Film review: Clubland

Release Date: 21 September 2007
Showing: UK -wide
Our rating: 3/5

Stories of dysfunctional families have been gracing our cinema screens for an age, and Clubland – a new delightful comedy drama from Australia, starring Brenda Blethyn – is no exception.

Jean Dwight (Blethyn) is a bawdy, boozy, has-been British comedienne, canteen assistant, divorcee and mother of two, who pounds the boards around the shabby Sydney club circuit. Her two sons, sweet Tim (Khan Chittenden) and his intellectually disabled brother Mark (Richard Wilson), are their mother’s biggest supporters and the family unit is chaotic, but close and loving.

That is, until a new younger woman steps on the scene and into her son’s life. When Tim meets the gorgeous, waif-like Jill (Emma Booth) and soon falls desperately in love with her, he is soon struggling with his own sexuality and the emerging battle between his mother and girlfriend. Jean’s attempts to scupper the burgeoning union threatens everything and some home truths are soon faced.

Clubland is not only a love story of sorts, but a heartfelt drama, sprinkled with great comedic moments, and support from a handful of Australian actors, with fine performances all around. This film made me watch, rivetted, without divertion or interuption, from the first line until the final scene.

The directors judge of pace was spot-on and my fellow audience members seemed just as captivated – never suffering a dull scene. Australians can churn out films with the very best of them, but only once in a while, does the bullseye really and truly get hit. Think Muriel’s Wedding, think Strictly Ballroom.... and now think Clubland.

Brenda Blethyn delivers a characteristic performance that’s funny, empathetic and highly moving at times. Frankie J Holden (in the role of the Jean’s ex-husband) is first-rate as the hilarious one-hit wonder John, and the young stars portraying Tim and Jill simply shine in their roles – their talent belying their lack of big-screen experience. But it was Richard Wilson and his superb portrayal of Tim’s disabled brother Mark, who often garnered the most laughs in the cinema – an eloquent depiction of a character so pivotal to the tale. Silly, saucy, heart warming, but honest.
 
Review by Sacha Markin


See trailer...
Read Brenda Blethyn interview