Three Blind Mice (2008 film)
| Three Blind Mice | |
|---|---|
 Three Blind Mice Film Poster | |
| Directed by | Matthew Newton |
| Written by | Matthew Newton |
| Produced by | Ben Davis Caitlin Stanton |
| Starring | Matthew Newton Ewen Leslie Toby Schmitz |
| Cinematography | Hugh Miller |
| Music by | John Foreman |
| Distributed by | Titan View |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 94 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
| Box office | A$9,590 (Australia)[1] |
Three Blind Mice is a 2008 feature film written, directed by and starring Matthew Newton, alongside Ewen Leslie and Toby Schmitz. It premiered at Sydney Film Festival in 2008.[2] To date it has screened at over fourteen international and Australian festivals.[3]
Plot
[edit]Three young Australian naval officers hit the streets of Sydney for one last night before being shipped out to Iraq. The dynamic between the three friends is uneasy; Sam (Ewen Leslie) has been mistreated at sea and is going AWOL, Dean (Toby Schmitz) has a fiancé and the future in-laws to meet, and Harry (Matthew Newton) just loves playing cards. Throughout the night, the boys struggle with what a night in Sydney can offer, as details of their last six months at sea emerge.[4]
Cast
[edit]The film features many distinguished and critically acclaimed Australian actors.[5] The full cast list is as below: (This is also Charles "Bud" Tingwell's final film before his death).
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Toby Schmitz | LEUT Dean Leiberman |
| Matthew Newton | SBLT Harry McCabe |
| Ewen Leslie | SBLT Sam Fisher |
| Gracie Otto | Emma |
| Marcus Graham | John |
| Clayton Watson | Vito |
| Alex Dimitriades | Tony |
| Pia Miranda | Sally |
| Barry Otto | Fred |
| Heather Mitchell | Kathy |
| Jacki Weaver | Bernie Fisher |
| Charles Tingwell | Bob Fisher (final role) |
| Brendan Cowell | LCDR Glenn Carter |
| Bob Franklin |
Themes
[edit]Three Blind Mice has been noted as the first portrayal of Australian soldiers serving during the War in Iraq.[6] While Newton has stated the film is not a political statement, it does portray his belief that young men should be making mistakes, rather than going to war.[7] The film also references iconic Australian military legends, such as Gallipoli.[6] Primarily, the film explores what it is to be a man, and what that means to live and act in a male-dominated world today.[8][9]
Production
[edit]Three Blind Mice was filmed in a 'Guerilla' style; on location without proper permits and in locations in Sydney that are not often seen on screen.[10] The film relied solely on independent funding, while Screen Australia contributed funds for the film to be transferred to 35mm print.[7] Cast and crew from the film was largely made up of friends of Newton's. Gracie Otto who was a lead support in the film also edited.[11] It has been noted in several reviews that the film was inspired by John Cassavetes, and thus many scenes were improvised around the screenplay.[8] Newton has stated that he intended to make a multi-narrative film, so that every character could treat the film as though they were the lead,[7] rather than rely on a sole protagonist.
Reception
[edit]Three Blind Mice was critically well received, earning three and a half stars from both Margaret Pomeranz and David Stratton on ABC's At the Movies. Primarily, both reviewers noted the strong performances by the distinguished cast.[12] While the performances by the cast were particularly acclaimed for their freshness,[9] Matthew Newton's screenplay was also commended and noted for its maturity, comedy and realism.[5] His directorial ability was also commended.[6][8][13] In the opening scene Mathew Newton is wearing the epaulettes of a Leut Commander (two and a half rings). In later scenes he is wearing the single ring of a Sub Lieutenant on his jacket. All Officers in the film are wearing their medal ribbons on the right breast, when they should be worn on the left breast.
Release
[edit]Three Blind Mice did not secure a theatrical distributor for several months throughout 2008 and 2009. Finally in April 2009, Titan View picked up distribution rights for Australia and New Zealand.[14]
Three Blind Mice struggled to secure a theatrical release in Sydney, the city it was produced in.[15] Finally, the Chauvel Cinema agreed to show the film for five consecutive Friday nights.[10] Titan View CEO John L. Simpson noted that this limited release was due to the city's arthouse cinemas rejecting the film as not commercial enough.[15]
Meanwhile, Three Blind Mice secured a limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles, promoted by exposure at such festivals as SXSW.[16]
Awards and Festivals
[edit]Three Blind Mice has featured and been in competition at the following festivals[3]
- 2008 Sydney Film Festival - In Competition (No wins, Jury Commendation)
- 2008 Times BFI London Film Festival - Won FIPRESCI Prize[7]
- 2008 International Thessaloniki Film Festival - Won Best Screenplay
- 2008 Toronto Int'l Film Festival
- 2008 Melbourne International Film Festival
- 2008 Toronto International Film Festival - Discovery section.
- 2008 AFI FEST (Los Angeles) - In Competition, WINNER- Best Screenplay.
- 2008 Canberra International Film Festival
- 2009 Dublin International Film Festival
- 2009 Glasgow International Film Festival
- 2009 SXSW (South By Southwest)
- 2009 Philadelphia Film Festival
- 2009 Cleveland International Film Festival
- 2009 Seattle International Film Festival
Despite critical acclaim at several international and local festivals, Three Blind Mice was not nominated for an AFI within Australia[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "Australian Films at the Australian Box Office", Film Victoria Archived 9 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine accessed 13 November 2012
- ^ "Of mice and men (Three Blind Mice) | A Life in Film". www.mattriviera.net. 18 June 2008. Archived from the original on 12 September 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - ^ a b "Three Blind Mice - Matthew Newton at Chauvel Cinema, Paddington, Sydney, NSW on 4 Sep 09, 8:30 AM". Liveguide.com.au. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Three Blind Mice (2008)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Urban Cinefile THREE BLIND MICE". Urbancinefile.com.au. 4 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ a b c "Three blind mice". Sydneyanglicans.net. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d Stuart O'Connor (17 October 2008). "Matthew Newton talks about making Three Blind Mice". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ a b c "Three Blind Mice film review : In Film Australia - all about Australian films". Infilm.com.au. 1 July 2008. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Three Blind Mice". SBS Film. 15 August 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Three Blind Mice - Film Reviews - Film - Entertainment". The Sydney Morning Herald. 3 September 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Three Blind Mice". hoopla.nu. 8 August 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "At the Movies: Three Blind Mice". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Three Blind Mice, Matthew Newton, Film Review: Cinephilia - Australian Film & more". Cinephilia. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Titan View nabs Three Blind Mice". If.com.au. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ a b "Stale Popcorn: Shame". Stalepopcornau.blogspot.com. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Mice to hit US cinemas, TV & festival". If.com.au. 21 January 2009. Retrieved 18 September 2012.
- ^ "Stale Popcorn: Three Blind Mice Wins Awards in Britain, AFI Members Continue to Embarrass [sic] Themselves, World Turns for Another Day, etc". Stalepopcornau.blogspot.com. 1 November 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2012.