Cirrus@Austlit

'It’s been a decade since acclaimed Australian filmmaker Phillip Noyce was first linked to a film adaptation of Tim Winton’s 2001 novel Dirt Music. Winner of the Miles Franklin Award and short-listed for the Booker Prize, the book was a prime candidate for the big screen, and the perceived cultural value of the project is reflected in the A-list names who became attached to it at different times during its long development history – including Rachel Weisz, Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Colin Farrell and the late Heath Ledger.' (Introduction)

'When we hear the word ‘critics’, the implication is that we are talking about literature; their lowbrow cousins warrant clarifiers, such as ‘film critics’ or ‘music critics’. In Australia, film critics are effectively quarantined from most major writing grants and arts funding for nonfiction or criticism – they are politely fobbed off to screen industry bodies who (at best) politely bounce them back. Alongside a number of other factors, professional film critics in this country risk becoming considered little more than dedicated hobbyists, something addressed recently by Cameron Williams.' (Introduction)

'Despite some missed opportunities and a somewhat American premise, Sean Byrne's prom horror flick certainly doesn't disappoint in terms of entertainment, writes Alexandra Heller-Nicholas.'

Source: Abstract.