list http://www.spout.com/ Recent community activity around Sweetie on Spout Copyright 2005-9 Spout, LLC Spout RSS http://www.spout.com/images/SpoutLogoRSS.jpg http://www.spout.com/ 136 30 http://www.spout.com/films/Sweetie/33814/default.aspx Title: Sweetie
Year: 1989
Director: Jane Campion
Plot: Australian filmmaker Jane Campion directs the darkly humorous family drama Sweetie. Thin and mousy Kay (Karen Colson) works in a factory and lives a dreary existence with her well-meaning boyfriend, Louis (Tom Lycos). One day, her sister Dawn (Genevieve Lemon) arrives with her so-called manager, Bob (Michael Lake). Nicknamed Sweetie, Dawn is everything Kay is not: boisterous, impulsive, and overweight. Kay is consumed with uptight phobias, while Dawn hangs on to her unrealistic childhood dreams of show business. Meanwhile, their parents, Gordon (Jon Darling) and Flo (Dorothy Barry), are involved in a strange separation. Kay, Louis, and Gordon trick Dawn so they can visit Flo at a ranch in the Australian outback. Everyone gets together back at the family home where Dawn pulls an immature stunt, exposing the psychological realities of the situation. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Times Tagged: 1
Number of Lists: 6
Number of blog posts: 6
Number of discussion threads: 1
SpoutRating: 3
]]>Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:47:07 GMTSweetie1989Jane CampionAustralian filmmaker <a href="/players/P____83988/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Jane Campion</a> directs the darkly humorous family drama Sweetie. Thin and mousy Kay (Karen Colson) works in a factory and lives a dreary existence with her well-meaning boyfriend, Louis (Tom Lycos). One day, her sister Dawn (Genevieve Lemon) arrives with her so-called manager, Bob (Michael Lake). Nicknamed Sweetie, Dawn is everything Kay is not: boisterous, impulsive, and overweight. Kay is consumed with uptight phobias, while Dawn hangs on to her unrealistic childhood dreams of show business. Meanwhile, their parents, Gordon (Jon Darling) and Flo (Dorothy Barry), are involved in a strange separation. Kay, Louis, and Gordon trick Dawn so they can visit Flo at a ranch in the Australian outback. Everyone gets together back at the family home where Dawn pulls an immature stunt, exposing the psychological realities of the situation. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide1Slightly Tagged (1-5)6613http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t85327im2ne.jpghttp://www.spout.com/films/Sweetie/33814/default.aspxFilm http://www.spout.com/blogs/reggi53/archive/2009/12/5/44480.aspx Post By: Reggi53
Post To: Reggi53 Blog
Post Date: 12/5/2009 1:16:42 PM
Body: This story becomes more and more complex as well as interesting because Dawn (US) is at her dusk, (in some respects, how Hollywood tends to discredit its women [countries]). So, while she is depicted as a badtempered Little Lotta with an ungraceful, fumbling, uncultured interpretation, even of her own inability to access and/or process media--she hasn't been opportuned with education nor the social graces (contacts, money, looks) to enter media; she is boisterous, wild, lower/working class, unashamed of her body and its natural girth but unhesitant to break into performance (her lifelong love). So we come away with a complex picture of a woman who seemingly shouldn't depict (or be allowed to) her love of music, dance and enjoying life, but should rather be almost closet about it. A lot of the film of the genre coming out of Europe (i.e., Bye-bye Monkey) speak to the love/hate relationship with the United States. At the denouement, Dawn (the monkey) falls from the tree (the bough breaks) because she is not limber and/or does not possess the grace of a creature naturally inclined to climb trees. But that is the sheer irony. While Europeans see Americans as ungracious bull in the china closet, they call us uncultured apes. The dichotomy--we are the apes but Dawn is enchanted (entranced) with American story. It is a film that should be seen again, like all artistic and/or untraditional films because we, the audience, come away sometimes with notions not necessarily intended by the director but frequently showing with a really good interpretive artistic work. * * * / * * *
