MovieChat Forums > Bootmen (2000) Discussion > Aussie

Aussie

posted 20 years ago by willowtree602
14 replies | jump to latest

I really like this film but mainly for its very Aussie humour and dialogue. It also means a bit more to me because I grew up and still live in Newcastle. It's fun recognising the locations. However, the Newcastle portrayed in the film is not one I know that well. My family never had any connection with BHP. There are definitely flaws with this film and the story leaves a lot to be desired at times but it's a fun film. It's fun! And the dancing at the end is awesome.

This dress exacerbates the genetic betrayal that is my legacy

[–] eross-7 19 years ago

HI! I've never been to Newcastle but it looks like it's portrayed as this little country town where everyone knows everyone. This isn't right is it? Isn't Newcastle the biggest country town in Australia or something? True to the dancing at the end is awesome! I love it!

[–] pannpost 19 years ago

Is anywhere really like that anymore though? Yep, Newcastle is a big place with a population (at the Census in 2001 that is) of 137,307. It's probably 20% bigger now though - every other city and town on the coastline seems to be. It isn't the biggest town though I'm sure.

Anyway, enough of the demographics. This movie is terrific - of course, I think anything with Adam Garcia in is great! So I could be accused of being biased.

cheers

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] Ajones47 19 years ago

So... who just saw this on Win/Nine network, and came on IMDB to post about it? :P

Take a Screenshot, It'll last longer!

[–] eross-7 19 years ago

HAHAHA! You caught us all out!

[–] 19 years ago

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[–] pannpost 18 years ago

As a matter of fact my dear I was born in Newcastle and spent my first 25 years there.....

[–] 18 years ago

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[–] willowtree602 19 years ago

I enjoyed this discussion very much :) Just to clarify, Newcastle is in fact the 6th largest city in Australia. I'm not sure about the population but I agree with the poster that estimated over half a million when you combine Lake Macquarie. It's not at all a country town where everyone knows each other - at all! You should come and check it out - it's a great place! Fantastic beaches, great parks, excellent restaurants and lots of history. We're only a little bit younger than Sydney :) The old stereotype of Newcastle being full of steel workers was always a touch unfair - there have always been other jobs! :) - but it's not really relevant at all anymore. It hasn't always been just a working class city either. That's the thing that I really noticed about the film - the characters are all working class. And of course that's fair, but Newcastle really isn't like that as a whole.

"I was born on the side of a hill"

[–] matineeidyll 18 years ago

I hail from Newcastle as well, and I think Bootmen intentionally portrayed only a certain type of lifestyle and atmosphere - if they tried to cover everything in Steel City, it would've muddled the story. I can't relate to the BP either but with most other locations and aerial shots I can point and say, "Hey, I was there yesterday!"

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I brought him in last week - drunk and disorderly. But when I sobered up, he'd gone. Sorry.

[–] willowtree602 18 years ago

I agree with you about the movie's intention but I just find it kind of frustrating that this "type of lifestyle & atmosphere" is the only one a majority of people think we have. As you know, there's so much more. That's what I was trying to point out - that what's portrayed in Bootmen isn't all there is to Newcastle.

"I was born on the side of a hill"

[–] matineeidyll 17 years ago

I suppose, then, that it's a great testament to Newcastle that we have so much in this city that can't be contained in one film. That's what makes Newcastle a wonderful filming location - it's a shame it's severely underused.

[–] spotlight_on_nick 14 years ago

Loved this movie. Never been to Newcastle, but i'm from Adelaide and I work on the Port Adelaide docks - So the setting is pretty similar.

[–] 14 years ago

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