Networked Knowledge Media Briefing Rupert Max Stuart Homepage This page setup by Dr Robert N Moles Black And White Review / Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton Comments by Margaret Pomeranz In 1959 an aboriginal man Max Stuart was arrested for the rape and murder of a young girl on the beach at Ceduna South Australia. His trial and subsequent appeals became a cause celebre... it was never a case of black and white... When lawyer David O'Sullivan (Robert Carlyle) is assigned to defend Max Stuart (David Ngoombujarra), he has no idea that his involvement will lead him on a collision course with the police and with the justice system. He learns that Max's confession has been beaten out of him, that his confession is one he could not possibly have made, this with the help of Father Tom Dixon (Colin Friels). But the entrenched racism of the times makes Max's conviction a foregone conclusion, particularly with that bastion of the establishment, Crown Solicitor Roderic Chamberlain (Charles Dance) leading the case for the prosecution. O'Sullivan's refusal to accept the verdict, his desperate search for a basis for appeal will not only involve his law partner Helen Devaney (Kerry Fox) and the young Rupert Murdoch (Ben Mendelsohn) and Rohan Rivett (John Gregg), the editor of the Adelaide Advertiser, but will take him on a journey to the highest court in the system – the Privy Council in England. Black and White explores this fascinating and seminal piece of Australian history in a rather old-fashioned way. Dialogue is delivered in a declamatory style that just seems clunky, giving scenes a distinct lack of credibility. While director Craig Lahiff has a good sense of visual style his handling of performances is disappointing. The only ones to emerge with distinction are Ben Mendelsohn, John Gregg and David Ngoombujarra. Comments From David Stratton: This should have been a fascinating Australian film on an important theme, but the treatment is surprisingly prosaic and some of the key performances aren't very interesting. Robert Carlyle and Kerry Fox seem a bit bored with it all, and Charles Dance overacts appallingly. On the plus side, David Ngoombajarra is really touching as the man accused of murder. .