Named Western for its story’s focus on the expanding frontiers of America’s famous and legendary Wild West, this beloved genre is known for its heavy, rugged introduction to its themes. It has evolved to be further defined by its human figures, and its seductive yet crude style. As such, different countries around the world are able to explore Western stories in their own fascinating and unique ways, and Australia’s “Meat Pie Westerns” are an underrated and outstanding representative of this genre. We have produced many outstanding products.
Australian cinema has embraced the charm of the Western, depicting harsh yet picturesque sun-kissed landscapes and the vast, brutal beauty of nature, with rewarding results. These 10 pictures depict the best of the West, especially from the Great South, and stand as gritty, captivating films that all fans of the genre should seek out.
10. “Red Hill” (2010)
Director: Patrick Hughes
Image courtesy: Sony Pictures Release International
A fascinating amalgamation of genres, established as a neo-Western thriller with a hint of mystery that builds into action, Red Hill is an ambitious film to say the least. The film follows rookie police officer Shane Cooper (Ryan Kwanten) as he moves with his young family to a small town for a fresh start. But he soon finds himself in the middle of an intense investigation, as a convicted felon escapes from prison and begins targeting the police.
From a deliberately slow start that gradually builds into an all-out battle for survival, layered with rudimentary subplots, Red Hill is an engaging film that finds great power in its imagery and tone. It’s a down-to-earth modern western. Bolstered by the clever twists of a revenge movie, it also boasts some creative death scenes, and thrives as a simple Australian Western that’s incredibly well executed, no matter how unoriginal it may be. Masu.
Release date: November 5, 2010
Starring Steve Bisley, Kevin Harrington, Ryan Kwanten, Tommy Lewis, Claire Van Der Boom
runtime 96
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9. “High Ground” (2020)
Director: Steven Johnson
Acclaimed as both a mesmerizing action spectacle and a socially important meditation on colonialism and its impact on Indigenous culture, High Ground is Australia’s most daring and modern Western film. It has been one of our victories. The film focuses on two men, one a World War I veteran and the other a young man who needs to help track down his uncle, who happens to be one of the most dangerous men in the area. I’m an Aboriginal man. As the two work together, a revelation changes the nature of their relationship with serious consequences.
The film was praised by critics for its care and dedication to respecting Indigenous culture and history, and for weaving real events into a story that was supposed to be fiction. Also enhanced by stunning cinematography, High Ground grows into a fascinating historical novel that embodies the tag of a historical revisionist Western, with an admirable effort to pack a big thematic punch. We’re delivering action stories that matter.
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8. “The Rover” (2013)
Director: David Michaud
Image via Roadshow Films
The Australian outback, with its vast expanses of moorland and rust-caked countryside settings, characterizes the perfect rough and rugged environment for a modern western, and 2013’s The Rover also takes place in the near future. Set 10 years after an economic catastrophe brings about social collapse, the story follows a rough-and-tumble drifter whose car is stolen by a gang of thieves. Teaming up with an injured and stranded gang member, he pursues the vehicle while forming an uneasy bond with his accomplice.
With convincing performances from Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce, there’s a sense of brutal desperation in its gloomy, dystopian atmosphere that makes for an engrossing viewing experience. The world of the post-apocalyptic story could have been explored more, but the focus on the two main characters makes for one of the most brooding character-driven dramas, with a captivating mix of Western grit and the end of the world. Completed. Fear.
rover
Release date: June 4, 2014
Director David Michaud
Runtime 100 minutes
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7. “Ned Kelly” (2003)
Director: Gregor Jordan
While America has some very famous and romantic outlaws, Australia’s infamous gunslingers are called bushrangers, and no one can claim to be more iconic or pioneering than Ned Kelly. This biographical western, starring Heath Ledger as the eponymous bushranger, tracks the rise to notoriety and progress of the Kelly Gang. The Kelly Gang becomes a target for law enforcement agencies across the country due to violent clashes with corrupt police officers, which leads them to carry out robberies. A decisive confrontation in the town of Glenrowan.
While the film errs on the side of glorifying Kelly, far too strong to dig into the nuances of the still-hotly-debated complexities of gangster behavior, Ned Kelly remains a man’s charmer. It excels as a challenging historical western with a unique storyline. corrupt system. Ledger’s charisma is on full display, and the stacked ensemble cast delivers strong supporting performances.
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6 “Mystery Road” (2013)
Director: Iwan Sen
Image courtesy of Bunya Productions
A gritty crime mystery that functions as a revisionist neo-Western, Mystery Road draws on Western tropes, themes of justice, and Australian history as well as its current influence on Queensland. Perfect use of the secluded setting. The film focuses on a newly promoted Aboriginal detective who investigates the murder of an Aboriginal teenage girl whose body is found under a bridge near the rural town of Winton. He is forced to go it alone as others show no interest in solving the case.
