JACK IRISH: BLACK TIDE

Australia, 2012, 90 minutes, Colour.
Guy Pearce, Marta Dusseldorp, Aaron Pedersen, Roy Billing, Damien Richardson, Shane Jacobson, Terry Norris, John Flaus.
Directed by Jeffrey Walker.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation made two telemovies with Guy Pearce as Peter Temple’s character, Jack Irish. With the success of the two, a third was filmed in 2013.

Peter Temple is a prominent award-winning Australian novelist, specialising in crime – but also highly critical of Victorian police and politics.

Guy Pearce is effective as Jack Irish, a lawyer down on his luck, a debt collector, after the murder of his wife. He becomes involved in a case when a friend of his father’s contacts him to find his son. This leads to a complex story involving a special squad of drug police, murders and corruption within the force and in politics.

The films make Melbourne itself a character, focusing on the wide range of locations in the city, the city centre, the older poorer suburbs, the more affluent suburbs.

The film has a strong supporting cast, Marta Dusseldorp who appeared in the Black Jack films with Colin Friels, Aaron Pedersen.

Jack Irish serves as a kind of private eye in this exploration of crime, not being an expert member of the police force, muddling through at times, but effectively exposing scandals in the public interest.

1. The novels of Peter temple? The Jack Irish series? The adaptations for television? Keeping the flavour of the novels, the atmosphere? Melbourne, the police, underbelly, crime, the world of racing, the world of media and television, the law?


2. Guy Pearce as Jack Irish? The strong cast, the series?

3. The views of Melbourne, authentic, homes, mansions, the racetracks, Phillip island? Tasmania? The musical score?

4. Guy Pearce as Jack, his age, his dead wife, the relationship with Linda, the clash, her going to Sydney, his being upset? His harsh and judgments on Linda, yet his relationship with Lyall? His friendship with Cam and Harry, the races, the fixing, the world of criminals, the flamboyant man at the track and the widow of the dead jockey? The funeral? Scams, the widow? The approach by Connors, his past friendship with Jack’s father? the job, its complexities and dangers, his contacting his research assistant, the humour with her, especially about her online dating? Going to the pub, chatting with his friend and confidant? Stanley and the chorus of old men at the bar, the talk, memories of Fitzroy, resenting its going to Brisbane, the photos on the wall, the threat and sale? Dave, the contact, his collaboration? The journalist, his disappearance, the contact, the liaison, Lyall stalking him, the photos? Gathering information, Dave, the pursuit, the crash and the shooting? Going to Tasmania? Dave, Conner’s wife, the shooting? Getting the money back for his father? The corruptt police? The deaths? Restoring the money to Conners? Going back to Lyall, the discovery of thechip? Giving the information to Linda, the TV expose of the politicians? The pub, no sale? The issue of Black Tide, Hansard and its not being named, the closing down of the project? The interview in Bangkok, the dead body in the cistern, the discovery of the truth, Jack talking to the dead man’s wife in the art gallery? The final comments from Connors, the $100 cash fee, the memorabilia, Jack going to the cemetery, at his father’s grave?

5. The introduction, the agent interviewing Conners in Bangkok? Confession, letting him go, going through customs, the flight back? Black Tide, his arrival, the murder and the disposal of his body?

6. The issue and corruption at the races, Cam and Harry, at the track, the losses, confronting the jockey and his paying for the cup of tea? Cam’s help for
Jack in Tasmania?

7. Linda, in Sydney, the television program, the liaison with Pringle, the posters driven through Melbourne? Her confession, being ashamed? Ousted? Jack giving her the scoop and her gratitude?

8. Lyall, the relationship with the journalist, the article and the information, her taking the photos, the end and the discovery of the material?

9. Black Tide, the agent in Bangkok, Dave and his partner, the plausibility, the crash and the shooting, the search in Tasmania, the betrayal?

10. The research assistant, fast talking, information and articles, the dating information, the jokes, her dress?

11. The pub, the chorus, the humour of their comments, Stanley at the bar?

12. Connors, his friendship with Jack’s father, his own son, the cash and his will? Going to the pub, talking with the men? The end, his gratitude, the payment?

13. Barry and his eating and urinating?

14. Dave and his partner, characters, double dealing?

15. The widow at the gallery and her not knowing what her husband was doing?

16. The old man, his furniture, his being bashed, hospital? Going back to his work?

17. The strength of the film in its plot, mystery, characterisations, sharp dialogue?