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The acclaimed debut of Judy Davis is the best reason to see My Brilliant Career, and the award-winning film is highly recommended as the feature debut of director Gillian Armstrong. This was an early entry in the magnificent "New Australian Cinema" movement that yielded such classics as Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli, and Breaker Morant, and 27-year-old Armstrong (who would later direct the popular 1994 version of Little Women) brought just the right feminist touch to this stately adaptation of the 1901 semi-autobiographical novel by Miles Franklin. Davis (who was 23 at the time) plays 16-year-old Sybylla Melvyn, on the verge of womanhood in turn-of-the-century Australia and determined to have a "brilliant career" as an independent writer and lover of life, but her attraction to a wealthy bachelor (Sam Neill, charming as always), and the pressures of her family to lead a conventional life of devoted domesticity, turn this into a romantic and highly observant drama of personal dilemma and free-spirited conviction. It's no surprise that Davis and Armstrong went on to brilliant careers themselves (Davis starred in David Lean's A Passage to India just a few years later). --Jeff Shannon
Special Features
Blue Underground's two-disc special edition DVD offers a glorious high-definition transfer, restoring the film's idyllic locations and lavishly appointed interiors to their original warmth and beauty. Director Gillian Armstrong provides a lively, intelligent, and informatively anecdotal commentary, including the revelation that Judy Davis disliked her role and plain on-screen appearance, yet still gave a star-making performance that catapulted them both to success. Disc 2 interviews with Armstrong and producer Margaret Fink offer a retrospective appreciation of their charmed production (as Fink observes, the film looks fantastic for its modest budget), and footage from My Brilliant Career's triumphant Cannes premiere reveals how surprised Armstrong, Fink, and Davis were to be in the limelight of the film world. "The Miles Franklin Story" is a 4-minute featurette about the teenage novelist whose popular book was the basis of the film, and a DVD-ROM study guide is included to promote a deeper appreciation of this important milestone of Australian cinema. --Jeff Shannon
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
By K. Gordon
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:DVD
Spoiler alert! I discuss the ending in these comments. Proceed
at your own risk!
A lovely, beautifully acted first feature that launched both Judy
Davis, who is amazing in this, and director Gillian Armstrong.
Its lost a little something revisiting it after all these years. While
it's feminist ideals are inspiring and handled with complexity, there's
a certain lack of emotion to it. We don't really get the deep
bitter-sweetness of choosing loneliness over loss of self.
Also, that the film forces that choice at all seems a bit disingenuous.
Nothing about Sam Neil's character suggests he would repress our
heroine - indeed he clearly loves her for the free spirit she is. To
really have her need to make an either/or decision 'work' we'd need to
go further into their relationship and her psychology.
Last, a number of the supporting roles tend towards clichés about both
the upper and lower class. And that oversimplifying takes something
away from the complex character Davis builds.
But all that said, there are beautiful images and magical moments. It
just didn't quite hold up to my memories of first seeing it 30 years
ago. But if you've never seen it, you still certainly should.
at your own risk!
A lovely, beautifully acted first feature that launched both Judy
Davis, who is amazing in this, and director Gillian Armstrong.
Its lost a little something revisiting it after all these years. While
it's feminist ideals are inspiring and handled with complexity, there's
a certain lack of emotion to it. We don't really get the deep
bitter-sweetness of choosing loneliness over loss of self.
Also, that the film forces that choice at all seems a bit disingenuous.
Nothing about Sam Neil's character suggests he would repress our
heroine - indeed he clearly loves her for the free spirit she is. To
really have her need to make an either/or decision 'work' we'd need to
go further into their relationship and her psychology.
Last, a number of the supporting roles tend towards clichés about both
the upper and lower class. And that oversimplifying takes something
away from the complex character Davis builds.
But all that said, there are beautiful images and magical moments. It
just didn't quite hold up to my memories of first seeing it 30 years
ago. But if you've never seen it, you still certainly should.
Format:DVD
Amazon.com made good suggestions when we are ordering some films...I never heard about this film which is wonderful, well acted with a Sam Neil so young and with this young lady, high spirited and impetuous. I loved it and it is well transcribed in BluRay. I always appreciate period drama films and this one is special because it is from Australia and landscapes and heat add so much to the movie. Don't hesitate to buy it and enjoy every minute!
By Alexandra
Format:DVD
Finally, after many years of not being able to rent or buy My Brilliant Career,it is out on DVD. I managed to borrow the new edition from the library. It is a quality transfer blessedly NOT produced by A&E!!!
This is an excellent story, excellently produced, directed, and acted! It has gained significance with age. The only reason I can suggest why it took so long for such a top-notch movie to become available is that it is strongly feminist in tone, which by no means reduces the pleasure for the non-political!
I recommend this DVD rendition absolutely! Enjoy, it is wonderful.
This is an excellent story, excellently produced, directed, and acted! It has gained significance with age. The only reason I can suggest why it took so long for such a top-notch movie to become available is that it is strongly feminist in tone, which by no means reduces the pleasure for the non-political!
I recommend this DVD rendition absolutely! Enjoy, it is wonderful.
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