Jason KingReview: Beneath Hill 60 (8/10)
April 8th 2010 23:00
:
Best Aussie War Movie
Category: No Category
Review: Beneath Hill 60 (8/10)
BENEATH HILL 60 is an Australian War Movie set underneath the trenches of World War I. This never-before told Australian story is set in 1916 - where Queensland miner Oliver Woodward, under-trained and having never faced hostile fire before, finds himself on the Western Front, the bloodiest battlefield in history.
Two massive armies facing each other along the Western Front have fought themselves to a standstill. The count down to the Battle of Messines Ridge has begun. The ally's audacious plan to break the deadlock depends on a small company of Australian miners led by Captain Oliver Woodward (Brendan Cowell).
These ordinary men from mining towns across Australia were given just two weeks military training before being thrust into the war. Poorly equipped, with scant regard for military etiquette, the miners task is to defend a leaking, labyrinthine tunnel system snaking beneath the Messines Ridge. The tunnels hide a deadly secret; a series of massive mines. If the plan succeeds it will produce the biggest explosion the world has ever known and could change the course of the war.
But no-one seems to know when the order will be given to blow the mines. With constant inundation of mud and water and endless vibrations from heavy artillery, the tunnels are in imminent danger of collapse. Disaster looms as the Germans discover the Australian's underground activity. A deadly cat-and-mouse game is played out thirty metres below the fields of Flanders and, as zero hour approaches, the whole allied strategy could be in jeopardy...
This is not only one of the best war movies I have seen in years, it is also one of the best Australian movies I have seen in years. For a handsome Australian film budget of just under $9MIL it has production qualities of US films made for over $100MIL. It packs in a full punch of a film that kept me enthralled from start to finish and is the first film in quite a while to draw a tear from the Salty eyes.
If you have missed the news lately or the marketing bonanza on this film then you are a hermit. It is one of the biggest films to come out of Australia in a long time and deserves all the attention. Firstly it stars half of Australia's known acting talent. It has Brendan Cowell, who you may know from such films as Noise, Suburban Mayhem, Ten Empty, Three Blind Mice, and so on. Then there is Gyton Grantley who is known for one role and one superb role that is - Carl Williams from the very first Underbelly, ok we know him from Balibo also
. These guys are Australian acting royalty. Then they have thrown them into the mix with up and coming actors Harrison Gilbertson and a friend of Salty Popcorn's, Alex Thompson. What comes forth is an ensemble cast that is just brilliant to watch, it has a camaraderie I have not seen in an Australian film before.
This film oozes claustrophobia and being stuck in the tunnels was enough inspiration for the actors. You can see and feel it onscreen and for once I felt trapped in WW1, it was dirty, disgusting and murderous. WE cannot comprehend, from our comfortable lives of now, just how horrific it was. MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of people were killed in this battle and it is great to see this film based on a more pleasing side to the tale, one in which Australians had success and weren't slaughtered at Gallipoli. This is based on history people, and it is a part of our history not taught in schools, prior to Hiroshima this was the largest explosion the world had ever known. It took place in Belgium and was felt in London!
The acting in this film was very impressive, Cowell and Grantley are strong actors and it is evident. They look completely immersed in the time. Cowell reminded me of a younger version of my grandfather and completely Australian, an Ocker if you like. Harrison Gilbertson is great, this kid is going to go far and is next to be seen in a film with Geena Davis, nice work. One of the things I disliked about the film was that I knew from the moment I saw him what he would be used for in the film. I just knew he would be there to mess with everyone's emotions, and of course he drew my tears at the end. Well played Mr Jeremy Sims (Director), you knew everyone's protective instincts would be there for this kid! And it's not unbelievable - the youngest serving Australian in WW1 was only 15yrs old. I was also very impressed to see someone I knew in this film. Alex Thompson is a visitor to Salty Popcorn and friend via association. He plays Walter Sneddon, a true life character, who signed up for the war and then was joined by his father who had brought him up all his life and was not going to stop for the war. In all the documents for the film no-one, not even Ray Martin has been able to find out information on the life of the Sneddons after the war. If anyone knows anything on Walter and the Sneddons please contact Salty Popcorn. After playing Sneddon Alex has been trying to find his history and any living relatives. Stay tuned for an indepth interview with Alex Thomspon this weekend to be published on Salty Popcorn once I stop going mental from transcribing it Nice work Thommo!!
