers who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found when travelling through the desert. The pair hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty,...
- 12/7/2020
- by Ben Dalton
- ScreenDaily
Zac Efron to Star in Anthony Hayes’s Gold — Zac Efron has been cast in director Anthony Hayes’s survival thriller Gold, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth. Hayes will direct and co-star along with Efron — who is known for his acting in The Greatest Showman and the High School Musical trilogy — in the [...]
Continue reading: Gold: Zac Efron to Star in Anthony Hayes’s Survival Thriller...
Continue reading: Gold: Zac Efron to Star in Anthony Hayes’s Survival Thriller...
- 11/6/2020
- by Scott Mariner
- Film-Book
Zac Efron has joined the cast of the Australian survival thriller ‘Gold’ set at streaming service Stan.
The film will follow two strangers travelling through a desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment. The other man (Efron) remains and must endure harsh desert elements, ravenous wild dogs and mysterious intruders, whilst battling the sinking suspicion that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
‘Animal Kingdom’ and ‘The Light Between Oceans’ Anthony Hayes will helm and star in the feature from the screenplay he co-wrote alongside Polly Smyth.
Also in news – Lily James and Emma Thompson to lead rom-com ‘What’s Love Got To With It?’
“This is an exciting, gripping and timely tale about greed, humanity, who we are, what we’ve done to the world and...
The film will follow two strangers travelling through a desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment. The other man (Efron) remains and must endure harsh desert elements, ravenous wild dogs and mysterious intruders, whilst battling the sinking suspicion that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
‘Animal Kingdom’ and ‘The Light Between Oceans’ Anthony Hayes will helm and star in the feature from the screenplay he co-wrote alongside Polly Smyth.
Also in news – Lily James and Emma Thompson to lead rom-com ‘What’s Love Got To With It?’
“This is an exciting, gripping and timely tale about greed, humanity, who we are, what we’ve done to the world and...
- 11/6/2020
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Zac Efron will headline the cast of Anthony Hayes’ Gold, due to kick off in South Australia this month.
Hayes will direct from his own script, co-written with Polly Smyth, and will also star with Susie Porter.
The thriller follows two drifters travelling through the outback who tumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found.
They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty. One man leaves to secure the necessary equipment, while the other man remains, enduring the harsh desert climate, preying wolves and intruders, and battling the creeping doubt that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
Efron has been living in Australia during the coronavirus pandemic. Originally Sam Worthington was attached in the role.
Hayes promises Gold will be “an exciting, gripping and timely tale about greed, humanity, who we are, what we’ve done to the world and where we are heading if we aren’t careful.
Hayes will direct from his own script, co-written with Polly Smyth, and will also star with Susie Porter.
The thriller follows two drifters travelling through the outback who tumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found.
They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty. One man leaves to secure the necessary equipment, while the other man remains, enduring the harsh desert climate, preying wolves and intruders, and battling the creeping doubt that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
Efron has been living in Australia during the coronavirus pandemic. Originally Sam Worthington was attached in the role.
Hayes promises Gold will be “an exciting, gripping and timely tale about greed, humanity, who we are, what we’ve done to the world and where we are heading if we aren’t careful.
- 11/5/2020
- by Jackie Keast
- IF.com.au
Zac Efron is set to star in “Gold,” a survival thriller from director Anthony Hayes that will be introduced to buyers at the upcoming American Film Market.
Altitude Film Sales and CAA Media Finance will co-represent domestic sales on the film, and production is expected to begin in Australia later this month.
Hayes (“Animal Kingdom”) will also co-star in the film alongside Efron in a film about two strangers who together find a giant gold nugget while traveling through the desert. While one man leaves to go find supplies and return, the other is left to guard the gold, which puts him up against the elements of the desert, ravenous wild dogs, mysterious intruders and his own sanity that he’s been left here to die.
Hayes also co-wrote “Gold” with Polly Smyth, and he’ll produce for Rogue Star Pictures along with John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz through their Deeper Water Films banner.
Altitude Film Sales and CAA Media Finance will co-represent domestic sales on the film, and production is expected to begin in Australia later this month.
Hayes (“Animal Kingdom”) will also co-star in the film alongside Efron in a film about two strangers who together find a giant gold nugget while traveling through the desert. While one man leaves to go find supplies and return, the other is left to guard the gold, which puts him up against the elements of the desert, ravenous wild dogs, mysterious intruders and his own sanity that he’s been left here to die.
