Drift

source: Drift

A must watch brilliant cinematography well shot and directed, never mind the negative reviews just enjoy the ride, AU do me proud. Drift is a 2013 Australian film about the birth of the surf industry in the 1970s. It was shot in WA and co-directed by Morgan O'Neill and Ben Nott and starring Sam Worthington, Xavier Samuel and Myles Pollard. Based on true stories from the era and a novel adaptation, Drift is the action filled story of a outsiders who eventually forge a successful future in surfing equipment and competition...stumbling upon the worldwide multibillion-dollar cultural movement we know now.

Really enjoyed this movie. Some nice Australiana and look back into the culture in the 60s and 70s. Enjoyed the whole movie, just wished the soundtrack was relevant to the era. Worth a chilled watch.

From '76 when Margs was the Nimbin of the West, carved my name on the log bar at Settlers, surfed the coast from 3-Bears, Yals, Smiths, Cowaramup, Gracetown, the Box and the Point to Redbank and all spots south, fish and crays whenever we wanted. Got stuck on the bommies just like the opening scene, thought I'd never coming up but got dragged out by a wave that snapped my board in half. Had a 6' 10" single fin for my first board (the one that snapped)... never got out to Cow Bombie or The Right, they were the stuff of myths. The house and Park at Prevelly... Sigh, it's all millionaires now and it's sad (although I have to admit I still have my block on the hill at Yals...). I love this movie if only for the memories of the waves I rode in my teens, 20s and 30s.hard to explain the stoke and even with all the development I still get 'locals' privileges in my 60s. An ace movie.

Drift (2013) Drift is an Australian film based loosely on true events of two brothers during the 1970s and the birth and rise of the surf industry in Western Australia. Determined to escape a life of factory work and petty crime, Andy (Myles Pollard) and his wayward surf prodigy younger brother Jimmy (Xavier Samuel) decide to start their own surfing brand called 'Drift', which produces custom wetsuits and new shorter surfboards. Initially the business creates some excitement amongst the local surfing community, but the challenges of living in a conservative town begin to hinder their growth. They must overcome pressure from the local police, banks and even a gang of drug dealing bikers. It's surprising to also see 'Avatar' and 'Terminator: Salvation' star, Sam Worthington play a hippy drifter in a supporting role, who is supposed to represent the era's anti-establishment vibe. A lot of people are reluctant to watch Australian films as they are viewed by many as cheap and 'crap'. I had a similar view many years ago, but if you actually give them a chance, you will be surprised how many quality films have been made and don't receive the attention they deserve. Australia has produced an abundance of surfing movies and documentaries over the years, with its rich culture and history in contributing to the industry. This is the first time that I am aware of a movie focusing on the involvement in Western Australia however, as the attention is usually targeted along the east coast. This was a really pleasant surprise for me and has left me thinking about it for days after. Not that it was a mind blowing film, or one of the best Australian films made. Far from it. I just felt it was the perfect 'Aussie' film, compared to Baz Luhrmann's big budget flop 'Australia', which gave such a forced representation of the stereotypical Australian outback. Very different films I know, but this just seemed so real and authentic in contrast. Once again I hope I haven't hyped this up too much, but having entered into it with such little expectations, I really enjoyed it. Some of it is still pretty cheesy and the acting is a mixed bag. I thought the soundtrack was a standout featuring so many local bands, complementing the themes of the film. Considering the small budget the cinematography and camera work was superb. My Rating: 6.5/10 For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

