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Forum » Film Appearances » Films » Secret Men's Business
Secret Men's Business
JudeBlue Date: Friday, 25-Mar-11, 10:21 AM | Message # 1
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I watched this film on YouTube - for which I am very grateful, I would've hated to have paid money for it.

A harsh comment but the only reason I watched it to the end was because Simon was in it.

Five schoolfriends are reunited by the death of one of their teachers - a teacher who had sacrificed his career to save them from the blame for the death of one of their friends.

Actually it was four friends and one other who they barely seemed to remember - and yet he stayed on to help clear the teacher's house - even when his wife turned up to take him home.

Anyway it sounds like a promising theme for a film but it bored me rigid and there were the most unbelievable events.

A man tried to commit suicide - in the sea - they pulled him out but didn't try very hard to save him - I'm sure most Australians would be well versed in CPR especially related to drowning. Within hours the widow had turned up to ask if it was an accident or suicide - I didn't find that believable at all - a few days later maybe, but so soon?

One of the group had serious work troubles and then found out that his best friend was having an affair with his wife. He walks into the sea - waist deep - the 'friend' follows, talks to him for a bit and then leaves a terribly upset man in the sea! And when the other friends ask where he is he suggests they leave him there for a bit!!!!!!

Simon's character was an actor who gave it up because 'he couldn't cope' - I don't think it was properly explained but I supposed it was because of the schoolfriend's death. Simon was as good as this dull film allowed him to be.

Also the music was awful.

This film was either nominated for or won an award in Australia - IMO opinion it must've been a very poor year for this to be considered accomplished in any way.

Am I being harsh?

Anybody else seen it?

 
Fran Date: Friday, 25-Mar-11, 1:28 PM | Message # 2
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I’ve got this film on DVD, and although it’s not one of my favourite films I enjoyed it and don’t regret buying it. The AFI Award Nomination was for Simon’s performance.

The DVD cover describes the film as follows:
“Secret Men’s Business explores the relationships and issues of four school-friends reunited after the death of a beloved school teacher. During a weekend of sun, surf, girls, wives and late night reminiscing, the friends begin to deal with certain truths which have been ignored for some time. As relationships and issues are explored, the friends face their own personal challenges amidst a contempt borne out of familiarity. Secret Men’s Business is an honest portrayal of relationships, life, love ... and dishonesty”.

The film doesn’t have a strong story or plotline, and I agree with Jude that its pretty weak in places. It doesn’t attempt to provide any answers, leaving all sorts of issues not fully explained or resolved. But I think in many ways the plot is incidental, because it’s really more of an observational film, a view of different personalities and they way they communicate and behave both at an individual level and as a group.

Viewed in this light, I think the film works very well, with good performances and interesting insight into how a group of men behave when they're together - I felt that this aspect of the film was particularly well observed.

But it’s fair to say that it’s not a film that will suit everyone’s taste - it really comes down to whether or not you enjoy this type of ‘slice of life’ film. And whether you can forgive the weaknesses and enjoy the aspects of the film that are done well.

 
JudeBlue Date: Friday, 25-Mar-11, 2:13 PM | Message # 3
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I knew you'd be able to find some positives Fran. smile

I see I was wrong about the film getting an award and it was for Simon's acting - that's slightly better although
I do think that little was required of him - the one scene where he had a heart to heart is the only thing I can think of that might've drawn attention to his acting ability.

I didn't enjoy the performance of Ben Mendehlson (Doug Petersen) and that probably coloured my opinion. And I really did hate the monotonous music.

The best music either enhances the experience - Jaws for instance - or blends in so well it's not noticed.

Has anyone ever done a film completely without music?

 
Fran Date: Friday, 25-Mar-11, 7:35 PM | Message # 4
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I don't know, but I've never particularly noticed the music in SMB. Perhaps its less intrusive watching a DVD on the telly than watching it on youtube.

I don't really like watching stuff on the computer because I feel as though I'm too close to it, but that's probably just me that's a bit weird wacko

 
JudeBlue Date: Saturday, 26-Mar-11, 7:30 AM | Message # 5
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On the computer certainly isn't my first choice but I do like to be up close - I often watch my favourite programmes sitting on the floor near the TV - and it's a 37" set so there really is no need!!

And your point Fran, about the music being more intrusive on YouTube may very well be correct. One of my favourite programmmes is Frasier and I sometimes watch a few clips - the audience laughter is very intrusive on the clips - I wonder why that is?

Anyway back to SMB. I was thinking last night about whether my dislike of the film was simply a personal ambivalence to the genre. I certainly haven't seen many films like it but I think that Ordinary People is
comparable. A father, mother and brother who all deal with the death of the eldest son in different ways.

Ordinary People obviously had a much bigger budget and won several Oscars so it wouldn't be fair to compare many aspects of the two films but I realised something. As with SMB, not an awful lot happens, the whole point of the film is to observe the three characters dealing with their grief and interacting with each other.

What made Ordinary People a satisfying watch (for me) was that there was a more obvious journey for the characters - and an ending that reflected that journey.

In SMB the journey was less obvious to me - certainly I didn't feel that I knew any more about Simon's character at the end of the film than I had known at the beginning. At the end the characters simply went their separate ways and I was left wondering what had been the point.

(You know the real problem though, LOL, not enough Simon!!)

 
AgentM Date: Friday, 03-Aug-12, 11:48 PM | Message # 6
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Quote (JudeBlue)
(You know the real problem though, LOL, not enough Simon!!)


Too true! tongue

Only just seen this film. Watched it on youtube. I have to say I wasn't blown away by the script either and I know people will say I'm biased because I'm on this site, but frankly Simon really was the best thing about it. No it didn't stretch his acting muscles too much but he did good with what he was given. It doesn't surprise me in the least that any award offered to this film was because of Simon. And , OMG, he so looks good in that navy sweater at the start! wink

I agree that some scenes were a little unrealistic - I don't mind the 'slice of life' films ( liked Book of Love even though script wasn't brilliant - more to do with the acting skills that made it seem more realistic) but SMB could have been so much better if they had developed the characters more. We didn't learn very much about Simon's character's breakdown, that little chat between him and Dougie could have been so much more powerful. And I think it should have been 'Andy' who went out to talk to Dougie when he'd learned of his wife's affair - again could have provided a powerful scene re: suicidal thoughts - cos I believe Simon's character had been there. So many opportunities not taken...

Still, I've seen it now, probably won't be buying the DVD. I tend not to go back and watch too much of Simon's early stuff, but now and again temptation proves too much!
 
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