Kenny

Dir: Clayton Jacobson
Starring: Shayne Jacobson, Eve von Bibra
Year: 2006

I'm not a big fan of allegory, but if NB were to interpret this film then Kenny would be some kind of religious figurehead, and urine and turds would be human society; namely, you and me.

Yes, Kenny is about as pure and decent as humans can hope to be. Eternally patient (until the whole 'poo in a car' incident), optimistic, and hard-working.

The fact that Kenny works hard with human waste makes no difference to him, although it does bother people around him, including his father, brother, and even his customers. The quality of Kenny's character shines through all that, and that's what makes him a modern hero in cinema.

Kenny takes toilet humour to the next level. It's hard to say if this is even toilet humour - it's more like toilet humour laughing at us.

Narry B has watched Kenny and The Castle in one week: if other Australian films are as good then Oz is the hidden gem of cinema (or is it all Home and Away: the TV Special after this?).

Mockumentary makers should take note: This is how to do it.

Rating: Top Work!

The Castle

Dir: Rob Sitch
Starring: Michael Caton, Eric Bana
Year: 1997

This is what movies are all about. Narry B likes to feel good, he likes to laugh, and he likes to think that the little man can still take on the big boys. The Castle ticks all the right boxes.

Amazingly, this film was made on a shoestring budget - I thought the cheapness of the image was intentional (it looks like a 1980's soap opera). But it wouldn't have mattered if it had no budget, cos the strength of the story and the characters is outstanding.

The main man is my boy Michael Caton who plays Daryl, the unceasingly optimistic dad of a family of rural Australians. Their home is near pylons, an airport's runway, and is built on dangerous materials, but they love it.

The Castle has a bizarre sense of humour - Eric Bana's eloquence being the highlight for moi. Plus it has some of the intentionally worst haircuts and worst trousers in cinema history.

Rating: Top Work!