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Interview - Austin Butler on 'The Bikeriders'
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
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The Bikeriders is about to be released in Australian cinemas and while he was here for the Sydney Film Festival, I spoke to star Austin Butler about the project…
Matt: It wasn’t that long ago you were here in Queensland as a lesser-known actor shooting Elvis. Now, you’re an Oscar nominated star who also had a key role in the biggest box-office hit so far this year – Dune: Part Two. What changed most in terms of your life over the past few years?
Austin: I’ve had these opportunities to work with people I’ve always dreamed of and I feel very grateful right now.
Matt: Here in The Bikeriders you play Benny – folks gravitate towards him but at the same time, his wife describes him as “having no feelings”. What was your approach to playing such an insular character who doesn’t voice every thought going through his head?
Austin: Jeff Nichols talked about the character as being “an empty glass that everyone wants to fill with their own expectations and responsibilities.” The reality is that he can’t be filled. He’s a lone wolf. For me, it was figuring out what he’s thinking in those silent moments, and also getting on a motorcycle for many months before the shoot and experiencing that feeling of freedom.
Matt: I’m not sure of your background when it comes to motorcycling but was there any training required in riding these vintage bikes that existed in the 1960s and 70s?
Austin: I knew a bit but nothing like this. When I was 15, my dad took me to a parking lot and taught me how to ride a motorcycle. So, I’d ridden a bit but never on an old bike like this. I was on a 1965 Harley, and I found each bike had its own personality. It was about learning the idiosyncrasies of each bike and understanding the broader spirituality of motorcycle culture.
Matt: A lot of films are based on intricate novels, but The Bikeriders was inspired by a photobook assembled by Danny Lyon and first published in 1968. When you became involved with the project, what struck you about those photos and that world in term of building your own performance?
Austin: Yeah, absolutely. The amazing thing about that book is that the images give you so much. There’s a romanticism with the beautiful black and white imagery and you feel immersed in the aesthetic of that world. In addition, the back of the book has interviews Danny conducted with most of the motorcycle club members and you get to hear how they felt about things in a raw sense. The character I play was one of the few who wasn’t interviewed and he’s more of an enigma. The book helped me understand the world and then I had my own creative latitude given I was playing a more mysterious character.
Matt: Was there other research you needed to do to get a clearer understanding of motorcycle clubs and the types of people who became members?
Austin: Yeah. I did everything from reading Hunter S. Thompson’s Hells Angels to watching documentaries from around that time period. I also hung around a lot of people who live and breathe motorcycles and philosophically understanding what draws them to that lifestyle.
Matt: You worked here under the guidance of director Jeff Nichols who I’ve been a fan of going back to Take Shelter and Mud. How would you describe his directorial approach?
Austin: Jeff is an amazing human being and an amazing director. Just like you, I’ve been a fan of him since his first film Shotgun Stories. He’s a brilliant writer-director, a wonderful collaborator, and we had a great time together.
Matt: And you also had the chance to work alongside one of my favourite actors, Tom Hardy. What’s Tom like behind the camera?
Austin: Where do I begin with that man? He’s so dynamic. I’ve idolised him for many years. I remember when I first got the DVD for Bronson and I watched it over and over. I’ve been enamoured by all the work he’s done since then. He’s powerful. I was fortunate to have this character who is like a brother to him, and it bonded us really quickly. He’s a tough guy with a lot of intensity but I was struck by his sense of humour and his big heart. We had a good time together.
Matt: Every role throws up its own challenges. Was there a particularly hard part to this one?
Austin: This was a fun character to play but the biggest challenge was getting accustomed to the technical elements of these old motorcycles. There were safety concerns as we were riding around with no helmets and we had to be incredibly careful but at the same time, you wanted to ride fast. Altogether, it was such a great group of actors and I’ll give a shout-out to Jodie Comer and her performance because she carries the film and is brilliant.
Matt: What are you working on at the moment? What will we see from you next?
Austin: I just finished a movie directed by Ari Aster with Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone, and then my next thing is with Darren Aronofsky.
