By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2.5 cats
Director: Dennis Miller | Gillian Armstrong | John O'May | Margo Lee | Max Cullen | Norman Erskine | oey Kennedy | Pat Evison | Ross O'Donovan
Country: australia
Year: 2021
Running time: 94
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084728/reference
Michael says: “I watched this bizarre Australian musical after hearing about it on the Brattle’s podcast. I was intrigued because it was the second feature narrative film by the talented director Gillian Armstrong; a very bizarre follow-up to her amazing debut, MY BRILLIANT CAREER, and a precursor to MRS. SOFFEL (she also directed LITTLE WOMEN in 1994, and one of my all-time favorite Judy Davis films, HIGH TIDE.) What clinched it for me was finding out that the songs were written by members of Split End! I was hooked. Jackie is an up and coming new wave singer/songwriter whose younger cousin, Angus, cooks up a scheme to get her noticed on a variety show competition that would giver her the opportunity to perform at the Sydney Opera House. Hijinks ensue. A fun romp, but nothing really to write home about. Some good songs and very bizarre choreography (by David Atkins who also choreographed THE PIRATE MOVIE) though. Definitely a product of its time and that quirky Australian outlook. 2.5 cats”
Chris responds: “I first watched STARSTRUCK in the late 90s, then again earlier this year. Some of the musical numbers are delightfully bananas. Young Baz Luhrmann might’ve watched this inexplicable, slapdash and totally wild New Wave musical and thought, ‘I could do that, but only more garish, campier and with even bigger hair.'”