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Clubland (2007)

Director: Cherie Nowlan

2

Time Out rating

Average user rating
2 reviews

Movie review

From Time Out London

If there’s one element you must try to include in a heartfelt comedy-drama which chooses to champion on-screen relationships over narrative, it’s an endearing central character. First-time Australian director Cherie Nowlan would have done well to remember this with ‘Clubland’. Jean Dwight (Brenda Blethyn) is an ageing, cockney comedienne on the Sydney club circuit. When she’s not performing her phallocentric stand-up routine, she likes nothing more than to meddle in the lives of her long-suffering sons. She is perhaps the most overbearing, self-obsessed and irritating matriarchal big screen figure since Norman Bates’ mum in ‘Psycho’.

The part was written specifically for Blethyn, who does her best to depict Jean’s transition from control freakery to compassion, but she can’t seem to avoid falling back into stereotype. Witty performances from Khan Chitterden and Richard Wilson as the two sons – sexually terrified Tim and mentally disabled Mark – provide a few highs, but there’s just no escaping Jean. You end up having to ask yourself, if this woman’s own family can’t stand her, why would anyone pay good money to spend an hour-and-a-half with her in the cinema? Rebecca Davies

Author: Rebecca Davies 2007-09-17 16:07:55

Time Out London Issue 1935: September 19-25


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User reviews of this film

  • Michael Appleby said...
    Posted on Jun 03 2008 14:51 A shockingly dull and unenjoyable film. Keep the money - I just want the time back !
    Report as inappropriate
  • Rachel said...
    Posted on Oct 03 2007 14:02 This film is fantastic! I loved it! Blethyn was amazing, as were the rest of the cast. The audience I saw the film with laughed throughout and there were plenty of tears at the end. Best film I've seen in ages.
    Report as inappropriate

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