Lead actor Eric Bana gives a polished performance as Mark Brandon Read in the acclaimed Australian movie Chopper.

Justly praised as a remarkable debut for director Andrew Dominik, Chopper wraps bloodied mayhem and sharp dialogue around the story of one of contemporary Australia's most talked about underworld figures, Mark 'Chopper' Read.

This feature film is inspired by Read's factually questionable series of crime memoirs, with titles such as 'How to Shoot Friends and Influence People'. This is the so-called biopic of Mark Brandon Read.

I firstly want to note the advance disclaimer on the film - "this is not a factual biopic" - and also a clear statement on the opening titles that reads "this is not a biography".

The script writer seems to adopt the philosophy that 'one should never let the truth get in the way of a good story'. Let's be serious, if this man claims to have murdered 19 people, if his stories are true, Chopper would never have been released from jail. He is a criminal with a warped, black sense of humour and knack for exaggeration.

When lead actor, Eric Bana declares in the film "humanity doesn't like me", it almost appears as if the director want us to sympathise with this monster. Any sagacious and reasonable person can see that we can never sympathise with Mark Read, nor condone his barbarous actions.

So, having been pilloried for recommending a film that has obviously distressed a number of Australians, I feel obliged to lay out my various reasons for regarding it as one the better Australian movies of 2000.

The over-riding reason for my praise is that the film builds an atmosphere that draws the viewer into its maw.

Bana's outstanding acting, the black humour, the hard-edged dialogue and the very realistic violence combine to ensure the audience is riveted to the screen for the vast duration of proceedings.

Comic star Eric Bana (of Full Frontal fame) throws himself into the part of Chopper with unmistakable relish - playing this madman seems to have energised him and opened up the dark channels of his acting talent.

Chopper also has some of the brutal black humour you're likely to witness in Australian cinema to date. This is, at points, a terribly bloody and violent film, but Dominik seems to always manage to include just that little bit of comic absurdity into the worst of these scenes to take the edge off the complete horror of the situation.

Many people have criticised this film for its graphic on-screen violence. However, I would suggest it is because the oppressive atmosphere artfully establishes very realistic mood and that is a reason to praise the film, not disparage it. The violence is shown with no Hollywood-type fanfare, so we see violence for what it really is.

The other major criticism I have been privy to is the notion that this movie glorifies criminals. While I found many of the quotes humorous, at no point did I support Chopper in his quest to get away with his demoniacal actions.

The Australian Film Industry often produces exceptional pieces of work. In 1998, numerous excellent productions were released including The Castle and The Interview. In 1999, we saw an excellent film in Two Hands. In 2000, along with Looking for Alibrandi, Chopper rates as the best of the Aussie flicks, however leave the kids at home for this one.

Rating: 7 out of 10 - recommended.
MIDN Daniel Armstrong

Courtesy of Hoyts Cinemas, Woden.