Brisbane Film Critics Select 'Oppenheimer' As Best Of 2023
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- Written by Matthew Toomey
Since 2011, I have been pulling together a list of the best movies of the year according to the Brisbane-based critics who I run into regularly at preview screenings. Films to have topped prior year lists have been Drive in 2011, Argo in 2012, Gravity in 2013, Boyhood in 2014, Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015, La La Land in 2016, Get Out in 2017, The Favourite in 2018, Parasite in 2019, Nomadland in 2020, Nine Days in 2021, and The Banshees of Inisherin in 2022.
To come up with an overall top 10, I’ve used a simple points system and applied it to the list of each critic. It is as follows:
- 3 points for the top film on each list.
- 2 points for the films ranked between 2nd and 5th on each list.
- 1 point for the films ranked between 6th and 10th on each list.
If two films finished on the same score, the film that appeared on the greater number of top 10 lists is ranked higher (as an indication of wider approval). If that's the same, it goes to an average of the individual rankings of each film.
The 10 list includes movies released in Australian cinemas and also those made available on streaming platforms.
It was no surprise to see Oppenheimer top this year’s combined list. Four critics named it as their favourite movie of 2023 with another four including inside their top 5. Christopher Nolan’s epic has been dominating the awards season thus far and is a strong Oscars frontrunner.
Emerald Fennell’s much-talked-about Saltburn finished well ahead of the chasing pack in second place. Of the 11 critics surveyed, 9 had it in their top ten list which highlighted its broad appeal. Rounding out the placings was Todd Field’s Tár which was bolstered by the incredible performance of Australian Cate Blanchett.
It was a solid year for non-superhero action flicks with two sequels making it inside the top 10 – Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and John Wick: Chapter 4. Australian cinema was also represented with the box-office hit Talk to Me earning a spot.
Two renowned male directors made the cut – Yorgos Lanthimos with Poor Things and Martin Scorsese with Killers of the Flower Moon. On the flip side, two spots went to female filmmakers for their feature directorial debuts – Celine Song for Past Lives and Charlotte Wells for Aftersun.
As always, it’s a great list of movies. Hunt them down on streaming services if you missed them in cinemas.
On that note, here are the top 10 movies of 2023 according to Brisbane critics…
Brisbane Film Critics - Top 10 of 2023
1. Oppenheimer
2. Saltburn
3. Tár
4. Poor Things
5. Killers of the Flower Moon
6. Past Lives
7. Aftersun
8. Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One
9. Talk to Me
10. John Wick: Chapter 4
You can view a table of all the votes and final scores by clicking here.
A big thanks to all who submitted their lists. If you're a Brisbane critic would like to contribute in future years, please reach out to me on social media.
You can check out information on all the Brisbane critics (along with their choices for the best and worst of 2023) below.
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Matthew Toomey | Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Close |
| 2. | Aftersun |
| 3. | Oppenheimer |
| 4. | Saltburn |
| 5. | Tár |
| 6. | Past Lives |
| 7. | All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| 8. | Godland |
| 9. | Living |
| 10. | Of an Age |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Of an Age | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Oink | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Eden Dambrine (Close) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Book Club: The Next Chapter | |
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Sarah Ward | Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Poor Things |
| 2. | Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 3. | Past Lives |
| 4. | Aftersun |
| 5. | Oppenheimer |
| 6. | EO |
| 7. | Close |
| 8. | All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| 9. | The Boy and the Heron |
| 10. | Saltburn |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Limbo | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Boy and the Heron | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Emma Stone (Poor Things) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves | |
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Garry Williams| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Oppenheimer |
| 2. | Maestro |
| 3. | Poor Things |
| 4. | Tár |
| 5. | Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 6. | Dumb Money |
| 7. | Saltburn |
| 8. | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 |
| 9. | Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 10. | John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Talk to Me | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Suzume | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Cate Blanchett (Tár) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Knock at the Cabin | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour | |
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Peter Gray| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Poor Things |
| 2. | Babylon |
| 3. | Past Lives |
| 4. | Talk to Me |
| 5. | Barbie |
| 6. | Aftersun |
| 7. | Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 8. | Air |
| 9. | John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| 10. | Saltburn |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Talk to Me | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Milli Vanilli | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Emma Stone (Poor Things) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Mafia Mamma | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Champions | |
