I seem to have an attraction this week to 1960s US government-based stories being dramatised on celluloid. Following my review elsewhere on the site of "Thirteen Days", we now take a peak into the unlikely story of a small rural town in Australia which gained noteriety for beaming the pictures of Neil Armstrong on the moon in 1969.
When NASA come knocking, Mayor Bob McIntyre (Billing) is proud to announce that the world's most capable satellite dish, located in his Australian district of Parkes, will be relied upon to beam pictures of the future moonwalk around the world. The momentous task of making everything go smoothly falls to the dish site-manager, Cliff Buxton (Neill - "Jurassic Park", "The Piano", "In the Mouth of Madness"), crabby technician Mitch (Harrington) and timid mathematical scientist, Glenn (Long). Looking over their shoulder is thorough NASA representative, Al (Warburton - "Scream 3", TVs "Seinfeld"), and his attention to detail is met with resistance by Mitch.
Simmering in the background, are the personal relationships that only serve as mild distractions from the main story. Nervous Glenn can't see that pretty local girl Janine (Eliza Szonert - played Danni in Aussie soap "Neighbours") is waiting to be asked out as they play a familiar game of 'you make the first move'. Meanwhile, Cliff's pensive mention of his wife alludes to a deeper story while Mitch and Al pursue a heated battle for control and influence.
When technical problems, both man-made and caused by forces of nature, are poised to destabilise the project, it becomes clear that to the folks in Parkes the actual moonwalk takes a backseat in importance to the town's ability to show it to the world. This lends an amiable charm to a weighty moment in mankind's history, showing us that behind the unfathomable science involved in space travel, is something a little more human and down to earth. We take this moon walk seriously you know!
The danger in regional comedies like this is that some characters will be presented with a far more pronounced stereotype than is required, leading the viewer to feel little sytmpathy and maybe general apathy to certain parts of the plot. That is not the case in "The Dish", with even the excitable Mayor McIntyre coming across as an honest and hard-working man who is fully deserving of his day in the sun. Neill plays Cliff Buxton wonderfully. Never imagining himself being part of something as large as this, Cliff takes it in his stride until the moment he realises that it might all be going wrong. He then realises that the whole undertaking is actually more important to him than he thought.
Melbourne-born Sitch directs as you might expect - a man comfortable in his surroundings, and familiar with the materials at his disposal. The script is light but entertaining, and although some angles are over-played (check out the dish security guard, Rudi, who acts like he is in the CIA), the strong mixture of humour and character make this a worth watch.
I stumbled across this one through pure coincidence and am most pleased that I did.
I remember 20th July 1969 most vividly although I was only a small child but such pictures really do remain implanted for life. I knew absolutely nothing about these mishaps though. Although a witty film I'm sure it wasn't quite so funny at the time. But then once everything has passed, who can't laugh at their own mistakes.
Some months ago, I started paying a pretty high level of attention to website DVDSpot's "statistics" capability as regards any members DVD collection. I discovered Sam Neill, my favourite actor, was very, very far down on the list of my "Top 20 Actors" (based on the number of releases my collection has with each actor, in decreasing order). So I went to IMDb and began to check filmographies (this is how I also ended up with an extended list of James Woods and Christopher Walken movies on wishlists, amongst others) adding films that looked interesting and were well reviewed with my favourite actors, especially Mr. Neill. This one caught my eye and happened to show up in a sale near the beginning of this year, so I jumped on it.
This is the (sort of--as always--true) story of the group of men running the Parkes Observatory in Parkes, New South Wales, Australia during the historic 1969 moon landing. Heading the group is Cliff Buxton (Sam Neill, of course!), a sort of fatherly, or maybe more accurately "uncle-y" figure to the other boys, as he is not only an authority figure (known affectionately as "the Dishmaster") but also a colleague, though unchallenged in his leadership position. Under him are Ross "Mitch" Mitchell (Kevin Harrington, who reminds me of John Scurti from Rescue Me) and Glenn Latham (Tom Long), the techs who maintain and run the dish, as well as NASA representative Al Burnett (Patrick Warburton, who I remember most as a similarly dressed but much goofier character in Men in Black II). The town of Parkes is terribly small and thoroughly unknown, so while the boys are excited to be a part of the project, the town itself is full of joy at this role they've found their town playing, with Mayor Bob McIntyre (Roy Billing, wonderfully, cheerfully and amusingly ignorant and oblivious as only movie politicians can be) excited to find "vindication" for his insistence on the dish's construction in the town (though his aide suspects his motivation for excitement).
