Video Pics: Once Were Warriors

I reckon this poster probably does more justice to the picture than any of the dozens that feature Jake surrounded by a bunch of blokes with face tattoos.

I'll be busy watching the new season of Orange Is The New Black for the next few days; but I thought I'd mention that I watched this on the weekend with my cousin.  Li'l' Cuz had missed it on SBS -- she was probably only two or something silly when it came out -- and despite owning it, I can't remember if I've seen it since it was first released on (VHS) video. To be honest, I'd largely forgotten just how good it is.

Bullet Point Review:

• It's good. 
• There aren't really any bad bits. It flows well, hits all the right emotional points, and then ends when it should.
• I got goose bumps during the scene where Beth stands up to Jake, as he holds her against the wall, threatening to smash a beer bottle into her face.
• I got goose bumps during the scene where Beth's best friend tries to cheer her up after Jake has given her a savage hiding.
• I got goose bumps during the scene where Beth tells Grace that "this is a woman's lot", echoing what Nig had said to her when she was cleaning up the bloodied living room.
• There's some subtle stuff going on with the camera work that I was quite impressed with. The actor playing Jake does not appear to be an overly massive man, but he seems to grow and shrink depending on context. In the last scene he has with Grace, he fills the screen up like a giant. In the last scene of the film, he is noticeably diminished compared to Nig and Beth.
• The opening shot is probably one of the best I've ever seen.
• Even after ~20 odd years, I still remember the line "Too much weights, not enough speed training, useless prick." I suppose, at the time, it struck a very relevant and personal chord with me.
• There's a scene in which Jake says "If I wanted to drink with women, I'd drink in the ladies lounge." It seems this is completely lost on the younger crowd. 
• I still can't work out what's going on in the picnic scene, where it looks like they're watching a sunset in the middle of the day. Has this got to do with being so far South?

SBS has it up for the next 5 or so days. Check it out if you haven't seen it. Check it out again if you have.