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Ella Donald| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 2. | Babylon |
| 3. | Tár |
| 4. | Volcano |
| 5. | All the Beauty and the Bloodshed |
| 6. | Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 7. | Women Talking |
| 8. | Renaissance |
| 9. | Wham! |
| 10. | Theatre Camp |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Of an Age | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Boy and the Heron | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Park Ji-min (Return to Seoul) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Book Club: The Next Chapter | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Reality | |
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David Edwards| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Oppenheimer |
| 2. | Broker |
| 3. | Tár |
| 4. | Theatre Camp |
| 5. | Saltburn |
| 6. | November |
| 7. | Past Lives |
| 8. | Godland |
| 9. | Dumb Money |
| 10. | Biosphere |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Shayda | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Vjeran Tomic: The Spider-Man of Paris | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Greta Lee (Past Lives) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Mafia Mamma | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves | |
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Rob Hudson| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Oppenheimer |
| 2. | Saltburn |
| 3. | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse |
| 4. | The New Boy |
| 5. | Asteroid City |
| 6. | Sisu |
| 7. | The Eight Mountains |
| 8. | Till |
| 9. | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem |
| 10. | Killers of the Flower Moon |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| The New Boy | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Squaring the Circle: The Story of Hipgnosis | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| The Haunted Mansion | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | |
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Baz McAlister| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Sisu |
| 2. | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 |
| 3. | Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| 4. | Infinity Pool |
| 5. | BlackBerry |
| 6. | How to Blow Up a Pipeline |
| 7. | No One Will Save You |
| 8. | Talk to Me |
| 9. | John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| 10. | Saltburn |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Talk to Me | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| A Disturbance in the Force | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Barry Keoghan (Saltburn) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Ghosted | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Totally Killer | |
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Nick L'Barrow| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Talk to Me |
| 2. | John Wick: Chapter 4 |
| 3. | Oppenheimer |
| 4. | Air |
| 5. | Poor Things |
| 6. | Past Lives |
| 7. | Saltburn |
| 8. | Evil Dead Rise |
| 9. | Infinity Pool |
| 10. | Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Talk to Me | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Hot Potato: The Story of the Wiggles | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Andrew Scott (All of Us Strangers) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Big Shark dir. Tommy Wiseau | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| No Hard Feelings | |
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Jacob Richardson| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | The Blue Caftan |
| 2. | Aftersun |
| 3. | Oppenheimer |
| 4. | Polite Society |
| 5. | Saltburn |
| 6. | Spoiler Alert |
| 7. | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse |
| 8. | Living |
| 9. | Killers of the Flower Moon |
| 10. | Past Lives |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Sweet As | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| The Last Daughter | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Rosamund Pike (Saltburn) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Allelujah | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves & Wonka | |
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Peter Linning| Top 10 Films: | |
| 1. | Oppenheimer |
| 2. | Tár |
| 3. | The Blue Caftan |
| 4. | The Killer |
| 5. | Infinity Pool |
| 6. | Godland |
| 7. | Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves |
| 8. | Aftersun |
| 9. | Sisu |
| 10. | Barbie |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Talk to Me | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| All the Beauty and the Bloodshed | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Cate Blanchett (Tár) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Napoleon | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Anyone But You | |
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Interview - Joel Edgerton on 'The Boys in the Boat'
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
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The Boys in the Boat is the latest directorial effort from George Clooney. I recently had a chance to speak to star Joel Edgerton about the project…
Matt: The Boys in the Boat is an incredible story. Did you know about it all before being approached for the project?
Joel: I didn’t know a single thing until they came to me. I then read the book and script in quick succession. I do remember thinking it was an incredible true story that was perfectly built for a movie. If you’re an American rower you might know it but it makes you wonder how many great sports stories there are you’ve never heard about until a book or movie comes along.
