UNDERBELLY: CHOPPER
Australia, 2018, 160 minutes, Colour.
Aaron Jeffrey, Todd Lasance, Michael Caton, Ella Scott Lynch, Vince Colosimo.
Directed by Peter Andrikides.
Mark “Chopper� Reed relished a certain notoriety with the Australian public.
Influenced by his father (here played by Michael Caton very convincingly), Mark Read defies authorities, becomes a petty criminal, finds himself in jail. Tough, getting the name “Chopper�. However, in jail, he wrote a book which became a bestseller – and was the basis for a 1999 film, called Chopper with Eric Bana in the central role – and some of the scenes in this film are reprised here.
After his release from jail and the publication of the book and its surprisingly popular impact, Read also goes on the entertainment circuit, regaling rather adoring audiences with stories about his exploits – which may or may not be accurate.
He is still with his childhood sweetheart, Margaret, though her fidelity is tested when he is caught up in an accusation of murder. On his first release, he went back to some of the gangland figures, especially Gangitano (Vince Colossimo), taunting him and finding that a petty criminal had put out a price on his head. The petty criminal, Syd, is a blend of the stupid in the vainglorious, taunting Read, inviting him to a wedding.
When Syd is killed, Read seems to have the perfect alibi but is nevertheless interrogfated by rather relentless police investigators and imprisoned again. Margaret breaks with him but a fan, Mary Ann, visits him in prison and, on his release, they marry and have a son. The marriage does not last – and Margaret returns to him, helping him in his performances – which, in a fantasy tone, are haunted by the presence of Syd, Read seeing him, put off by him, trying to banish him from his imagination.
This film was part of the Underbelly series which, over many years, which dramatised many aspects of Australian crime. While Eric Bana won awards for his performance as Chopper Read, Aaron Jeffrey gives quite an extraordinary performance, bringing Chopper to life – and, as Margaret said to him, there are two people in him, Chopper and his manic violence and a more gentle type, Mark Read. The series was directed by Peter Andrikidis, a veteran of television films.
1. The popularity of the television series, Underbelly? A Chronicle of Australian crime?
2. Chopper and his activities, as part of Underbelly? Mark Reed, his identity as Chopper? Audience knowledge about him, interest? The film and Eric Bana’s portrayal? Awards?
3. Chopper, his death in 2013, a retrospective? The use of his performance to the adoring crowds, the insertion of flashbacks?
4. How real, his life and career, his making up stories, his creating his own image, lies and reality? Invention? And the device of having Syd’s ghost present and questioning him?
5. Audience judgement on Chopper? The truths, falsehoods? In between? His life with his father as a bully, becoming a criminal, the abduction, going to prison, the years served, getting out? His connections in the crime world and their reactions? Violent confrontations? His reform, writing his book, the publicity and the popularity? His relationship with Margaret, from young days, her support of him? The presence of Sid, the attempted assassination, the confrontation? The police, the arrest? Chopper in jail, Margaret and her support?
6. The background of his father, his criminal attitudes, supporting his son, the son trying to get out of the influence of his father? Life in Tasmania? With Margaret?
7. Aaron Jeffrey and his performance, the two characters, Mark and Chopper? Margaret’s opinion? The communication of the two personalities, pleasant on the one hand, the mad grin, eyes, teeth and laughter? Demeanour and postures?
8. Tasmania, Syd inviting him to the wedding, the money? The shooting? The police, their attitude, arrest? Chopper in jail? Margaret and her cutting him off? Mary Ann, the fan, visits, the wedding, the son? Her giving up? The divorce? Margaret reappearing, supporting him and his performances? His cancer?
9. Gangitano and his role in Melbourne, action? The Russian roulette scene with chopper and the betting? Gangitano and his money, his fears, his reputation in the book? Lewis Moran with him, his wife?
10. Trent, helping Chopper, the pressures, his being willing to testify?
11. The atmosphere with the opening, Chopper being taken, gunpoint, digging his grave, turning on the would-be assassin, killing him?
12. The audience at Chopper’s shows, the cheering? His reaction to the film with Eric Bana, watching the television and shooting it?
13. Chopper as an Australian criminal icon? For and against?