A surprisingly slow burn, Mystery Road cleverly uses the exciting and seductive aura of the Western to engage viewers while exploring a litany of contemporary social issues. The stunning visuals provided by rural Queensland are complemented by an engaging central performance. Directed by Aaron Pedersen, the film was a highlight of modern Australian cinema and was rewarded with an equally impressive sequel, 2016’s Goldstone, and a spin-off TV series.
mystery road
Release date June 5, 2013
Director Iwan Sen
No rating
Running time 121 minutes
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5. “Tracker” (2002)
Director: Rolf de Geer
One of the most thematically rich Westerns to come out of Australia, 2002’s The Trucker transforms concepts of colonialism and oppression into a simple but effective story about judgment and justice. It’s interwoven. Set in the outback in 1922, the film follows a colonial-era police officer on a desperate quest to catch an Indigenous man accused of murdering a white woman. The small search party also includes a master tracker in David Gulpilil, who is hiding his own motives.
Given its impact despite featuring only a handful of characters, The Tracker is an attention-grabbing project that wisely tips its hat to Gulpilil’s strong yet restrained performance, as well as its eerie, bubbling atmospheric presence. This is a worthy achievement. The film is one of the most underrated films to come out of Australia, and remains powerful for its striking thematic urgency, refusing to ignore unpleasant aspects of Australian history. It packs a punch.
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4 “Sweet Country” (2017)
Director: Warwick Thornton
Another 1920s-set meat pie Western that focuses on racism in Australian history, Sweet Country is a compelling conflicted character drama that doubles as a scathing critique of historical society. It received high praise. Loosely based on real events, the film follows Aboriginal farmer Sam Kelly (Hamilton Morris), who is forced to go on the run after killing a white man in self-defense. He is pursued by a hunting party led by a ruthless sergeant who intends to hang Sam.
A smash hit with critics in Australia and abroad, Sweet Country became revered for its use of the arid Australian outback and its ability to combine engaging narrative with strong thematic purpose. Strong performances from the supporting cast, including Sam Neill and Brian Brown, combined with a somber finale that reaffirms the focus on racism and injustice, make for a film that’s as emotionally evocative as it is visually spectacular. It has become.
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3 “Nightingale” (2018)
Director: Jennifer Kent
Image with transparent film
Jennifer Kent’s second feature film, following her horror success The Babadook, is a haunting and disturbing tale of revenge that stays with viewers long after the credits roll. is. Set in Tasmania in the 1820s, the film follows Irish prisoner Claire Carroll (Aisling Franciosi) as she enlists the help of an Aboriginal tracker to track down the sadistic British officer who raped her and murdered her family.
Due to the extreme and intense nature of the violence, The Nightingale may not be to everyone’s taste, but it delivers an emotionally powerful tale of revenge that remains true to the most beloved western classics of yesteryear. It also represents an interesting change in landscape, replacing the desolate outback with the vibrant greenery of Tasmanian forests, setting the story’s unique and rich atmosphere.
nightingale
Release date August 2, 2019
Director Michelle McLaren
Starring Charlie Shotwell, Luke Carroll, Sam Smith, Ewen Leslie, Baikari Ganambar, Harry Greenwood, Damon Herriman, Matthew Sunderland, Nathaniel Dean, Sam Claflin, Aisling Franciosi, Michael seasbee
Running time 136 minutes
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2 “The Man from Snowy River” (1982)
Director: George T. Miller
One of Australian cinema’s most iconic and distinctive works, The Man from Snowy River is a heartwarming Western story, Kirk Douglas’ dueling supporting role, and breathtaking use of the Australian landscape. It is famous for The story is about a young man who, after his father’s death, must venture into the lowlands to prove himself worthy of restoring his family’s farm to its former glory. While he falls in love with his daughter, he begins to quarrel with his new boss Harrison (Douglas).
Filled with character and stunning shots of the colorful Australian wilderness, while also presenting a simple yet captivating story, The Man from Snowy River remains a favorite more than 40 years after its release. , remains an essential Australian classic. It also features one of the most breathtaking and incredible climaxes in film history, making it by far the best Western of the 1980s.
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1 “Proposition” (2005)
Director: John Hillcoat
Image via First Look International
Given that Australian Westerns thrive as everything from romantic period dramas to confrontational character dramas, it’s no easy task to choose the country’s best productions in the genre, but 2005’s・It is impossible to exceed the proposition. Set in the 1880s, Guy Pearce plays Charlie Burns, an outlaw who is arrested along with his brother and given an ultimatum to take away his nefarious brother within nine days. As he sets out to find his brother, the police officer who assigned him the task is troubled by the moral ambiguity of his decision.
A fascinating work that explores morality on both sides of the law, The Proposition excels as an unflinchingly brutal tale of family bonds, duty, and justice in a cruel and hostile world. It is considered not only the best Australian Western, but also one of the best Westerns of all time.
suggestion
Release date: September 12, 2005
Running time 104 minutes
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