No. 83 (2022) THE STRANGER October 16th.

 

Film No. 83 (2022)  October  16th.  12.40 PM   Cinema 6.  LUNA,  Leederville.

 

"Imagine that you are breathing in the clear air and when you breath out, you breathe out the black, dark, bad air." (Mark teaches his son breathing technique when lying in a quiet place to relieve tension). 

Nominee: Cannes, Melbourne and Brussels  (Thomas M Wright) Director Awards.

Opening on NETFLIX in late October 2022.

This powerful film pays tribute to the combined operation between the Western Australian, Victorian and Queensland police forces that helped solve one of Australia's highest profile abduction and homicide cases. But the tribute is dark, bleak, depressing and ultimately harrowing. Think long and hard about why you enjoy cinema and, if watching naturalistic scenes depicting a low-life criminal being brought to justice is not on your list of nourishing cinema experiences, then THE STRANGER is not for you.

The story is simply a depiction of "the sting" that lured low-life Henry (Sean Harris) into the police net. Mark (Joel Edgerton) sacrificed a slab of his life to befriend  Henry and allow him to believe he could be protected for life by joining a crime ring. The film's foundation is built on the unnerving energy generated by Edgerton and Harris. Edgerton admits that the method acting techniques employed by each of them, led to them physically coming to blows on the odd occasion.

Perhaps from an art POV director Thomas M Wright has been both admired and despised for creating THE STRANGER. Admired by his peers and despised by those most affected by the crime. For those most affected, being reminded of their trauma is simply unnecessary. I understand their viewpoint even though names, locations and references have all been altered. I have no intention of discussing the true events on which this story is based but I encourage those who wish to experience brilliantly depicted naturalism on the screen to watch THE STRANGER, appreciating it as high-art and forgetting the research. 

I hate the thought that people are upset with THE STRANGER. I have a greater appreciation of what good policing means because of it. I feel sure those most affected were also appreciative of the chance to have some closure to their heartache. The police succeeded in attaining that closure. THE STRANGER is a story worth telling. Edgerton and Harris are compelling.   10GUMS