'DRIFT': Three Stars (Out of Five) Surf movie set in the 1970s about two brothers trying to start a successful surf shop at the high point of the sport's business. It stars Myles Pollard, Xavier Samuel, Sam Worthington and the beautiful Lesley-Ann Brandt (who bares a striking resemblance to Halle Berry). It was directed by Ben Nott and Morgan O'Neill and written by O'Neill and Tim Duffy. I found the film to be mildly amusing but I think surfers (and surf movie fans) will get more of a kick out of it. Pollard (who also produced the flick) stars as Andy Kelly and Samuel plays his brother Jimmy; two brothers who fled their abusive father, with their mom (Robyn Malcolm), when they were kids. They moved to a coastal town (in Australia) and became obsessed with surfing. When they're much older (in the 70s) they try to avoid a life of crime and start a surf shop; selling wetsuits and boards (out of their garage). They meet JB (Worthington, who was a Drama school classmate of Pollard's) and his friend Lani (Brandt) who come into town and become business associates of the brothers. The movie has some decent surfing scenes and beautiful visuals but the characters aren't quite as developed or relatable as I like in a character-driven drama film. The surf scenes are kind of cool and exciting but they are few and far between. I did really enjoy Worthington's character though and all of the acting is decent in the movie. Like I said I'm sure surf and sports fans will enjoy the film more but I found it to be merely decent. Watch our movie review show 'MOVIE TALK' at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayoPMqb3Nl8

SHH!! If you listen very closely... You can hear the cogs of the screenplay turn, as our cardboard characters bluster their way through predictable confrontations, obvious story developments and easily anticipated 'twists'. From the first minute, when a mother abandons her drunken loser of a husband with her two sons, and one of them kicks him in the chest as they escape in their car, it's all plastic Hollywood construct... Despite being an Australian production, and the disclaimer 'based on a true story' notwithstanding. Yes, as you'd expect there's loads of top footage of professional surfers doing their 'thing', with waves crashing and gravity-defying stunts aplenty for the connoisseur. But you can see that kind of spectacle in a documentary on the subject. It is REALLY worth wading through this murky plot, including a tacked on romance, stereotypical hippy culture and the most one dimensional bad guys EVER? I would suggest not. Gnarly surfing, man. Shame the rest is so bogus. 4/10

Big surf, cool 70's vibe. Give this movie a chance, make popcorn and have a beer. Excellent surf photography, beautiful, rough coastline of Australia. You will enjoy this film if you remember the big boards and OP board shorts. Goes slow but gets better just like the waves!. There are great scenes where old style cameras and wetsuits are used. The actors are good, you will recognize one of the actors from the film 'Clash of the Titans'! The plot could use some help but the feel of the film is very hippie style. There is a few drug scenes but they didn't mess that up too bad. The surfing is definitely the best. Real pros in every scene with old boards used for the film to keep it true to the time. Enjoy dude!

This is a great slice of Australian life as it was in our parents' day.That is not so far and so long ago. I predict a large sale on DVD by older Australians. It is really well acted by unknowns and Sam Worthington. The scenery, the surf and the story are so true to life. The costumes are spot on. The soundtrack is a real disappointment. It could have been full of Aussie classics from era. The Skyhooks, John Farnham, even early BeeGees, even Rolf Harris, an opportunity missed here. While the story is good it lacks the ability to tug at the heartstrings. More tension in the storyline, or tighter editing would have helped. This makes me think it was written by an amateur. O'Neill wrote the original story, of Oneill surf wear, one supposes. An interesting Australian.

"You know the trouble with being the last man standing? You got no one to share it with." This is the true story of Jimmy (Samuel) & Andy Kelly. They are two brothers who share a love for surfing. When they come up with an idea to open a shop to sell their own gear Andy is 100% into it while Jimmy just wants to do his own thing. Between the money problems, the dangerous waves and angry bikers things don't go as easy as the brothers planned. There have been a few surfing movies to come out in the last few years. Soul Surfer I thought was very good. Chasing Mavericks was OK. This one is a little of both. The first hour and a half were a little slow and I almost stopped it a few times, but the ending was great and I am very glad that I stuck with it. There are some movies that are good but the ending seems to ruin everything. This one is the opposite. The movie is a little slow moving but the ending makes up for it. Overall, a movie that is a struggle in some parts but the end is a great reward for sticking with it. I give it a B-.