MovieChat Forums > The Boys (1998) Discussion > Yes, Anita Cobby!!!

Yes, Anita Cobby!!!

posted 18 years ago by douglas111
17 replies | jump to latest

People who did not live in New South Wales at the time of the Anita Cobby murder have no chance of understanding the power and true purpose of this film. I feel sorry for critics who are given the task of reviewing this film for overseas magazines since they know absolutely nothing about the topic whatsoever and it shows. The scene where they are arrested in the rain and taken to police cars was like stepping into a time machine back to watching the horror unfold on news reports in our living rooms in the 1980s. Sydney only had about 2 million people then. It’s impossible to explain unless you lived there but this murder was personal. And that is why informed people wrote the play and made the film. To explore the topic and throw some light on how it could happen. These freaks didn’t drop from the sky as was offered by some tabloid newspapers in place of explanation. They were home grown. Some of Australia’s tiny middle class, who try and substitute themselves for the intelligentsia we never produced as a country, needed to be reminded of this lest they continue to pollute the issue with their uninformed ranting in newspaper columns.

[–] CitrusWithFuschiaTrim 18 years ago

For what it's worth, I've lived in Victoria the whole time and had all but forgotten the name Anita Cobby until I logged in here. Without that connection in mind, this still comes across as a stunning film 8 years later - a clear highlight of recent-ish AUS cinema - even taking it as pure fiction. It may be significant that I watched it twice without a break, partly, but not only, to get the somewhat unconventional 'flash-forwards' straight in my mind (not knowing how the story ended until the film did).

[–] douglas111 18 years ago

The fact that you rated this film highly without connecting it to the Anita Cobby murder on which it is based is interesting. I am glad to hear it, as I have often wondered what an intelligent Australian would make of it watching it as a stand alone film with no background. I also remember having trouble with the first couple of flash forwards until it suddenly began to dawn on me sitting in the cinema. A vague memory began to resurface and I was impressed that someone had dared to put this of all topics on film. Such topics are usually officially off limits. We are not supposed to understand what produces such a crime. We are simply required to join the lynch mob howling on talk back radio that solves nothing. How little the middle class actually understands about Sydoney.

[–] digtony 17 years ago

I agree that this is a stunning film. I have listened to the haunting soundtrack by The Necks (my favourite band) so many times since 1998 but only watched the film a year ago.

2 days ago I received a box set of Robert Connolly films:- The Boys, The Bank and Three Dollars. I watched The Boys twice in succession, albeit a night apart. Partly this was to properly take in the flash forwards. I could watch it again now quite easily but I think I am ready to move on to The Bank and Three Dollars.

I think that The Boys is a highly significant film and I laud Robert Connolly and all connected with the film for making it. As many have said the acting is of the highest standard and the themes in it are well presented.

I also recommend Robert Connolly's latest film, Romulus, My Father.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462023/

If you haven't heard The Necks, check them out too!
www.thenecks.com

[–] theonewhoisbest 16 years ago

'digtony', Robert Connolly didn't direct this film, Rowan Woods did.
That said, personally I liked The Bank - I hated Three Dollars - awful, awful thing - too clean and americanised - almost reminded me of 'Sliding Doors' which made me wretch as well....still - The Boys was AWESOME.

[–] tezby 16 years ago

Ditto, 'Romulus My Father' - Connolly produced it.

[–] jazzpiano- 16 years ago

I didn't know a thing about Anita Cobby until I came on here! I'd never heard of her, or the murder, and I found this film to be incredibly powerful. I was watching the ending, and while Brett sat there silently in the car before he says that final line, and I guessed it. I whispered to myself, "Let's get her..." and then he said it! And if you don't know about the Cobby murder when you watch it, you know it will be a murder anyway; you just get a vibe from the character.

[–] omoo22 18 years ago

I don't agree at all that you need to be familiar with the Cobby case to appreciate this film. The inspiration may have come from the horror and tragedy of those particular events, but it's self evident that the themes of the film are more universal. It takes away from the power of this brilliant film to limit it to such a narrow perspective.

[–] robertss2 18 years ago

I watched this movie this afternoon and was completely blown away by the performances and the terrifying progression which leads these three men to commit the crime they did.

I picked up the movie based on the fact that it had two of my favourite actors in it - Toni Collette and David Wenham - who have almost never disappointed me. (Apart from Russian Doll...)