Matt: I got a bit of Seabiscuit vibe from the film in that it was part of the Great Depression. What is it about the power of the sport that has a way of uniting so many people and lifting their spirits?
Joel: I think you’ve nailed it. Sport is a great unifier and it puts our brains in a different headspace. We are able to dissolve differences. We’re brought together in the common support of a local, state, or national team and it’s something we felt potently recently with the Matildas. The whole country was in a fervor and it’s a good reminder that our natural spirit is to galvanise and be together.
Matt: Your character has a mix of toughness, compassion, and vulnerability. How did you settle on the right way to play him?
Joel: There were a couple of clues in the script about Al Ulbrickson being somebody who rarely smiled. That drew my attention to the sort of coach who looks really stressed about what they do and seems to derive very little joy from the job. They care so much and they’re so determined to win that it looks like they’re being driven to an early grave.
I then started thinking about coaches as fathers. It’s how I used to think about older male figures who were coaches when I played sport. They’re like a quasi-dad in that you’re wanting to please them and work harder so they’re proud of you. While those coaches seem tough and impenetrable, there is a warmth and a love underneath.
Matt: The rowers would have gone through physical training but was there stuff you had to learn about the sport to help prep for the part as coach?
Joel: I’d do a little bit of single skull rowing but I just liked watching the guys training the boys. I saw how observant the coaches were. They were looking at this “floating centipede” on the water but they could see someone’s wrist was in the wrong position or someone’s posture was throwing out the rhythm of the boat. It showed how incredibly sharp and focused the coaches needed to make things work better.
Matt: Callum Turner is great in the lead but I like some of the interplay you have with Luke Slattery’s character in getting him to helm the boat. How did you see the relationship between your character and his?
Joel: I love the idea of the cox being someone who can undermine the coach because he’s the one in the boat calling the shots. I think Luke is extraordinary. The moment he arrives in the film, he breathes new life into it as a cocky, self-assured kid. I also liked the antagonism there.
It was a challenge for those involved to condense this story and capture the lives of all these people in the space of one movie. This could also be a great TV series where you’ve got time to get under the skin of all the boys but we’re mainly focusing on watching this story through the eyes of Joe Rantz and while some of the guys have only a little moment, they’re all incredible.
Matt: You’re working alongside another actor-turned-director in George Clooney. Was there anything in particular you learned from his directorial approach?
Joel: I liked how selfless he was in the process. He would be the most high-profile person on his set and he’s put aside a year of his life to make this movie when he could be off making a lot of money acting in a couple of big movies. Something about this story captured his imagination to put aside the time and stand behind the camera to get it made.
He did his research and homework very well, and was organized in terms of how to shoot the film. All the while, he kept a fun set and light atmosphere which made it so enjoyable. When you’re away from home and putting in long hours, you hope you can have a good experience along the way. We were able to do that thanks to him.
Matt: It feels like you’re wearing a three-piece suit for almost the entire film. How did you find the costuming of that era?
Joel: Jenny Eagan designed the costumes and collaborates with George Clooney a lot. She’s excellent. All the elements of this film fit together well – the cinematography, production design, and costume design are all exquisite.
I felt like I was stepping into the shoes of one of my grandfathers. When I first saw a photo of Al Ulbrickson, he looks uncannily like my Dutch grandfather. I sound like I’m talking to a fashion magazine but I love this era for the fashion and clothes of it. It was very cool and I felt comfortable.
Matt: What are you working on at the moment? What will we see from you next?
Joel: I’m just coming out of the strike where I haven’t worked for 7-8 months. I’ve been putting my head down and planning for the future. I was involved as a producer on Boy Swallows Universe which comes out in January, and I have a documentary I helped produced called Daughters which is going to Sundance. It’s about a dance with daughters and their fathers in a prison in Washington DC.
I’m hoping to direct something in late 2024 which I’ve written and I’m very excited to get back into the director’s chair. I’ve got twins who are going be 3 years old soon and once they’re at school, I’ll feel safer going to direct a movie. I just haven’t had the brain space, time or capacity until now. I’ve really embraced the silver lining of the strike by being with family.