]]>Sat, 05 Dec 2009 18:16:42 GMTReggi53Reggi53 Blog12/5/2009 1:16:42 PMThis story becomes more and more complex as well as interesting because Dawn (US) is at her dusk, (in some respects, how Hollywood tends to discredit its women [countries]). So, while she is depicted as a badtempered Little Lotta with an ungraceful, fumbling, uncultured interpretation, even of her own inability to access and/or process media--she hasn't been opportuned with education nor the social graces (contacts, money, looks) to enter media; she is boisterous, wild, lower/working class, unashamed of her body and its natural girth but unhesitant to break into performance (her lifelong love). So we come away with a complex picture of a woman who seemingly shouldn't depict (or be allowed to) her love of music, dance and enjoying life, but should rather be almost closet about it. A lot of the film of the genre coming out of Europe (i.e., Bye-bye Monkey) speak to the love/hate relationship with the United States. At the denouement, Dawn (the monkey) falls from the tree (the bough breaks) because she is not limber and/or does not possess the grace of a creature naturally inclined to climb trees. But that is the sheer irony. While Europeans see Americans as ungracious bull in the china closet, they call us uncultured apes. The dichotomy--we are the apes but Dawn is enchanted (entranced) with American story. It is a film that should be seen again, like all artistic and/or untraditional films because we, the audience, come away sometimes with notions not necessarily intended by the director but frequently showing with a really good interpretive artistic work. * * * / * * * http://www.spout.com/blogs/reggi53/archive/2009/8/14/43521.aspx Post By: Reggi53
Post To: Reggi53 Blog
Post Date: 8/14/2009 3:47:07 AM
Body: I saw this film when it was first released here in the US. The characters were well=crafted, and the performances were as well. If memory serves me correctly, the ending of the film is sort of anti-climatic, but I overall enjoyed although, for awhile, I started to wonder about Australian society. I get a lot of lottery mail from them. This film was not a gamble. But she was sort of an over-aged Australian Shirley Temple--she never saw past her youthful notion and, I guess, that's what made her kuku!
]]>Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:47:07 GMTReggi53Reggi53 Blog8/14/2009 3:47:07 AMI saw this film when it was first released here in the US. The characters were well=crafted, and the performances were as well. If memory serves me correctly, the ending of the film is sort of anti-climatic, but I overall enjoyed although, for awhile, I started to wonder about Australian society. I get a lot of lottery mail from them. This film was not a gamble. But she was sort of an over-aged Australian Shirley Temple--she never saw past her youthful notion and, I guess, that's what made her kuku! http://www.spout.com/blogs/karina/archive/2008/11/25/37611.aspx Post By: Karina
Post To: Karina on SpoutBlog
Post Date: 11/25/2008 11:01:05 AM
Body: The Criterion Collecton has opened up an online streaming shop, where twenty films can currently be watched online for $5. Your five dollars gives you the right to watch the film as many tines as you like for a week, and for a full year after that they’ll apply a $5 credit to the purchase of that DVD from their online store. Titles available now include Juliet of the Spirits, Cleo From 5 to 7, and Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil. Also — and this may be old news, but it’s new to me — Criterion is curating a “festival” of free films every month in partnership with The Auteurs. This month’s festival focuses on “Cruel Stories of Youth,” and includes such films as Sweetie, Ratcatcher, and Fat Girl. More here. Via Fimoculous Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Karina Longworth
]]>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:01:05 GMTKarinaKarina on SpoutBlog11/25/2008 11:01:05 AMThe Criterion Collecton has opened up an online streaming shop, where twenty films can currently be watched online for $5. Your five dollars gives you the right to watch the film as many tines as you like for a week, and for a full year after that they’ll apply a $5 credit to the purchase of that DVD from their online store. Titles available now include Juliet of the Spirits, Cleo From 5 to 7, and Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil. Also — and this may be old news, but it’s new to me — Criterion is curating a “festival” of free films every month in partnership with The Auteurs. This month’s festival focuses on “Cruel Stories of Youth,” and includes such films as Sweetie, Ratcatcher, and Fat Girl. More here. Via Fimoculous Originally posted on:SpoutBlog » Karina Longworth http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/11/25/37610.aspx Post By: SpoutBlog