Other notable perfromances go to the character above, Streaky, played finely by Mark Coles Smith. A standout for me was Steve Le Marquand as Sergeant Bill Fraser. He is the veteran of the crew and the one that holds the trust of the men and who himself does not trust Woodward until he has earned it. Fraser also provides a lot of much needed comic relief to the other members of the mining team and always makes the best of a bad situation. A let down for me in this film Bella Heathcote as Marjorie, Woodward's love interest. For me she was all wrong. She is absolutely beautiful but played the character too young and naive. I am unsure as to whether she was meant to be playing how teenagers were expected to act during this time but it felt so wrong, she lacked innocence and it looked more like she was playing a 14yr old girl and looked too old for the part. But this was a minor issue from a major film.
I thouroughly enjoyed the Original Music by Cezary Skubiszewski and felt the Cinematography by Toby Oliver fully captured the feel of the trenches of WW1. Considering the filming conditions this was sensationally made on a limited budget. Special mentions also go to the Special and Visual Effects people - the constant bombing and feeling of unease is very much congratulations to yourselves. I also have to mention the director, Jeremy Sims, one of Australia's greatest talents, who has come a long way and succesfully made the transition from infront to behind the camera. This was beautifully done.
I recommend you all go and see this if you can, and not just to support the Australian film industry, but because it's a damn fine movie. Out Thursday 15th April and worth (8/10)
Beneath Hill 60 Trailer - The best video clips are here
BENEATH HILL 60 is an Australian War Movie set underneath the trenches of World War I. This never-before told Australian story is set in 1916 - where Queensland miner Oliver Woodward, under-trained and having never faced hostile fire before, finds himself on the Western Front, the bloodiest battlefield in history.
Two massive armies facing each other along the Western Front have fought themselves to a standstill. The count down to the Battle of Messines Ridge has begun. The ally's audacious plan to break the deadlock depends on a small company of Australian miners led by Captain Oliver Woodward (Brendan Cowell).
These ordinary men from mining towns across Australia were given just two weeks military training before being thrust into the war. Poorly equipped, with scant regard for military etiquette, the miners task is to defend a leaking, labyrinthine tunnel system snaking beneath the Messines Ridge. The tunnels hide a deadly secret; a series of massive mines. If the plan succeeds it will produce the biggest explosion the world has ever known and could change the course of the war.
But no-one seems to know when the order will be given to blow the mines. With constant inundation of mud and water and endless vibrations from heavy artillery, the tunnels are in imminent danger of collapse. Disaster looms as the Germans discover the Australian's underground activity. A deadly cat-and-mouse game is played out thirty metres below the fields of Flanders and, as zero hour approaches, the whole allied strategy could be in jeopardy...
This is not only one of the best war movies I have seen in years, it is also one of the best Australian movies I have seen in years. For a handsome Australian film budget of just under $9MIL it has production qualities of US films made for over $100MIL. It packs in a full punch of a film that kept me enthralled from start to finish and is the first film in quite a while to draw a tear from the Salty eyes.
If you have missed the news lately or the marketing bonanza on this film then you are a hermit. It is one of the biggest films to come out of Australia in a long time and deserves all the attention. Firstly it stars half of Australia's known acting talent. It has Brendan Cowell, who you may know from such films as Noise, Suburban Mayhem, Ten Empty, Three Blind Mice, and so on. Then there is Gyton Grantley who is known for one role and one superb role that is - Carl Williams from the very first Underbelly, ok we know him from Balibo also
. These guys are Australian acting royalty. Then they have thrown them into the mix with up and coming actors Harrison Gilbertson and a friend of Salty Popcorn's, Alex Thompson. What comes forth is an ensemble cast that is just brilliant to watch, it has a camaraderie I have not seen in an Australian film before.
