Film Review: Chopper

[diebitter]

Chopper



Chopper is a quirky, violent, energetic series of look-ins on various events and times in the life of real-life Australian criminal Mark 'Chopper' Reid (who is the author of a set of best-selling autobiographies). The lead is played by Eric Bana, who gives a really great, riveting, scary, charming performance as the central character. Bana was a stand-up comic before this, and was approved for the lead by 'Chopper' himself (the director - in his commentary - makes it clear he always wanted to stay on the right side of 'Chopper' - draw your own conclusions from what sort of man Chopper is).

Chopper is shown as being something of a paradox. He's prone to violence if he feels frustrated or wronged, and quite extreme violence at that - but at the same time seems to want people to like him, and wants to be mates with people that are frustrating him and even betraying him. He shoots a man at one point, then drives the guy to the hospital, and seems sorry for what he's done.

Another example of Chopper's nature? He gets stabbed in the stomach in prison, and the trauma he feels isn't in the stab-wound, it's the feeling of betrayal he has at being stabbed by someone he considers a friend.

He's a man seriously comfortable with violence and pain (at one point he gets parts of his ears cut off so as to be moved from a particular prison wing, where he's got a death-sentence hanging over him, and barely winces as it's being done). Bana is very good in assorted scenes where Chopper's mood swings mean he's friendly and matey one minute, then extremely threatening and aggressive the next (and back again) - he really does a terrific job here.

As well as the terrific lead in Bana, one of the film's pleasures is in the quirky details of the various supporting characters and events - for example there's meant to be a shooting in the car park of a club, but it turns out there are two car parks and confusion ensues... there's a lot of amusing detail going on through this movie, though none of the supports are particularly outstanding. They are adequate though.


While this film is entertaining, hilarious and wrenching by turn, the main thing wrong with it is the structuring; we go from him in prison to being out without explanation of intermediate events; who people are and their relationship with Chopper isn't clear sometimes, so there's a lot of filling in the gaps yourself (with is all very well, but you end up not so much enjoying the dialogue as trying to figure out who this or that guy is). However the 'dip in' nature of the movie does enhance its sense of realism, so it has some benefits to it.


OVerall, a good little movie that's not for everyone (especially if they don't like intense violence), but if it is for you, you will probably like it an awful lot.


OVERALL: 3.25
REWATCHABILITY: Once a year. Suitable for older teens up.

RATINGS (out of 5):
0 - This is a complete waste of time, and you will regret wasting it
1 - don't bother unless no other options at all
2 - okay for a single watch, if you've got time
3 - Definite watch if you get a chance
4 - See it very soon, at least once before you die
5 - See it immediately, no excuses