Post To: SpoutBlog on spout.com
Post Date: 11/25/2008 11:00:53 AM
Body: The Criterion Collecton has opened up an online streaming shop, where twenty films can currently be watched online for $5. Your five dollars gives you the right to watch the film as many tines as you like for a week, and for a full year after that they’ll apply a $5 credit to the purchase of that DVD from their online store. Titles available now include Juliet of the Spirits, Cleo From 5 to 7, and Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil. Also — and this may be old news, but it’s new to me — Criterion is curating a “festival” of free films every month in partnership with The Auteurs. This month’s festival focuses on “Cruel Stories of Youth,” and includes such films as Sweetie, Ratcatcher, and Fat Girl. More here. Via Fimoculous Originally posted on:SpoutBlog
]]>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:00:53 GMTSpoutBlogSpoutBlog on spout.com11/25/2008 11:00:53 AMThe Criterion Collecton has opened up an online streaming shop, where twenty films can currently be watched online for $5. Your five dollars gives you the right to watch the film as many tines as you like for a week, and for a full year after that they’ll apply a $5 credit to the purchase of that DVD from their online store. Titles available now include Juliet of the Spirits, Cleo From 5 to 7, and Chris Marker’s Sans Soleil. Also — and this may be old news, but it’s new to me — Criterion is curating a “festival” of free films every month in partnership with The Auteurs. This month’s festival focuses on “Cruel Stories of Youth,” and includes such films as Sweetie, Ratcatcher, and Fat Girl. More here. Via Fimoculous Originally posted on:SpoutBlog http://www.spout.com/blogs/analogzombie/archive/2007/7/24/15670.aspx Post By: analogzombie
Post To: analogzombie Blog
Post Date: 7/24/2007 8:17:00 AM
Body: Director Tony McNamara’s debut feature, The Rage in Placid Lake is a mixed bag. It instantly conjures comparisons to any number of American and Australian indie coming of age comedies, I (heart) Huckabees, Sweetie, Igby Goes Down and Rushmore, being the most obvious. Like those films, it shares a central character adrift in self crisis as he begins to navigate the adult world. Unlike those films, it creates a wholly believable series of personal tragedies and triumphs for its characters.Placid Lake (musician Ben Lee), as his name suggests, is seemingly nonplussed in almost every situation he encounters. Saddled with new age parents more interested in their own personal discovery than helping to acclimate their son to mainstream society, he is forced create ever more elaborate ways to assert his independence and identity. Like all anti-heroes, he is beset upon by the pressure to conform. This pressure is manifested as three bullies that make it their life’s goal to humiliate and isolate Placid at every opportunity. He must also confront his long simmering love for next door neighbor and best friend Gemma (Rose Byrne). Gemma has problems of her own. An obsessive and over bearing father directs his genius daughter’s life at every step. Gemma, unlike Placid, has everything mapped out for her. From the time she was a child she has been groomed for scientific greatness, “the next Marie Curie”. She offers a counterpoint, both in lifestyle and world outlook to Placid. The film revolves around this relationship and it is Placid’s desire for her that acts as a catalyst in his most ambitious plan to date: an attempt to become a “normal” person. For him this means taking a job at an Insurance agency and modeling his appearance on that beacon of style, George W. Bush. Needless to say this action constitutes outright rebellion in the eyes of his parents. They have never bothered to notice the bruises, internal and external, sustained by their son. It takes a double breasted pinstripe suit for them to finally take notice of the turmoil seething just beneath the surface.By making the parents outsiders, McNamara turns some of the conventions of this genre on its ear. It creates a different kind of dynamic between the character caught in crisis and the rest of the world. Placid wants to be a part of society. He has had nothing but encouragement to do the opposite, however. With the way things have been turning out so far, it’s no wonder he wants to reinvent himself as a corporate lackey. He believes