This film oozes claustrophobia and being stuck in the tunnels was enough inspiration for the actors. You can see and feel it onscreen and for once I felt trapped in WW1, it was dirty, disgusting and murderous. WE cannot comprehend, from our comfortable lives of now, just how horrific it was. MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of people were killed in this battle and it is great to see this film based on a more pleasing side to the tale, one in which Australians had success and weren't slaughtered at Gallipoli. This is based on history people, and it is a part of our history not taught in schools, prior to Hiroshima this was the largest explosion the world had ever known. It took place in Belgium and was felt in London!
The acting in this film was very impressive, Cowell and Grantley are strong actors and it is evident. They look completely immersed in the time. Cowell reminded me of a younger version of my grandfather and completely Australian, an Ocker if you like. Harrison Gilbertson is great, this kid is going to go far and is next to be seen in a film with Geena Davis, nice work. One of the things I disliked about the film was that I knew from the moment I saw him what he would be used for in the film. I just knew he would be there to mess with everyone's emotions, and of course he drew my tears at the end. Well played Mr Jeremy Sims (Director), you knew everyone's protective instincts would be there for this kid! And it's not unbelievable - the youngest serving Australian in WW1 was only 15yrs old. I was also very impressed to see someone I knew in this film. Alex Thompson is a visitor to Salty Popcorn and friend via association. He plays Walter Sneddon, a true life character, who signed up for the war and then was joined by his father who had brought him up all his life and was not going to stop for the war. In all the documents for the film no-one, not even Ray Martin has been able to find out information on the life of the Sneddons after the war. If anyone knows anything on Walter and the Sneddons please contact Salty Popcorn. After playing Sneddon Alex has been trying to find his history and any living relatives. Stay tuned for an indepth interview with Alex Thomspon this weekend to be published on Salty Popcorn once I stop going mental from transcribing it
Nice work Thommo!!
Other notable perfromances go to the character above, Streaky, played finely by Mark Coles Smith. A standout for me was Steve Le Marquand as Sergeant Bill Fraser. He is the veteran of the crew and the one that holds the trust of the men and who himself does not trust Woodward until he has earned it. Fraser also provides a lot of much needed comic relief to the other members of the mining team and always makes the best of a bad situation. A let down for me in this film Bella Heathcote as Marjorie, Woodward's love interest. For me she was all wrong. She is absolutely beautiful but played the character too young and naive. I am unsure as to whether she was meant to be playing how teenagers were expected to act during this time but it felt so wrong, she lacked innocence and it looked more like she was playing a 14yr old girl and looked too old for the part. But this was a minor issue from a major film.
I thouroughly enjoyed the Original Music by Cezary Skubiszewski and felt the Cinematography by Toby Oliver fully captured the feel of the trenches of WW1. Considering the filming conditions this was sensationally made on a limited budget. Special mentions also go to the Special and Visual Effects people - the constant bombing and feeling of unease is very much congratulations to yourselves. I also have to mention the director, Jeremy Sims, one of Australia's greatest talents, who has come a long way and succesfully made the transition from infront to behind the camera. This was beautifully done.
I recommend you all go and see this if you can, and not just to support the Australian film industry, but because it's a damn fine movie. Out Thursday 15th April and worth (8/10)
Beneath Hill 60 Trailer - The best video clips are here
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Comment by Rix
Comment by Jason King
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Hate u
Comment by Mark Coles Smith
and i'm glad to hear you think so highly of the film. It was an absolutely incredible production and both cast and crew put in 110%.
Comment by Jason King
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Thanks so much for commenting on a film u were in - u were great.
Thanks to all of u for making a great film!!!
Best of luck with it!!
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Jason King
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Comment by Jason King
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Many Thanks for reading
Comment by K @ the Lair
I'm not one for going to see war movies. There is so much hurts - so much pain. Many like me just wont go - and I think that comes from being a mother. But I shall see this one. Great interview. K
Comment by Jason King
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Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
cheers
fog
Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
Total Randomness
Comment by Mountain Fog
Infognito
Screen Trek
QUOTE ME NO QUOTES!
England buying in... I wondered whether they would, considering the Exec Prod. dropped them in the first deal to produce, coz the Brits wanted the story skewed entirely their way.
Must look out for the reception there, and still wish the film had given the Brit generals more stick for the morons they were!
cheers
fog