Under The Lighthouse Dancing
Picture: C Sound: C+ Extras: C- Film: C+
Six
friends reunited and discover secrets and truths that will change the rest of
their lives. No, its not The Secaucus Seven (reviewed elsewhere
on this site) or even its famous commercial take-off, The Big Chill, but the much more recent Australian feature film Under The Lighthouse Dancing
(1996). Though not loaded with hit
songs, and with Crowded House (give or take a factor) & INXS, which would
not be a problem, but this is a drama with some comedy without much nostalgia.
One of
the reasons this particular film is now out on DVD is simply that Naomi Watts
is in it. When a star goes on the
upswing and keeps getting this hot, anything and everything they did suddenly
starts turning up, no matter how good or bad.
This is not a spectacular version of a story we have seen before, but it
is at least interesting on and off since it is set in Australia.
Watts also happens to stand out in a
cast of somewhat familiar faces, depending on your viewing habits. It is watchable just because it is a bit
different, but do not expect much more.
The full
frame, color image is consistent, yet muted and softer than a film of this age
should be. Cinematographer Paul Murphy,
A.C.S., shoots decently and shows off the land as much as the cast, but not
much more is accomplished. Even though a
Dolby logo appears in the end credits, the film is a simple Dolby A-type analog
stereo release and that includes Pro Logic type surrounds that are no very
strong in this Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo version. This is a dialogue-based film, but there is
also ambient sound here and there. There
are only limited text extras, including wedding toasts and saying, wedding
trivia, and some brief production notes.
Others
here include Jack Thompson, seen in the second Star Wars film of late, Paul Verhoeven’s Flesh + Blood, and the original Breaker Morant, Jacqueline McKenzie was in the early Russell Crowe
film Romper Stomper, and Adam
Gillett was in Shadow Of The Vampire,
so the cast is not filled with persons unseen in “the states”. Though not extraordinary, Under The Lighthouse Dancing is not
pretentious and that might appeal to some viewers.
- Nicholas Sheffo