Hayes also co-wrote “Gold” with Polly Smyth, and he’ll produce for Rogue Star Pictures along with John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz through their Deeper Water Films banner.
- 11/5/2020
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Zac Efron (The Greatest Showman) has boarded survival thriller Gold, which Altitude Film Sales will introduce to buyers at the upcoming AFM virtual market and will co-rep domestic sales on with CAA Media Finance.
Actor Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom) will direct and co-star, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth. John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz will produce through their Deeper Water Films banner (Danger Close: The Battle Of Long Tan), alongside Hayes for Rogue Star Pictures.
The film will follow two strangers traveling through a desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment. The other man remains and must endure harsh desert elements, ravenous wild dogs and mysterious intruders, whilst battling the sinking suspicion that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
Shoot is due to...
Actor Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom) will direct and co-star, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth. John Schwarz and Michael Schwarz will produce through their Deeper Water Films banner (Danger Close: The Battle Of Long Tan), alongside Hayes for Rogue Star Pictures.
The film will follow two strangers traveling through a desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found. They hatch a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment. The other man remains and must endure harsh desert elements, ravenous wild dogs and mysterious intruders, whilst battling the sinking suspicion that he has been abandoned to his own fate.
Shoot is due to...
- 11/5/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Zac Efron has joined survival thriller “Gold,” an original film out of Australian streamer Stan.
Shopped to buyers at next week’s American Film Market (AFM), the film turns on two strangers traveling through a desert who stumble upon the biggest gold nugget ever found. When dreams of unimaginable wealth take hold, they devise a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment.
Efron plays the man left behind, who comes up against unforgiving desert elements, ravenous wild dogs and mysterious intruders, all while wondering whether his partner is ever going to come back for him. Principal photography on the movie will begin in Australia this month — where film and TV production has been able to continue relatively unscathed during the Covid-19 crisis.
London-headquartered Altitude Film Sales will co-represent domestic sales on the film with CAA Media Finance. “Gold” will be released...
Shopped to buyers at next week’s American Film Market (AFM), the film turns on two strangers traveling through a desert who stumble upon the biggest gold nugget ever found. When dreams of unimaginable wealth take hold, they devise a plan to protect and excavate their bounty with one man leaving to secure the necessary equipment.
Efron plays the man left behind, who comes up against unforgiving desert elements, ravenous wild dogs and mysterious intruders, all while wondering whether his partner is ever going to come back for him. Principal photography on the movie will begin in Australia this month — where film and TV production has been able to continue relatively unscathed during the Covid-19 crisis.
London-headquartered Altitude Film Sales will co-represent domestic sales on the film with CAA Media Finance. “Gold” will be released...
- 11/5/2020
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Zac Efron is set to star in the epic survival thriller Gold, which will be introduced to buyers at the upcoming virtual AFM.
The feature comes from Animal Kingdom and The Light Between Oceans actor Anthony Hayes, who will co-star and direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.
Set against the backdrop of a vast, unique and unforgiving landscape, Gold is billed as a taut thriller about greed and the lengths people will go to secure themselves a fortune.
When two strangers traveling through a desert stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found, they dream of immense wealth and greed takes ...
The feature comes from Animal Kingdom and The Light Between Oceans actor Anthony Hayes, who will co-star and direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.
Set against the backdrop of a vast, unique and unforgiving landscape, Gold is billed as a taut thriller about greed and the lengths people will go to secure themselves a fortune.
When two strangers traveling through a desert stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found, they dream of immense wealth and greed takes ...
- 11/5/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Zac Efron is set to star in the epic survival thriller Gold, which will be introduced to buyers at the upcoming virtual AFM.
The feature comes from Animal Kingdom and The Light Between Oceans actor Anthony Hayes, who will co-star and direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.
Set against the backdrop of a vast, unique and unforgiving landscape, Gold is billed as a taut thriller about greed and the lengths people will go to secure themselves a fortune.
When two strangers traveling through a desert stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found, they dream of immense wealth and greed takes ...
The feature comes from Animal Kingdom and The Light Between Oceans actor Anthony Hayes, who will co-star and direct from a screenplay he co-wrote with Polly Smyth.
Set against the backdrop of a vast, unique and unforgiving landscape, Gold is billed as a taut thriller about greed and the lengths people will go to secure themselves a fortune.
When two strangers traveling through a desert stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found, they dream of immense wealth and greed takes ...
- 11/5/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Anthony Hayes in ‘Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan’.
