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      Mad Bastards

      2011 1h 36m Drama List
      89% 18 Reviews Tomatometer 72% 250+ Ratings Audience Score A police officer wants to make things better for the men in his community as three generations of Australians journey toward manhood. Read More Read Less

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      Mad Bastards

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      Critics Reviews

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      Jim Schembri The Age (Australia) Mad Bastards is this year's Samson & Delilah; it bravely explores a host of hot-button issues with a deft blending of humour, sensitivity and often brutal frankness. Rated: 4.5/5 Jun 16, 2011 Full Review Paul Byrnes Sydney Morning Herald This is poised and meaningful Australian cinema, however we classify it. Rated: 4/5 May 4, 2011 Full Review David Rooney Hollywood Reporter There's yearning as well as stubborn emotional isolation and anger in these characters, and any harshness in the observations of this richly satisfying film invariably is balanced by warmth. Feb 8, 2011 Full Review Travis Johnson sbs.com.au Contrasts stunning outback landscapes with a raw, observational approach to its characters and their situations, the result being a heady mix of the epic and intimate. Sep 13, 2021 Full Review Lynden Barber Limelight There's no denying the film has real heart, buoyed by surprisingly strong performances from a mostly inexperienced cast who drew on their own lives in creating their characters. Jan 3, 2018 Full Review Glenn Dunks Onya Magazine Fletcher has done a great job with Mad Bastards and should be especially commended for getting the performances out of these non-actors. Rated: B- Oct 17, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

      Audience Reviews

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      harsh c Like a 90 minute long music video sprinkled with a few minutes of drama Rated 2 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Leisurely-paced study of the plight of the Aboriginal people of Australia. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Brendan Fletcher and his Aboriginal cast deliver a film both beautiful and tragic but, most importantly, one that leaves viewers with a sense of hope. The film doesn't hold back in depicting some of the horrors confronting Aboriginal people living in remote Australia but it also portrays the resilience and humour which so characterise the survival of Aboriginal people in a hostile and racist Australia. Unlike so many other films in the genre of Aboriginal despair Mad bastards leaves hope and even optimism in its wake. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/16/23 Full Review Audience Member A solid independent film, Mad Bastards was an entry into the 2011 Sundance Festival, and is a great character study. The film tells the story of a violent estranged father, TJ, who goes on a journey to reunite with his son Bullet. Along the way, he meets various characters and learns to let go of his violence. In the meantime, his son is struggling due to the poor parenting he's received, and his only role model is his grandfather, the town cop. What international viewers may not pick up on is the extreme reality that this story has in relation to the lifestyles and socioeconomic issues facing the indigenous population of Australia. While unflinchingly displaying these problems, it also shows situations that can be quite daunting to a white man in Australia (such as a group of Aboriginals blocking the road, which unfortunately has a reputation to mean that they will try to rob you or steal the car) to be quite harmless some of the time. A solid debut for director Brendan Fletcher. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member Amazing movie, great storyline, plot, characters. The ending was pretty relaxing, leaving with a feeling of comfort. Uncle Black was a great guy, wish I could meet him. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member While it tackles tough material, the terrific lead performances, stunning cinematography and uplifting score add up to a film that's pretty special. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Movie Info

      Synopsis A police officer wants to make things better for the men in his community as three generations of Australians journey toward manhood.
      Director
      Brendan Fletcher
      Screenwriter
      Brendan Fletcher
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Apr 10, 2017
      Runtime
      1h 36m
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