Bana so inhabits his part as Chopper that it becomes hard to belief that he is just acting.
Chopper (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:64
Fresh:45
Rotten:19
Average Rating:6.4/10
Consensus: Eric Bana's performance as the charming but twisted Chopper is the highlight of this disturbing portrait about Australia's notorious author/criminal.
Theatrical Release:Apr 11, 2001 Limited
Synopsis: Australian comedian Eric Bana is Mark "Chopper" Read, a legendary criminal who wrote his best-selling autobiography, FROM THE INSIDE, while serving a murder sentence in prison. Beginning in the... Australian comedian Eric Bana is Mark "Chopper" Read, a legendary criminal who wrote his best-selling autobiography, FROM THE INSIDE, while serving a murder sentence in prison. Beginning in the blue-washed light of a maximum security Melbourne prison, Chopper establishes his dominance with the impulsive knifing of a fellow prisoner. Vaccillating between violence and regret, Chopper apologizes to his victim, but his good mate Jimmy (Simon Lyndon) later retaliates against Chopper in an excruciating contract stabbing, rife with sexual tension. Finally released from prison, the heavily-tattooed Chopper has lost the better part of both of his ears, as well as the ability to make any distinction between his own made-up stories and reality. At a nightclub with his prostitute girlfriend, Tanya (Kate Beahan), he runs into Neville (Vince Colosimo), an old victim who limps from the attack but glitters in drug-funded gold. In his paranoia, Chopper connects rumors of a new contract on his life to Neville, Tanya, and his old mate Jimmy, to whom he pays a visit and discovers a man rotting from drug abuse. Alternately wickedly funny and grotesque, CHOPPER gives no easy answer to the question of Chopper Read's motives, but his method is clear, "Ya bash people for no reason, just to get a name for yourself." [More]
Starring: Eric Bana, Simon Lyndon, Dan Wyllie, David Field
Starring: Eric Bana, Simon Lyndon, Dan Wyllie, David Field, Bill Young, Vince Colosmo, Kenny Graham, Kate Beahan
Director: Andrew Dominik
Director: Andrew Dominik
Screenwriter: Andrew Dominik
Producer: Michele Bennett
Studio: First Look
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Release:
Nov 13, 2001
Reviews for Chopper
It's Eric Bana ... who justifies our interest with a dazzling performance of blunt humor, unpredictability and an edge of menace.
Eric Bana ... plays him as an engaging villain with a deft talent for grotesque behaviour and caustic one-liners.
Dominik's direction is fresh and lively, and the camerawork is exceptional.
As the film quickly loses perspective of Chopper Read's alleged crimes and lifestyle, it begins to slowly glorify him as an icon of self-made celebrity.
Dominik doesn't glamorize or glorify Chopper, but his film contributes to making Mark Brandon Read as mythical an Australian rogue as Ned Kelly.
[Bana] makes Michael Madsen in Reservoir Dogs look like a lightweight.
Too senseless and contrived to succeed as sociopathic comic opera, let alone as coherent character study.
It's not really worth the price of a visit to the art house, but might be worth a rental.
For every viewer who is revolted, at least as many will probably be intrigued, if not charmed. For Chopper is nothing if not fearless.
The excitement and tension comes from never knowing when Chopper is really going to lose it.
Thanks to the director's exceptional visual style, Chopper evokes a life of emotional baggage before a single word is spoken.
Though handsomely photographed and designed, the film doesn't really say much about Chopper or the cult of criminal celebrity. But it hardly matters, because Bana's performance is nothing short of electrifying.
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