CHOPPER

Australia, 2000, 95 minutes, Colour.
Eric Bana, Simon Lyndon, David Field, Bill Young, Vince Colosimo, Kate Beahan.
Directed by Andrew Dominik.

Mark 'Chopper' Read is one of Australia's best known criminals - he has written highly coloured books about himself and evoked controversy by appearing on a talk show to discuss his exploits. These included a number of killings in the Melbourne underworld. Not a likely hero for a movie. However, first-time writer and director, Andrew Dominick, has decided to put Chopper in our faces, urging us to gauge the man, the truth and the lies, the sanity and the madness. And in comedian, Eric Bana, he has found his perfect Chopper, a mixture of showman and dumb, brutal criminal. Some reviewers have wondered whether it is biography or whether it is black comedy. Probably, especially in an Australian context and memories of the convict past, it is something of both.

1. The impact of the film? Record of a criminal? The perspective? The acclaim for the film, awards?

2. Australia and its tradition of criminals, glorifying criminals, their status, being seen as heroic, their crimes?

3. The film based on a true story - but Chopper himself enhancing his own life and career? The changes to the true story? A portrait, a character, events, the role of the media, his writings and celebrity?

4. The Melbourne and Sydney settings, the prisons? The use of light and darkness? Dark colour tones? The musical score?

5. The structure of the film: Chopper watching television, the 1990s, the introduction, the look, the assessment, the reaction?

6. The 1970s, life in prison, the details of the regime, the routines? Chopper and his relationship with George? George and his role, manner? Chopper killing him, the consequences, the contract? Chopper's reaction, the combination of fear and bravado?

7. Jimmy Loughnan as a character, in the prison, his life, style, background? His interactions with Chopper? Their friendship? The embrace, stabbing him - but Chopper surviving? Chopper and the range of wounds on his body along with the tattoos, survival?

8. The decision that he should change prisons, the hearing, his plea, his manner of presenting his case, the officials, the denial? The guards? Their treatment of Chopper? His decision to mutilate his ears, the motivation, cutting them, the reaction, medication? His achieving his move?

9. The 1980s, Chopper getting out of prison, resuming civilian life, manner and style, clothes? His father and the interaction? His fame, playing on it? The relationship with Tanya, their meeting, the conversation, his continued suspicions? A touch of paranoia? His going to the clubs, meeting Bartos, memories of the old days, the tension, his having shot Bartos in the 1970s?

10. The character of Bartos, his being shot, the reaction, club life, the drug dealing, having an affair or not with Tanya? At home, Chopper assailing him, shooting him again, his going to hospital? The wisdom or not of his hiring Loughnan again?

11. Tanya, the quality of the relationship with Chopper, the sexual liaison? Her drab life, the clubs, home? Having an affair or not? The meetings, her mother?

12. Loughnan, his decline, drugs? In the car park, the outburst, Chopper killing Sammy, shooting Loughnan?

13. The detectives, the stereotypes, their inquiries, interviews, investigations?

14. Chopper back in court, acquitted of killing Sammy, the sentence for shooting Bartos, going to jail, the interviews, watching himself on television? A 1990s media celebrity?

15. The film and its portrait of Chopper, his role in Australian society, the criminal icon? Audience sympathy for him or not? Approval or not? A glimpse of personality, a character? A mad character? Moral issues? Australian prisons, crime and success?