THE MENKOFF METHOD
Australia, 2016, 87 minutes, Colour.
Noah Taylor, Lachlan Woods, Jessica Clarke, Robert Taylor, Catherine Mc Clements, Andrew Ryan, Mal Kennard, Olga Makeeva, David Whitely, .
Directed by David Parker.
The title does not give very much away except for the overtones of something Russian with the name, Menkoff. But, who is he and what is his method?
First, this is an unusual Australian film, Melbourne film – and, more’s the pity that its marketing budget was minuscule so that many people who might have enjoyed it did not get the opportunity to know about it and see it.
The filmmakers have had some great brainwaves. They have taken a banking story, a bank in decline, needing some kind of renovation in its management, with machinating underlings and the standing down of the CEO, a ruthless takeover bid and its consequences. But, the makers also have a love for Manga stories, the Japanese graphic novels, vivid cartoon panels, action heroes and heroines, dastardly villains, and intrigues, and with plenty of touches of super-heroics.
And, they have combined the two strands, blending the two stories very nicely, often unexpectedly.
The central character is a bespectacled nerd, David, looking very much like Clark Kent, who is a data processor for the endangered bank, but spending most of his time at work finishing his Manga book for a competition in Japan. His heroine is called Foxy Chaos and, to his surprise, when he goes to a club with his workmate Gary who fancies himself as a singer but even gets kicked out from his karaoke performance, David sees Ruby in the costume of as Foxy Chaos – and, as she hurries away, she loses one of her shoes!
Back to the title. Max Menkoff is a Russian, already pursued by armed killers from Mongolia where he had attempted a bank takeover, who goes to Dubai to tempt an executive for a takeover – and take over he does. He is accompanied by Svetlana, tough and hardy Russian, and Karpov who is tough but somewhat distracted. Max is played intensely by Noah Taylor, creased face, scruffy beard, broken Russian accent – and capitalising on his experience during the times of the Soviet Union in turning workers into loyal robots for the company.
Lachlan Woods and Jessica Clarke as David and Ruby make quite a couple, he gawkiness personified despite his Manga skills, she an attractive ally. And there are various Australian character actors there in supporting roles including Catherine Mc Clements as the straitladed supervisor, Robert Taylor as the CEO and John Brompton as a security man.
It is hoped that this review/description captures a bit of interest so that it sounds tantalising and that this offbeat film might sound worth checking out. A small film, but quite amusing in its way.
The film was directed by David Parker, cinematographer, especially for his partner, Nadia Tass.
1. An entertainment? Imaginative? The target audience – those enthusiastic about Manga, comic books, graphic novels…?
2. An Australian production, ideas, the city of Melbourne, the streets, the bank, shops for comics, the interiors of the bank? The cast?
3. The idea: a story of banks, their failures, poor management, ambitious executives, meetings, international connections in Dubai? Bank takeovers? The role of the Russians, the parody of the Soviet Union, turning people into robots? Deals, finance, insurance policies? The planned destruction? And the parallel to the collapse of the Soviet Union?
4. The importance of Manga in Japan, popularity, the types of characters, Foxy Chaos and her work, activities, peace and harmony in the universe? The visuals, the drawing, cartoon style, vivid, colourful? The insertion of drawings and animated action into the film? Heroes and villains? Foxy? The dark powers and the influence? The insertion of the dog? David and his comic books and the stories?
5. The interconnection between the two diverse themes – and the effect on the audience?
6. David, waking, the nerd, his mask, his life and his being gawky, going to work, continuing his drawings, wanting to enter the competition? Gary and his distractions? The
admiration for the girl and giving him the biscuits? The interlude with Trevor, mad, wanting his desk back, the gun, David offering him the biscuits, his being taken, David as hero, Marjorie and the request for Japanese pens? Going with Gary to the club, seeing Ruby, the attraction? Gary, singing and booted out? Ruby in the costume of Foxy, losing her shoe – and the touch of Cinderella? David going to her house, returning the shoe, the attack by Jason and the dog – and David later learning that Jason was her brother?
7. Max Menkoff, Noah Taylor, his look, face and scars, beard, his accent? The swindle in Mongolia, the Mongolians pursuing, the attack in Dubai? His wanted to take over the bank, the plan for control, spiking the water coolers, everybody injected, turning into robots, their marching, the drills, the songs, the loyalty to the firm? Marching to work, at their desks? Exaggeratedly entertaining?
8. Guy, wanting power, the clash with the boss, the board meetings, the boss being ousted? Guy coming in as the boss? Max and the interview in Dubai, the Power Point, the plan? The CEO and his being exiled, the severity of the chairman of the board? Max, the nature of his control, his decisions?
9. David and Marjorie, Marjorie and her work, everything in order, her being fired, her demanding consent for the injection, her love for her dog, the interview with David, the confrontation with Karpov?
10. David, hiding, the shootout, Marjorie’s death? The Mongolian attack? David taking the dog, feeding it? Pretending to be robotic? With Ruby? Her visit to the boss, his not
wanting to be seen with her?
11. David and the codes, Ruby wanting his help, going to Gary’s computer, the confidential information? Ruby and David going to see the boss, his agreeing to collaborate?
12. Svetlana, her role as assistant, hard, gleeful in control, her torturing David, the irony of her being electrocuted?
13. Karpov, henchmen, his interest in the comic, the ending, his shooting, seeing the dog as a spy, the irony of his being run over?
14. The CEO, disguised as a worker, to get the antidote, in the safe and security, the men, taking the van, running over Karpov, David using Max’s voice to get the workers out of danger? Max, the protective suit, wanting to poison the system? His ordering the workers back in? Overcoming Ruby and injecting her?
15. The buildup to the fight, the antidote, Ruby back to normal, her martial arts skills, with Max? The Mongolian attack? The falling on to the lift, David and Ruby going down, Max and the Mongolian falling?
16. Everybody restored, David and Ruby kissing, going to Japan, the Manga master and his acceptance of the book, the happy ending?