Anthony Hayes has been acting since he was nine. While there is no danger of him giving up that stellar career, for the present he is concentrating more on his other passions: writing and directing.
In the past five or six years he has been in the fortunate position of choosing roles he really wanted to do – in the movies Cargo, War Machine and The Light Between Oceans and TV’s Mystery Road and Seven Types of Ambiguity – rather than just for a pay cheque.
Now his primary focus is writing and directing, starting with Gold, a thriller in which he will co-star with Sam Worthington about two guys who discover the world’s biggest gold nugget in the Australian desert. After that he hopes to make Stingray, a crime thriller he wrote and was set to direct in 2016 until the financing fell through.
Anthony Hayes has been acting since he was nine. While there is no danger of him giving up that stellar career, for the present he is concentrating more on his other passions: writing and directing.
In the past five or six years he has been in the fortunate position of choosing roles he really wanted to do – in the movies Cargo, War Machine and The Light Between Oceans and TV’s Mystery Road and Seven Types of Ambiguity – rather than just for a pay cheque.
Now his primary focus is writing and directing, starting with Gold, a thriller in which he will co-star with Sam Worthington about two guys who discover the world’s biggest gold nugget in the Australian desert. After that he hopes to make Stingray, a crime thriller he wrote and was set to direct in 2016 until the financing fell through.
- 5/22/2019
- by jkeast
- IF.com.au
Anthony Hayes.
Anthony Hayes will direct and co-star with Sam Worthington in Gold, a thriller about two guys who discover the world’s biggest gold nugget in the Australian desert.
Due to shoot in South Australia in September, the film will be produced by Deeper Water Films’ John and Michael Schwarz and Hayes’ Rogue Star Pictures.
Hayes co-wrote the script with his partner, former costumer Polly Smyth, her first writing credit.
The plot sees the men hatch a plan to excavate the gold as one leaves to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery.
Saboteur Films, which reps Kriv Stenders’ Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan produced by Red Dune Productions’ Martin Walsh and the Schwarz brothers, is pitching the project at the Cannes film market.
Hayes tells If: “Polly and I wanted to come up with a smart film with few cast and one location.
Anthony Hayes will direct and co-star with Sam Worthington in Gold, a thriller about two guys who discover the world’s biggest gold nugget in the Australian desert.
Due to shoot in South Australia in September, the film will be produced by Deeper Water Films’ John and Michael Schwarz and Hayes’ Rogue Star Pictures.
Hayes co-wrote the script with his partner, former costumer Polly Smyth, her first writing credit.
The plot sees the men hatch a plan to excavate the gold as one leaves to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery.
Saboteur Films, which reps Kriv Stenders’ Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan produced by Red Dune Productions’ Martin Walsh and the Schwarz brothers, is pitching the project at the Cannes film market.
Hayes tells If: “Polly and I wanted to come up with a smart film with few cast and one location.
- 5/15/2019
- by The IF Team
- IF.com.au
Production scheduled to start in South Australia in September.
Sam Worthington will star in the upcoming Australian thriller Gold, which Saboteur Media represents worldwide and has introduced to Cannes buyers.
President of distribution Mark Lindsay has begun talks on the Croisette on the story about two men travelling through a remote desert who stumble across what they believe it the biggest gold nugget ever found.
They hatch a plan to excavate the treasure. One leaves to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery.
Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom) also stars and the producers aim to announce more cast in Cannes.
Sam Worthington will star in the upcoming Australian thriller Gold, which Saboteur Media represents worldwide and has introduced to Cannes buyers.
President of distribution Mark Lindsay has begun talks on the Croisette on the story about two men travelling through a remote desert who stumble across what they believe it the biggest gold nugget ever found.
They hatch a plan to excavate the treasure. One leaves to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery.
Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom) also stars and the producers aim to announce more cast in Cannes.
- 5/15/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Saboteur Media has launched sales in Cannes on thriller Gold, which is set to star Avatar’s Sam Worthington and Anthony Hayes (Animal Kingdom).
Pic centers on two men traveling through the remote desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found and hatch a plan to protect and excavate the gold. One leaves to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery.
Script is from Hayes and Polly Smyth and the film will be directed by Hayes. The film is being produced by John Schwarz (The Hunter’s Prayer) and Michael Schwarz (Killerman) through their company Deeper Water Films and Hayes via Rogue Star Pictures. More cast is due to be announced during Cannes.
The Australian production was developed with the assistance of Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation and Film Victoria and is due to commence principal photography in September in South Australia.