Matt's Top 10 Movies of 2023
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
I saw 191 cinema releases during the 2023 calendar year and, as I’ve done every year since 1996 (time flies), I like to put together a list which outlines my favourites. My prior year top 10 lists can be found here.
We’ve all got different tastes but hopefully the list inspires others to hunt down these movies and watch something great they may otherwise have missed. I went this through this list on ABC Brisbane breakfast radio a couple of weeks ago.
Honourable mentions this year which I couldn’t quite squeeze into my top 10 were – Till, Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, Talk to Me, Shayda, Women Talking, Driving Madeleine, Godzilla Minus One, Oink, Saim Omer, EO, Maestro, and Barbie.
The above films are all worth a look but to narrow it down to my top 10 of the year…
10. Of an Age (out Mar 23) feels like an Australian version of Barry Jenkins' Oscar-winning Moonlight. Mostly set in 1999, it's centred on a 17-year-old who meets his friend's gay brother and opens up about his own sexuality. Offering humour, romance and sorrow, it's my pick as the best Aussie film of 2023 (narrowly ahead of Talk to Me).
9. Living (out Mar 16) is an English remake of a 1952 Japanese film directed by Akira Kurosawa (Ikiru). It's the tale of a dull, humourless, London Council bureaucrat who, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, takes time away from work and embraces new activities. It would be easy to overplay the role but Bill Nighy, in his Oscar nominated role, is near-perfect as he extracts just the right dose of sympathy from audiences.
8. Godland (out Aug 17) is an Icelandic 19th Century drama about a Danish priest tasked with building a new church in Iceland. Director Hlynur Pálmason does a terrific job capturing the bleak, isolated setting (you really feel it) and creating interesting characters.
7. All the Beauty and the Bloodshed (out Mar 9) is an Oscar nominated documentary about the life of artist Nan Goldin and her efforts to draw attention to opioid addiction. Relying as much on photography as it does video, Goldin is a fascinating individual for whom no subject is off limits.
6. Past Lives (out Aug 31) is a sensational romantic drama which highlights both the simplicity and complexity of the human condition. First-time writer-director Celine Song enhances the already great material with a brilliant cast, a beautiful film score, and the use of long, unedited takes during key conversations.
5. Tár (out Jan 26) is an engrossing drama about a renowned, EGOT-winning musician/conductor. She's relied on hard work and talent to earn her success but her arrogance and other behind-the-scenes weaknesses threaten to upend her career. Cate Blanchett turns in one of the most memorable performances of the past year. The ending is pitch perfect.
4. Saltburn (out Nov 16) rattles and entertains. The story revolves around a socially inept, first-year student at Oxford (Barry Keoghan) who weaves his way into the home of a very wealthy family. It’s power games aplenty as characters use their smarts and sexual appetites to try to get the upper hand over others. Great performances plus outlandish moments equals a terrific film.
3. Oppenheimer (out Jul 20) will be spoken about for a long time. Representing a slight pivot for Christopher Nolan (better known for action-thrillers), it’s a brilliant biopic about the American scientist credited with inventing the atom bomb in the 1940s. The editing sets a frenetic pace, the music is intense, and Cillian Murphy’s lead performance is extraordinary. It’s rare for a biopic to capture so many competing angles of a single individual.
2. Aftersun (out Feb 23) is both uplifting and soul destroying. A simple, subtle, powerful drama about a 30-year-old woman who, through a mix of memory and old home movies, deeply reflects on a Turkish holiday she shared with her father 20 years earlier. Paul Mescal earned an Oscar nomination for his lead role and this isn’t a film you’ll easily forget.
1. Close (out Feb 16) is a Belgian drama about two 13-year-old boys who, despite being long-time friends, start drifting apart after starting high school. This is an incredible film! The documentary-like feel adds authenticity, the cinematography is stunning, and the music is haunting. Above all else though, Close achieves its emotional power because of two of the finest performances I've ever seen from child actors.