Mitch is the sarcastic one of the bunch, making great fun of Glenn at most opportunities he's given, but never cruelly, and engaging in a bit of rivalry with Al as the high-fallutin' American representative (all of the nationalistic conflict is purely good fun). Glenn is that overly nervous nerdy type who is scared to death of women and rejection, despite the attention paid to him by the very pretty Janine Kellerman (Eliza Szonert), who does not always follow the humour or ideas laid out by Mitch. Al is not always good at following the Australian slang of the three natives, but they're always happy to translate whoever is speaking too passionately to stop and think.
The movie is actually charmingly funny and quite heart-warming, with some great, easygoing humour and a bit of absurdity. Some of the most amusing characters are Cameron (Billy Mitchell) who is an overly enthusiastic military cadet with a crush on the mayor's daughter (who has recently found feminism and politics of the most grating sort--using them only to accuse people of persecution, not to advance anyone--and becomes an amusing bit herself) and a great admiration for her father "Major McIntyre" and his real military experience and Rudi (Tayler Kane) who is the radio telescope's security guard, who takes his job entirely too seriously, assigning codenames to all locations and changing them constantly, excitedly making use of the walkie-talkies and his "required" firearm, making sure to "officially authorize" his sister Janine's entry. The dish, it should be noted He has one of the funniest lines of dialogue I've heard in a long time, but, as always, I can't bring myself to ruin it. And it's a total throwaway line, too!
Final note? Shame about the coverart--Sam's great, but the original coverart (seen in some Region 2 releases) is perfect--
Watched this with the family and was pleased to note it to be a true family film. Based upon a true story that takes place in Australia. Lots of good humour with several laughs throughout. Glad we bought the dvd.
I spent the whole time trying to figure out where I knew the mayor from. I kept envisioning his horrified face, but couldn't place it with a movie until I finally realized he was the governer from Pirates. Although, I just looked it up, and he isn't, which really freaks me out, although I placed the American guy as Kronk correctly.
One of our greatest achievements, The Dish is a hell of a good yarn. Based around the first broadcast of the Man on the Moon, and how it nearly didnt!! Led by the ever charming Sam Neill, the mostly Aussie cast bring warmth and heart to a great story.
No expectations about this quite unknown movie, but what a nice surprise!! (Based on the true) story about a small australian town involved in the greatest event of mankind: the first steps on the moon. The technicians (Sam Neill is their leader) of the largest satellite dish, that will provide the tv transmission worldwide, will work hard to make the events go straight & to bring some glory to a sleepy aussie town. I particularly enjoyed the soundtrack and the national anthem scene! Great!
Not really a bad movie, just terribly mediocre and dull. Very linear, unimaginative storytelling with pretty one-dimensional characters. Let down by a weak script.
I really liked this movie. I thought it was sweet, funny, all the stories intertweined nicely. It was great. The acting was fantastic, I completely enjoyed this movie. Also, the dish itself is really cool.
I really wish I was alive when the space walk happened. Australia at that time was just so beautiful. Hilarious and the soundtrack is one of the best ever!
Absolutely fantastic Aussie classic film. If you've not seen this one go out and rent it today! Take note of the new American National Anthem when you watch this one! It'll make you laugh.
Lovely story, simple and moving. Amazing to think about 600 millions people around the world were watching those live pictures from the Moon all at the same time.
Very good comedy-drama story of the receiving dish in Parkes, NSW that celebrates this great achievement and the Aussie battlers that made this monumental telecast possible.
A nice slice of Antipodean fun that could easily be seen as part of a double bill with Apollo 13.
Sam Neill put in a good turn, using the props of a pipe and dreadful cardigans to great effect.
I love films with banks of crappy old computers with flashing lights and spinning tapes and this had them in abundance. As with many 'Based on a true story' movies, it can be difficult to distinguish the truth from romantised fiction, but I loved it that the cutting edge of American science and technology costing millions of dollars and a potential 300 million viewers worldwide was put in the hands of a rag-tag group of Aussies in the middle of a sheep paddock.
A great cast directed with style by the team of comedians behind such TV gems as The Late Show, Frontline and The Panel.
Sam Neill, Patrick Warburton and others are just part of the greatness. The delightful soundtrack is good, the costume design is great, as the film is set around the 1969 moon-landing. And the shots of the satellite dish is amazingly done.
The drama is able to rope you in and feel the tension, and the comedy is high above other such terrible comedies from the local filmmakers.
Highly Recommended to filmgoers who like movies that don't get cocky about itself.
From the same people who brought us the genius of The Castle. This was an okay movie with some funny parts, but its really a story of teamwork. Not bad.
MCT:April 27, 2008
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MCT:May 8, 2007
MCT:May 5, 2007
MCT:October 10, 2006
