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    The Dressmaker

    Reviewed by
    adamwatchesmovies@

    WARNING: This review is hidden because it reveals the content of the film.
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    I may not be overly familiar with Australia’ film scene, but the pictures I have sat through usually lean towards a blend of comedy and drama and are populated by quirky, socially awkward characters. I’m thinking about pictures like $9.99 or Muriel’s Wedding. After seeing The Dressmaker I’m willing to plant these distinguishing features as their staples of that film industry. It’s an odd but entertaining film that takes unusual turns, the kind of thing that can’t be predicted and keeps you invested all the way through, even when some of the twists don’t quite work.

    As a child, the mysterious death of one of her schoolmates branded Myrtle “Tilly” Dunnage (Kate Winslet) as a murderer, or at very least mentally disturbed and the authorities had her sent away. 25 years have passed and she’s back. To get revenge on the townspeople who mistreated her? To take care of her aging mother (Judy Davis as Molly)? No one is sure. When Tilly catches the eye of the town heartthrob, Teddy (Liam Hemsworth) and wows her neighbors with her sewing skills, plans change and a happy ending seems in sight. But is it really?

    I have to give credit to this film for being truly unpredictable. This story is not your generic Hollywood fare; you have no idea where it’s going next due to the mix of drama and comedy. In one scene someone is being kind and quirky to the point of being comedic… in the next genuine drama punches you in the gut and knocks the wind out of you. I could never be sure if I was supposed to take Hugo Weaving as the cross-dressing Police Sergeant seriously, or if I should laugh. But it’s more than that. In a lot of films, even if you don’t know the story, you can kind of figure out where it’s going based on the running time. You can mentally calculate that you’ve been sitting in the theater for about an hour and that since the movie is 90 minutes long, it’s about time for the big action climax. Not here. I had absolutely no idea what was in store for me next and that’s a refreshing feeling.

    The Dressmaker is one strange movie, but the more I think about it, the more I like it. I hardly ever recognize good costume design, but you can’t help but be blown away by what’s on display here. If you’re into sewing and elaborate dresses, you’ll need napkins to wipe away the drool as soon as Tilly shows off her skills. I also liked seeing all of the quirky characters and their individual stories. Judy Davis is terrific as Molly, the foul-mouthed, rude and filthy old woman who is suffering from dementia, but may also be playing down how much she actually knows. In fact, there’s not a single performance that isn’t great and it makes the whole thing work. If I told you that the picture features a hunchback chemist, a hypochondriac whose husband is sleeping around and a mentally handicapped boy, you’d write the film off as weird for weirdness’ sake and devoid of any genuine drama. It’s not. Somehow all the little oddities help sell this story.

    I have some mixed feelings about certain plot points and developments. The mystery behind Stewart Pettyman’s death, for instance… it’s not unconvincing but I think it pushes the weirdness angle in a fashion that doesn’t quite work. The film is based on a short story so on paper, I think it would’ve flown. Not really here. The unusual mix of drama and comedy is also the kind of thing that takes some getting used to. I knew ahead of time that I was supposed to laugh at some of the developments, but it’s hard to know which ones are genuinely comedic and which ones aren’t. Maybe if I knew more about the film ahead of time this would help. Actually, I wouldn’t mind seeing it again for that reason.

    The Dressmaker features a story that will take a bit of getting used to, but it’s worth taking the plunge into uncertain waters. It’s unpredictable, memorable, darkly funny, genuinely tragic and features great performances from everyone involved. And then there are the costumes to consider. Visually, this picture is a feast. It’s likely to be a little outside of your comfort zone, but I say check it out. (Theatrical version on the big screen, October 15, 2016)

    7
    HelpfulNot helpful  Reply
    adamwatchesmovies@  19.10.2016 age: 26-35 2,867 reviews

    The movie is actually based on a full length novel written by Rosalie Ham. I have seen it described as a gothic revenge story. I suspect that some of the elements that feel strange or cartoon-y to Canadian viewers are actually elements of language and visual in-jokes common to Australia.

    HelpfulNot helpful Reply
    victoriastar@  23.10.2016 age: 26-35

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