Philip Cool
It definitely worth watching! It is a film that reveals the evil side of the humanity, but because it is not an action film or a romantic film, so i give it 8/10. Also, the reflection on humanity disgusted me and which define the film as a thriller. It is a good opportunity to know the history by watching this film, and to think about what action we would take if we were in that position, deeply review ourselves.
Mork_the_Borg
Mmmm.... I recently purchased this movie from a Sunday markets stall and thought "well that looks interesting, it seems to have received all these awards and prices". Winner this... Winner that... Unfortunately the movie didn't do it for me, or for my partner. It's slow, extremely predictable, uses horrible music, shows subtitles that are so incredible small on the screen that they're impossible to read, but most of all this movie didn't learn anything from Tom Hanks' "Cast Away" movie. If people are without food for a prolonged time they actually loose weight, and the characters as portrayed in Van Diemen's Land, although made to look somewhat dirty, seemed as healthy as anyone can be! So no, the movie didn't feel realistic enough to me, the actors should have lost 20-40 kilos each to make it feel believable. The good part of this movie were the various panoramic shots taken, but even those could have been more dramatic. So, I recommend passing this movie unless you like watching people bashing in each other's brains for no particular reason whatsoever. No prices from me whatsoever, and I'm glad seeing the rating at a level where handing out prices seems based on knowing the right people (friends politics), rather than really understanding cinematographic art.
jonnytheshirt
Like another film based on a true story from Australia - Snowtown - this is a grim telling of a very unpleasant tale. The palette of the movie is gritty and washed out with a persevering lack of hope, and just in case you were in doubt the musical score reflects the vast and dark land. There is not one single female in this movie, as it's about a place where none were. Almost like a dream of life lost for the souls there the feminine warmth is a lost memory and song. Seen perhaps a cautionary tale of a hard and man made time it depicts shows how this may have transpired, how it may have come to pass with a stand out line for me being "six pairs of shoes". This is no movie for the faint hearted and the acting is absolutely top notch. Be warned however this is not a study of human spirit over coming anything but rather about the dark slide into the worst aspects of a hopeless humanity. As a horror genre fan no horror movie is anywhere near as horrific and haunting as I found this one, because it's a real story about a terrible thing. All I felt was sadness for the characters, every one. When I curled up in bed that night later I simply felt lucky to be there.
Siamois
Despite moving at a slow pace and sometimes lacking in exposition, Van Diemen's Land is an impressive film. The story of Alexander Pearce's escape, along with 7 other convicts is gut-wrenching, especially when we take into account it is inspired by a true story (to which extent, we may never know). As soon as the movie begins, you are hit by jaw-dropping cinematography that definitely takes you in this very different place and time. Silences and sounds are used to good effect and the minimalist score is wonderful yet bleak. The movie does not rely on much dialogue and at times, suffers a little from thisThe characters are very life-like, even if they aren't sketched very clearly to start. You learn who these men are and what each is capable of over the course of the movie, which becomes increasingly bleak and permeated with a strange sense of evil. Not a cartoonish Hollywood-like evil but rather, the terrible things men can do and the group dynamics displayed when acts of cruelty are done. The narration by the character Pearce did not work all that well for me, and the movie felt a tad long to me due to its slow pace but this was an uneasy viewing. The genre listed on IMDb is "thriller" but this felt much more like a very, very gruesome drama. This is a film bordering on horror themes. Do not expect flashy scenes of action and clear cut good guys against bad guys.Worthwhile, even if somewhat depressing
AD