Mark Lindsay,...
Pic centers on two men traveling through the remote desert who stumble across the biggest gold nugget ever found and hatch a plan to protect and excavate the gold. One leaves to secure equipment while the other stays behind to protect the discovery.
Script is from Hayes and Polly Smyth and the film will be directed by Hayes. The film is being produced by John Schwarz (The Hunter’s Prayer) and Michael Schwarz (Killerman) through their company Deeper Water Films and Hayes via Rogue Star Pictures. More cast is due to be announced during Cannes.
The Australian production was developed with the assistance of Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation and Film Victoria and is due to commence principal photography in September in South Australia.
Mark Lindsay,...
- 5/15/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Venue: Sydney Film FestivalSYDNEY -- Untangling the snarl of family ties proves the principal diversion in the melodramatic family saga “Ten Empty.” It’s the first film from Roguestar Productions, the company formed by fellow Aussie actors Brendan Cowell and Anthony Hayes. A terrific performance in a minor role shows again what a major talent Cowell is as an actor. It’s a pity the same can’t be said for his writing skills: The script, co-written with Hayes, who also directs, is an overcooked melange of familial disaffection, long-hidden secrets and mental illness, seasoned with some colloquial humor.
It’s hard to see domestic audiences being drawn in great numbers to yet another dark tale of suburban dysfunction when it opens locally in limited release on July 3.
Elliot (Daniel Frederiksen), whose character is largely defined by the fact he drinks pinot noir, returns to Adelaide with a city-slick veneer after 10 years in the “big smoke” of Sydney. He’s come back for his half-brother’s christening, reunited with the family he ran away from after his mother died.
In that time, Elliot’s belligerent drunk of a father (Geoff Morrell) has married his late wife’s sister (Lucy Bell). Elliot is to become godfather to the offspring of that union. His younger brother Brett (Tom Budge), meanwhile, has locked himself in his room and cowers among his dead mother’s belongings, including 10 empty painter’s canvases, refusing to speak.
The supporting cast, including Jack Thompson, Blazey Best and Cowell as Elliot’s larrikin mate, creates properly lived-in characters. Grim production design and Tristan Milani’s claustrophobic cinematography lend kitchen-sink realism.
Production companies: Yeah Right Films, Dragonfly Pictures. Cast: Daniel Frederiksen, Geoff Morrell, Tom Budge, Lucy Bell, Jack Thompson, Brendan Cowell. Director: Anthony Hayes. Screenwriters: Anthony Hayes, Brendan Cowell. Producer: Naomi Wenck. Co-producers: Anthony Hayes, Brendan Cowell. Director of photography: Tristan Milani. Production designer: Robert Webb. Music: Ollie Browne and Art of Fighting. Costume designer: Polly Smyth. Editor: Luke Doolan. Sales Agent: Icon Films. No MPAA rating, 95 minutes.
It’s hard to see domestic audiences being drawn in great numbers to yet another dark tale of suburban dysfunction when it opens locally in limited release on July 3.
Elliot (Daniel Frederiksen), whose character is largely defined by the fact he drinks pinot noir, returns to Adelaide with a city-slick veneer after 10 years in the “big smoke” of Sydney. He’s come back for his half-brother’s christening, reunited with the family he ran away from after his mother died.
In that time, Elliot’s belligerent drunk of a father (Geoff Morrell) has married his late wife’s sister (Lucy Bell). Elliot is to become godfather to the offspring of that union. His younger brother Brett (Tom Budge), meanwhile, has locked himself in his room and cowers among his dead mother’s belongings, including 10 empty painter’s canvases, refusing to speak.
The supporting cast, including Jack Thompson, Blazey Best and Cowell as Elliot’s larrikin mate, creates properly lived-in characters. Grim production design and Tristan Milani’s claustrophobic cinematography lend kitchen-sink realism.
Production companies: Yeah Right Films, Dragonfly Pictures. Cast: Daniel Frederiksen, Geoff Morrell, Tom Budge, Lucy Bell, Jack Thompson, Brendan Cowell. Director: Anthony Hayes. Screenwriters: Anthony Hayes, Brendan Cowell. Producer: Naomi Wenck. Co-producers: Anthony Hayes, Brendan Cowell. Director of photography: Tristan Milani. Production designer: Robert Webb. Music: Ollie Browne and Art of Fighting. Costume designer: Polly Smyth. Editor: Luke Doolan. Sales Agent: Icon Films. No MPAA rating, 95 minutes.
- 6/30/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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