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A boys’ own adventure
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7KH 0F/HDQ ĺOP WKDW )TMFKD has the most in common with is DWH FKRLFH IRU D ZRUOG WUDYHOOLQJ -HZLVK EDFNSDFNHU LQ
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parlay his critical and commercial success (in Australia, at story, it was wise to do so in this aspect most of all.
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KRUURU WKULOOHU ZLWK D FRPSDUDWLYHO\ ODUJH EXGJHW DQG D ODUJHU Audience drawcards
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worthwhile international edge, as did so many genre efforts !DKJN $WODQHLDMS, a grisly, gruesome satire about the Colombian
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/LNH 1NFTD, )TMFKD works best when its cast is allowed to LQWR D NLOO RU EH NLOOHG VFHQDULR E\ WKHLU WZLVWHG RYHUORUGV !DKJN
interact. The four main actors make a compelling combination was appropriately marketed as ‘.EkBD 2O@BD >0LNH -XGJH
for as long as they’re bound by the narrative to actually be to @ PHHWV !@SSKD 1NX@KD >.LQML )XNDVDNX @p DQG ZDV
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with the unique sort of tension that arises when a group of new (2016). It may be a surprise to learn that !DKJN is his most con
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such relationships, which aren’t yet fully formed, are shown to let’s not pretend that @MX ĺOP ZKHUHLQ SHRSOH DUH IRUFHG WR NLOO
easily give way to breaking tempers and shifting loyalties. The for entertainment – 3TQJDX 2GNNS %ULDQ 7UHQFKDUG 6PLWK
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impressive portrayal of a physically depleted adventurer whose !@SSKD 1NX@KD among them – is ever particularly nuanced.
polished demeanour gradually unravels – give )TMFKD’s second Both !DKJN and )TMFKD made their Australian debuts at
act a particularly vibrant hum of tension, which is bolstered by the 2017 Melbourne International Film Festival (MIFF), the
beautifully photographed jungle locations and evocative sound ODWWHU KDYLQJ LWV ZRUOG SUHPLHUH DV WKH IHVWLYDOpV RSHQLQJ QLJKW
work. But even this arc begins to become a drain on the atten VHOHFWLRQ 0F/HDQpV VXUYLYDOLVW WKULOOHU LV 0,))pV PRVW PDLQ
tion span once the narrative’s focus turns to just Yossi, with the stream opener in many years by a wide margin – perhaps
rest of the characters either disposed of or whisked to safety. D GHOLEHUDWH DWWHPSW WR HQHUJLVH DQG LQYLJRUDWH LWV DXGLHQFH
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performance in the '@QQX /NSSDQ franchise (2001–2011), is likely failed to accomplish. And mainstream )TMFKD certainly is. It’s
to garner )TMFKD the same sort of curiosity factor that has ac easy to see audiences enticed by its exotic thrills, particularly
FRPSDQLHG PRVW RI WKH \HDU ROGpV QRQ Potter acting choices, if seen on a big screen, on which its lush imagery can be
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has spent the subsequent years choosing a variety of projects: ORFDO VFUHHQ LQGXVWULHV VKLUNLQJ WKH ZHOO ZRUQ SDWK RI JHQUH
‘My mission from when I came out of Potter ZDV WR >ZLWK@ HYHU\ ĺOPPDNHUV VLPSO\ UHSOLFDWLQJ WKHLU ĺUVW VXFFHVVHV <HV LW
opportunity somebody gave me to do something different and ZRXOG KDYH EHHQ EHWWHU WR VHH WKH ĺOP GHOYH PRUH GHHSO\ LQWR

show something different — just take it.’ ,WpV WR 5DGFOLIIHpV the themes it broaches – man against nature, the youthful
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KLV WDOHQW DQG YHUVDWLOLW\ IURP WKH :HVW (QG SURGXFWLRQ RI 3HWHU )TMFKD, and doing so in Australia. The craftsmanship on dis
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5RG +DUG\ WR WKH URPDQWLF FRPHG\ 6G@S (E (Michael storytelling to the next level, too.
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to memorable roles as a farting corpse in 2VHRR QLX ,@M &KDMM #TMJR HR @ EQDDK@MBD VQHSDQ BQHSHB @MC @TSGNQ EQNL ,DKANTQMD
'DQLHO .ZDQ 'DQLHO 6FKHLQHUW DQG $OOHQ *LQVEHUJ LQ who has appeared on festival juries around the world. His arti-
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Much will be made of the weight loss he achieved for )TMFKD, in Metro VNM SGD TRSQ@KH@M %HKL "QHSHBR RRNBH@SHNM R (U@M
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sort to in an effort to prove their chops as serious thespians. But
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ment, his body emaciated and barely able to hold the clothes 1 %UHQGDQ 6ZLIW o6SLHULJ %URWKHUV 6KRRW 3UHOLPLQDU\ )RRWDJH IRU
that hang off of him, is truly powerful – aided by the fact that it’s Jungle )HDWXUH LQ %ROLYLDp IF.com.au -XO\ KWWS LI FRP
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it being an awfully convenient moment of storytelling, it’s not 2 6LPRQ 0LUDXGR o5HWXUQ RI WKH 0LFN t :ROI &UHHN 5HYLHZp
entirely unwelcome, given all that the audience has watched 4XLFNŸL[ )HEUXDU\ KWWSV ZZZ TXLFNŸL[ FRP DX
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tor’s lithe frame provides the character of Yossi with a fragility QHW DX QHZV GDQLHO UDGFOLIIH IDU DZD\ IURP KDUU\
and even a relatability that would be otherwise unachievable SRWWHU IRU UROH LQ MXQJOH ! DFFHVVHG }2FWREHU

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