As a South African, I had never heard of Anita Cobby until I watched the documentary on the DVD after the movie, and still don't know any details of that particular case, but I don't feel that this lack of knowledge in any way lessened the impact of the movie for me.

Sue.

[–] douglas111 17 years ago

The last two posts have restored my faith that ordinary viewers have far more brains than some of the professional reviewers that have demonstrated a lot of ignorance reviewing this film in print. Thank you.

[–] catcher-12 16 years ago

http://www.bookworm.com.au/shop/scditem.asp?ProdID=15130

[–] spookyrat1 10 years ago

I don't agree at all that you need to be familiar with the Cobby case to appreciate this film.

Very much agree. Some of the posters on this thread and others associated with the movie have lost the plot somewhat and appear to be foaming at the mouth. Whilst being arguably inspired by the Cobby murder, this is not an investigation of that horrific event. It's an entirely fictional psychological examination into the collective psyche of those types who may have been associated with a crime of that nature. I find this thread title and some of the posted comments quite bizarre.

[–] douglas111 8 years ago

Very much agree. Some of the posters on this thread and others associated with the movie have lost the plot somewhat and appear to be foaming at the mouth. Whilst being arguably inspired by the Cobby murder, this is not an investigation of that horrific event. It's an entirely fictional psychological examination into the collective psyche of those types who may have been associated with a crime of that nature. I find this thread title and some of the posted comments quite bizarre.

Assertion masquerading as argument. "Arguably inspired". Oh please. You have no idea what you are talking about. Are you even aware it was a play and theatre production based on the Cobby murder and those convicted of it. Please sit down before you make an even bigger fool of yourself.

--East lie the Iron hills where is Dain--

[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

People who did not live in New South Wales at the time of the Anita Cobby murder have no chance of understanding the power and true purpose of this film. I feel sorry for critics who are given the task of reviewing this film for overseas magazines since they know absolutely nothing about the topic whatsoever and it shows.

They just have no idea Doug, do they? Only "smart" people like you understand the film.

Sydney only had about 2 million people then.

You don't even know your basic facts. In fact Sydney in 1985 had almost 3 and 1/2 million people. The last time it was 2 million was in the late 50's! LOL! You'd be very familiar with that period judged on your muddled anachronistic thinking.

Some of Australia’s tiny middle class, who try and substitute themselves for the intelligentsia we never produced as a country, needed to be reminded of this lest they continue to pollute the issue with their uninformed ranting in newspaper columns.

Wow! And clever Dougie is whining about "uninformed ranting"! BTW too chum, Australia doesn't possess a tiny middle class by any stretch of your over-heated imagination.

Australia is falling in the global rankings for wealth per person but it still has a bigger proportion of people enjoying a middle class lifestyle than anywhere else.

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/the-10-countries-with-the-highest-average-wealth-in-the-world-2015-10

Please sit down before you make an even bigger fool of yourself.

Mate, there's no grain in your silo. You're firing blanks into the crowd expecting everyone to be awestruck with your pretentious B.S. Go have a cuppa, a Bex and a good, long, lie down. You're clearly out of your depth and drowning in public. It's an embarrassing spectacle.🐭

[–] hugomcgreal 17 years ago

The Anita Cobby murder was horrific. This is a great film.

[–] momsoonihope-1 16 years ago

THis is a very sad movie and poignant.

I thought Dustin Hamilton was in this... but when i looked for dustin hamilton in the actors list, he isn't present.

[–] jmac-20 14 years ago

I'm also from Victora, and I think that pretty much _EVERY_ Australian who was over probably 8-10 years at teh time of the Anita Cobby abduction/torture/rape/murder would remember it. To say it shocked outraged and impacted apon Australian society is the understatementof the century. It was without a doubt the closest NSW would have come to re-instating the death penalty - such was public sentiment (sadly even if it was re-instated it could not have been handed out to those who commited such heinous crimes before it was reinstated).

Whilst on the one hand, I would suggest anyone who hasn't heard of the schocking crime on which this film was a commentary on (if not directly about) look it up on google. But I would warn that it's one of the most depraved and repugnant crimes that anyone could imagine, and it's the sort of thing that will have an effect on practically anyone who finds out more about it.

[–] dazzaler44 8 years ago

Terrible film..did they really make it after that horrible attack on Anita Colby?