Sleeping Dogs (15.)
Directed by Roger Donaldson. 1977
Starring Sam Neill, Nevan Rowe, Ian Mune, Warren Oates, Ian Watkin, Clyde Scott, Donna Akersten. 100 mins. Out on Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
My MO in reviewing new releases has always been to know as little about the film going in as possible. So, when a disc drops through my letterbox with a title I'd never heard of, and a press release about an entirely different film, I just knew I had to stick it in the blu-ray player as quickly as possible. Whatever it was, I would watch it until I had worked out what kind of film it was, and then until I lost interest. And I made it all the way to the end because I never really got a fix on what exactly this film was all about.
The credits reveal it to be directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Sam Neill, immediately identifying it as an Australian film from the 70s or early 80s. Except, it is set in New Zealand. At the start, Smith (Neill) leaves his family because his wife has found a new man and drives off in a beaten up old wreck and comes across an island that he likes the look of. On the TV, the news footage is about industrial disputes in the cities and the New Zealand president flying off to OPEC to try and solve an energy crisis.
OK, so it's a starting over again comedy/ drama with Neill adapting to his new life against the historical backdrop of a period of social disorder. Then, out of nowhere, the news footage turns out not to be historical backdrop, because the prime minister imposes martial law. My New Zealand history is not extensive but I don't remember it ever being a military dictatorship so by this stage it's now becoming clear that Smith won't be able to sit this one out on his idyllic island. From there on in there's never a dull moment as he is harrassed and pursued both by government goon squads and revolutionaries. He's an everyman racing around in search of a quiet life.
Sleeping Dogs was the first New Zealand film to get released in the States, and has a very significant place in the country's film history. It was also its director's debut and its star's first lead role. Donaldson would soon be off to Hollywood for a long and successful but not overly distinguished career. (Probably his best films were No Way Out and Thirteen Days, both with Kevin Costner.)
Sam Neill would tread a similar path and pass decades as a solid, dependable but slightly dull lead or supporting presence in American and English movies. In cricketing terms, if you need someone to hold up an end while the other batsman is smashing the attack to all corners, he's your man. Here though you can see that the young Neill was bursting with attacking intent and bold strokes. Smith is a simple man indignant that the film of his life isn't the quiet backwoods drama he envisaged, but this antsy and slightly inexplicable drama where he is a reluctant revolutionary. Neill is restless in the role, veering from comic to fury and all points in between, like some Nick Cave/ Robin Askwith hybrid.
The film is similarly unruly. It has great energy, some wit and is wildly unpredictable, which means that you never get comfortable with it. It's no bad thing not knowing what might be coming up next. (Halfway through Warren Oates appears leading a troop of US soldiers who have rented out all the chalets in a holiday camp and as a viewer you kind of shrug and say Ok, if you say so.) It's a film where you often suspect that they've missed out a scene that included some information that would help you make sense of what you are seeing. I was always semi-convinced that this was some kind of comedy but as it goes on it seems to be becoming more and more impassioned.
And so I managed to make it all the way to the end none the wiser than when I started.
Extras
Commentary by writer-director Roger Donaldson, actor Sam Neill and actor-writer Ian Mune
- The Making of Sleeping Dogs (2004), a 65-minute retrospective documentary on the film’s production featuring interviews with Roger Donaldson, Sam Neill, Ian Mune, Geoff Murphy
- The Making of Sleeping Dogs (1977), a contemporary behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with Donaldson and Neill
- Theatrical trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips
First pressing only: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Mitchell, a contemporary review by Pauline Kael and the original press book
Directed by Roger Donaldson. 1977
Starring Sam Neill, Nevan Rowe, Ian Mune, Warren Oates, Ian Watkin, Clyde Scott, Donna Akersten. 100 mins. Out on Blu-ray from Arrow Academy.
My MO in reviewing new releases has always been to know as little about the film going in as possible. So, when a disc drops through my letterbox with a title I'd never heard of, and a press release about an entirely different film, I just knew I had to stick it in the blu-ray player as quickly as possible. Whatever it was, I would watch it until I had worked out what kind of film it was, and then until I lost interest. And I made it all the way to the end because I never really got a fix on what exactly this film was all about.
The credits reveal it to be directed by Roger Donaldson and starring Sam Neill, immediately identifying it as an Australian film from the 70s or early 80s. Except, it is set in New Zealand. At the start, Smith (Neill) leaves his family because his wife has found a new man and drives off in a beaten up old wreck and comes across an island that he likes the look of. On the TV, the news footage is about industrial disputes in the cities and the New Zealand president flying off to OPEC to try and solve an energy crisis.
OK, so it's a starting over again comedy/ drama with Neill adapting to his new life against the historical backdrop of a period of social disorder. Then, out of nowhere, the news footage turns out not to be historical backdrop, because the prime minister imposes martial law. My New Zealand history is not extensive but I don't remember it ever being a military dictatorship so by this stage it's now becoming clear that Smith won't be able to sit this one out on his idyllic island. From there on in there's never a dull moment as he is harrassed and pursued both by government goon squads and revolutionaries. He's an everyman racing around in search of a quiet life.
Sleeping Dogs was the first New Zealand film to get released in the States, and has a very significant place in the country's film history. It was also its director's debut and its star's first lead role. Donaldson would soon be off to Hollywood for a long and successful but not overly distinguished career. (Probably his best films were No Way Out and Thirteen Days, both with Kevin Costner.)
Sam Neill would tread a similar path and pass decades as a solid, dependable but slightly dull lead or supporting presence in American and English movies. In cricketing terms, if you need someone to hold up an end while the other batsman is smashing the attack to all corners, he's your man. Here though you can see that the young Neill was bursting with attacking intent and bold strokes. Smith is a simple man indignant that the film of his life isn't the quiet backwoods drama he envisaged, but this antsy and slightly inexplicable drama where he is a reluctant revolutionary. Neill is restless in the role, veering from comic to fury and all points in between, like some Nick Cave/ Robin Askwith hybrid.
The film is similarly unruly. It has great energy, some wit and is wildly unpredictable, which means that you never get comfortable with it. It's no bad thing not knowing what might be coming up next. (Halfway through Warren Oates appears leading a troop of US soldiers who have rented out all the chalets in a holiday camp and as a viewer you kind of shrug and say Ok, if you say so.) It's a film where you often suspect that they've missed out a scene that included some information that would help you make sense of what you are seeing. I was always semi-convinced that this was some kind of comedy but as it goes on it seems to be becoming more and more impassioned.
And so I managed to make it all the way to the end none the wiser than when I started.
Extras
Commentary by writer-director Roger Donaldson, actor Sam Neill and actor-writer Ian Mune
- The Making of Sleeping Dogs (2004), a 65-minute retrospective documentary on the film’s production featuring interviews with Roger Donaldson, Sam Neill, Ian Mune, Geoff Murphy
- The Making of Sleeping Dogs (1977), a contemporary behind-the-scenes documentary featuring interviews with Donaldson and Neill
- Theatrical trailer
- Reversible sleeve featuring original and newly commissioned artwork by Sean Phillips
First pressing only: Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Neil Mitchell, a contemporary review by Pauline Kael and the original press book