this will bring structure to his life. For him it represents escape from rejection, and a chance to set himself apart from his parents. Sure it’s mundane, but it also offers stability. Something he has never had. To McNamara a place like Icarus Insurance is a place to hide. Not from the world at large, but from yourself. Unfortunately the cold truth is that living a lie isn’t rewarding. Doing so will only bring greater tragedy. This theme dominates The Rage in Placid Lake. What’s interesting is that it’s all treated with humor and subtlety. Although the plot and character development may be familiar, the story of someone trying connect to the world resonates. Placid, like all of us, wants desperately to be accepted for who he is. In the face of rejection he changes tactics and becomes what he feels society wants him to be. This concept has been explored, as previously mentioned, in many recent films. What stands The Rage in Placid Lake apart from something like Garden State is its unpretentiousness. Ben Lee creates a smug, yet likeable character in Placid who feels real because his smugness, as well as his self-deceit, gets him no where with society, but succeeds in liberating him from a lot of his own demons.There isn’t anything groundbreaking about The Rage in Placid Lake. It’s a mid-level indie comedy that at times makes you think you’ve seen it all before. It can surprise you though. Often hilarious, what the film really has going for are great supporting characters, in particular Placid’s parents (Miranda Richardson and Garry McDonald). This, combined with the reversal of the typical teen rebellion archetype is more than enough to keep you going through some of the more mundane sections of the movie.
]]>Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:17:00 GMTanalogzombieanalogzombie Blog7/24/2007 8:17:00 AMDirector Tony McNamara&rsquo;s debut feature, The Rage in Placid Lake is a mixed bag. It instantly conjures comparisons to any number of American and Australian indie coming of age comedies, I (heart) Huckabees, Sweetie, Igby Goes Down and Rushmore, being the most obvious. Like those films, it shares a central character adrift in self crisis as he begins to navigate the adult world. Unlike those films, it creates a wholly believable series of personal tragedies and triumphs for its characters.Placid Lake (musician Ben Lee), as his name suggests, is seemingly nonplussed in almost every situation he encounters. Saddled with new age parents more interested in their own personal discovery than helping to acclimate their son to mainstream society, he is forced create ever more elaborate ways to assert his independence and identity. Like all anti-heroes, he is beset upon by the pressure to conform. This pressure is manifested as three bullies that make it their life&rsquo;s goal to humiliate and isolate Placid at every opportunity. He must also confront his long simmering love for next door neighbor and best friend Gemma (Rose Byrne). Gemma has problems of her own. An obsessive and over bearing father directs his genius daughter&rsquo;s life at every step. Gemma, unlike Placid, has everything mapped out for her. From the time she was a child she has been groomed for scientific greatness, &ldquo;the next Marie Curie&rdquo;. She offers a counterpoint, both in lifestyle and world outlook to Placid. The film revolves around this relationship and it is Placid&rsquo;s desire for her that acts as a catalyst in his most ambitious plan to date: an attempt to become a &ldquo;normal&rdquo; person. For him this means taking a job at an Insurance agency and modeling his appearance on that beacon of style, George W. Bush. Needless to say this action constitutes outright rebellion in the eyes of his parents. They have never bothered to notice the bruises, internal and external, sustained by their son. It takes a double breasted pinstripe suit for them to finally take notice of the turmoil seething just beneath the surface.By making the parents outsiders, McNamara turns some of the conventions of this genre on its ear. It creates a different kind of dynamic between the character caught in crisis and the rest of the world. Placid wants to be a part of society. He has had nothing but encouragement to do the opposite, however. With the way things have been turning out so far, it&rsquo;s no wonder he wants to reinvent himself as a corporate lackey. He believes this will bring structure to his life. For him it represents escape from rejection, and a chance to set