DVD reviews
Immortals
"... a thundering example of style over substance."
Midnight In Paris
“...a delightful tribute to nostalgia and romance.”
The Illusionist
“...a film that generally brings warm smiles rather than belly laughs...”
Treasure Guards
"A willing suspension of disbelief should get most viewers across the line."
search the site
newsletter
Enter your email address below to receive the weekly Filmink newsletter
Hawke (DVD)
Year: 2010
Rating: MA
Director: Emma Freeman
Cast: Rachael Blake, Asher Keddie, Richard Roxburgh
Release Date: November 04, 2010
Distributor: ABC
The Film: 4.5
The Disc: 3.5
FILMINK rates DVDs and Blu-rays out of 5"... a rollicking, engaging biopic of the first order."
Has Australia ever had a more robust, iconoclastic Prime Minister than Bob Hawke? After eleven years of the greyest politician in the history of the world in the form of John Howard, and then the accountant-like countenance of Kevin Rudd, Hawke looks even more colourful and entertaining today. The makers of this punchy, pacy telemovie biopic appear to be totally and utterly aware of this fact, and they stitch together the key points of Hawke's life in a hectic, no-nonsense fashion, maintaining an absorbing sense of verisimilitude all the way through.
Expertly played by Richard Roxburgh - who cannily avoids caricature, and cuts right to the heart of this complex man - all facets of Hawke are intelligently explored, from his early boozing and his loveless marriage-for-show to Hazel (Rachael Blake), to his hot-and-heavy romance with author Blanche D'Alpuget (Asher Keddie) and his violent stoushes with ambitious treasurer Paul Keating (a truly inspired Felix Williamson).
While not lightweight enough to avoid the solely political, Hawke sensibly weaves it into a larger personal framework, resulting in a rollicking, engaging biopic of the first order.
In terms of extras, a fascinating collection of interviews (including a chat with the real Bob and Blanche) and deleted scenes help round out the picture even more.
