Details

C r i t ic

Judy Davis, Geoffrey Rush, Charlotte Rampling and Alexandra Schepisi (on right) shine in The Eye of the Storm.

DAVID STRATTON On how to be a film critic the father-daughter relationship returned 1) Don’t enter the cinema with after shooting finished.” preconceptions Alexandra turns in a powerhouse “It can be hard, especially if it’s a sequel performance that leaves you wondering or remake, but you try to why she’s not as famous as her old man. go in with an open mind. Reviews are always very Part of the reason may be that, like him, subjective, but she’s uncomfortable with the dumbed- I try to bear in mind the audience the down state of the film industry. “It’s film is aimed at.” Storm trouper just become incredibly difficult to make • 2) Get a wing-woman The grand old man of Australian cinema, Fred intelligent films,”S chepisi Snr “When Margaret and says. “You can’t do it in the studio I started on TV, we Schepisi, brings Patrick White to the screen. looked to [American system anymore and you can double-act] Siskel and Ebert. We went with that It’s not surprising that The Eye of the “It was a very difficult decision M L I F rarely do it in the mini majors.” model but improved it Storm is the first film adaptation of Pa atrick to make,” says the director. Thankfully, Schepisi managed by having a male-female White novel. The Nobel Prize-winning “I involved a lot of other people to raise $15m from private backers combination, which I think makes it more Australian author, whose work is renowned just to make sure I wasn’t being to make The Eye of the Storm. He interesting. Margaret for its complexity and idiosyncratic wit, too much of a father. Basically, the is now out shaking the bushes to and I disagree a lot less than people think and has always been considered difficult to unanimous decision was that I’d be finance his next film,Words and we don’t manufacture transpose to the big screen. But Fred mad if I didn’t use her.” Pictures, starring Clive Owen and disagreements for the sake of it.” a e z .

Schepisi has climbed that mountain. Further complicating the Julianne Moore. • b He’s condensed the 600-page novel working relationship was the “In the independent world 3) Keep it together when interviewing White released in 1973 into a sharp, elegant business of directing his daughter you’re cobbling together money. It’s your idols film about the cultural cringe and the in a couple of sex scenes with Rush. a risky venture,” he admits. Lovers “You have to play it cool but I’ve always found masks people wear to keep up appearances. “It wasn’t as nerve-wracking as we both of cinema can be grateful that Schepisi, those whose work “One of the themes of Patrick White is thought,” Schepisi reports. “Alexandra and now 71, is still willing to chance his arm. I most admire to be very decent people. Clint that everybody’s an actor,” explains the I talked about it and we decided that on the The Eye of the Storm is released on Eastwood, whose films director, speaking from his Melbourne set I was a director, she was an actress and September 8. I like very much, is an incredibly nice person office. “Everybody’s presenting what to hang out with.” • they want others to see them as.” ko. illustration marcelo

4) Be prepared to sit Š In The Eye of the Storm, this deception through crap films is both subtle and complex. GeoffreyR ush m a n o f t h e Leading man: “This is a wonderful job m o m e n t Dustin wears black but the downside is you and Judy Davis play a brother and sister leather ‘Dryden’ have to see all the films returning home to Sydney to be by the side jacket, $520, from that open and most of You might not recognise G-Star. them are not very good. of their dying socialite mother (Charlotte Dustin Clare with his shirt American films used to Rampling). Rush is a not-so-successful be much better, but now on, but the Aussie star of you’re lucky if you get theatre actor living in London, Davis the US TV series Spartacus: three studio films a year penniless ex-wife of a French aristocrat. Gods of the Arena is that are worth seeing.” soon to be seen in The • Despite their humble stations, both dress 5) And get groped to impress. Rush waltzes about in cravats Eye of the Storm. “I play by fans the boyfriend of one of “I was walking up and blazers, Davis in threadbare Chanel. the main characters who the street and a very Their mother, meanwhile, shows us attractive young woman leaves me for Geoffrey pinched me on the bum where they get it from, donning a series igel Bowen. photography adrian me Rush,” he says. The former and said, ‘Oh, I just love N of sumptuous gowns and wigs to receive McLeod’s Daughters actor you, David.’ I was so is also an ambassador startled, I didn’t know visitors in her glittering mansion. how to react. That kind In a key supporting role, Schepisi’s for the White Ribbon of thing happens when Foundation: “It’s something you’re in the public eye.” daughter, Alexandra, plays a nurse drawn I think is really important, • to Rush’s voguish thespian. It’s the second Margaret and David: 25 educating men that Years Talking Movies is time Fred has directed her — the first was violence against women exhibited at ACMI from 17 Aug until 4 Dec. At The 31 years ago when she appeared as a child is not tolerated.” Movies 25 year anniversary episode screens 26 Oct. in The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. acmi.net.au, abc.net.au words jason di rosso,

44 / .com.AU/aug/sep 2011