himself apart from his parents. Sure it&rsquo;s mundane, but it also offers stability. Something he has never had. To McNamara a place like Icarus Insurance is a place to hide. Not from the world at large, but from yourself. Unfortunately the cold truth is that living a lie isn&rsquo;t rewarding. Doing so will only bring greater tragedy. This theme dominates The Rage in Placid Lake. What&rsquo;s interesting is that it&rsquo;s all treated with humor and subtlety. Although the plot and character development may be familiar, the story of someone trying connect to the world resonates. Placid, like all of us, wants desperately to be accepted for who he is. In the face of rejection he changes tactics and becomes what he feels society wants him to be. This concept has been explored, as previously mentioned, in many recent films. What stands The Rage in Placid Lake apart from something like Garden State is its unpretentiousness. Ben Lee creates a smug, yet likeable character in Placid who feels real because his smugness, as well as his self-deceit, gets him no where with society, but succeeds in liberating him from a lot of his own demons.There isn&rsquo;t anything groundbreaking about The Rage in Placid Lake. It&rsquo;s a mid-level indie comedy that at times makes you think you&rsquo;ve seen it all before. It can surprise you though. Often hilarious, what the film really has going for are great supporting characters, in particular Placid&rsquo;s parents (Miranda Richardson and Garry McDonald). This, combined with the reversal of the typical teen rebellion archetype is more than enough to keep you going through some of the more mundane sections of the movie. http://www.spout.com/blogs/yarrow/archive/2007/7/19/15342.aspx Post By: yarrow
Post To: yarrow Blog
Post Date: 7/19/2007 9:13:00 PM
Body: Now I love perverse, tortured characters as much as the next guy, but Sweetie's family is so overdone that I nearly stopped watching. What Campion achieved with The Piano, was at least slicker and more polished if equally disturbing. It feels like her mission is more to titllate than to fascinate or to expose irony.And where is hope in this movie? For just a few moments, you think that protaganist Kay, flat affect and all, will actually loosen up and turn vaguely normal, but, alas, it's just a tease. Sweetie is just too weird to countenance...yet colorful in a grotesque, unbelievable way. And as for Mom and Dad... If people like this actually exist and reproduce, the world is a more dangerous place than I'd ever considered.
]]>Fri, 20 Jul 2007 01:13:00 GMTyarrowyarrow Blog7/19/2007 9:13:00 PMNow I love perverse, tortured characters as much as the next guy, but Sweetie&#39;s family is so overdone that I nearly stopped watching. What Campion achieved with The Piano, was at least slicker and more polished if equally disturbing. It feels like her mission is more to titllate than to fascinate or to expose irony.And where is hope in this movie? For just a few moments, you think that protaganist Kay, flat affect and all, will actually loosen up and turn vaguely normal, but, alas, it&#39;s just a tease. Sweetie is just too weird to countenance...yet colorful in a grotesque, unbelievable way. And as for Mom and Dad... If people like this actually exist and reproduce, the world is a more dangerous place than I&#39;d ever considered. http://www.spout.com/groups/Filmspotting/Early_Campion_Re_Top_5_Movies_Directed_By_Women/304/10542/1/ShowPost.aspx Post By: Dana_K
Post To: Filmspotting
Post Date: 6/9/2007 4:44:12 PM
Body: [quote user="joem18b"]Jane Champion - An Exercise In Discipline (1982)[/quote] I'm not sure I've seen that ... maybe at a fest. But early Campion movies that are really worth looking at again today include Sweetie and An Angel at My Table. I'm not that hot about The Piano. (sorry, i just took off on Campion and wasn't really following your thread branch about debuts) Dana
]]>Sat, 09 Jun 2007 20:44:12 GMTDana_KFilmspotting6/9/2007 4:44:12 PM[quote user="joem18b"]Jane Champion - An Exercise In Discipline (1982)[/quote] I&#39;m not sure I&#39;ve seen that ... maybe at a fest. But early Campion movies that are really worth looking at again today include Sweetie and An Angel at My Table. I&#39;m not that hot about The Piano. (sorry, i just took off on Campion and wasn&#39;t really following your thread branch about debuts) Dana http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/family/MemberTagFilms.aspxfamily
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