Crackerjack (2002 Film)
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''Crackerjack'' is a 2002 Australian comedy film starring
Mick Molloy Michael Molloy (born 11 July 1966) is an Australian comedian, writer, producer, actor and television and radio presenter who has been active in radio, television, stand-up and film. He currently hosts '' The Front Bar'' on the Seven Network. ...
, Bill Hunter, Frank Wilson,
Monica Maughan Monica Cresswell Maughan (née Wood, 15 September 1933 – 8 January 2010) was an Australian actor with roles in theatre, radio, television, film and ballet over a career spanning 52 years. Early life and education She was born Monica Cresswel ...
,
Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson ( – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...
,
Lois Ramsey Lois June Ramsey (; 18 June 1922 – 22 January 2016) also billed as Lois Ramsay, was an Australian actress, best known for her regular roles on television series '' The Box'' and ''Prisoner''. She often played quirky, eccentric old ladies on ...
,
Bob Hornery Robert James Hornery (28 May 1931 – 26 May 2015) was an Australian actor. He won both the Helpmann Awards and the Equity Awards lifetime achievement award, with a career spanning 60 years, in both Britain and Australia. He was well known for h ...
,
Judith Lucy Judith Mary Lucy (born 25 March 1968) is an Australian comedian and actress, known primarily for her stand-up comedy. Lucy joined the team of the ABC's ''The Weekly with Charlie Pickering'' in 2019. Early life Lucy's adoptive parents emigrate ...
, John Clarke and
Denis Moore Denis Neville Moore (26 September 1910 – 2 October 2003) was an English cricketer. He played first-class cricket for Oxford University Cricket Club, Oxford University and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, Gloucestershire between 1930 a ...
.


Plot

Jack Simpson is a wisecracking, directionless layabout who works at an inner city telemarketing firm. For years he has been a member at the Cityside Lawn Bowls Club (in fact he has three memberships), but he has never played a single game, having only joined to get the free parking spaces from which he makes extra cash by renting them to his workmates. But Cityside is in dire financial trouble and a greedy developer, Bernie Fowler, wants to turn it into a soulless
pokies A slot machine, fruit machine (British English), poker machine or pokie (Australian English and New Zealand English) is a gambling machine that creates a game of chance for its customers. A slot machine's standard layout features a screen disp ...
venue. The Club President, Len, decides that all existing members must now play and Jack reluctantly has to turn up on Saturdays to take part in the bowling matches. Jack proves to be a natural player but he soon annoys and upsets the older club members with his brashness and lack of tact. Veteran player Stan, sensing that Jack only needs some guidance, both in the game and in life, takes him under his wing acts as a father figure, teaching him to think of other people apart from himself. After losing his girlfriend and his job, the Bowls Club suddenly becomes all Jack has in his life and, despite himself, he grows fond of the older members. His flatmate, Dave, joins the club and he starts a relationship with Nancy, a journalist. Bernie, determined to take over the club, investigates Jack and exposes his illegal car park hiring scam, which almost gets him expelled. Cityside enters a major tournament at Bernie's glitzy club, the prize money from which will save their independence. Jack's selfish showboating almost costs them the first round but Stan and the others make Jack finally realise he is part of a team. Soon the Police arrive to arrest Len as (in a tip-off from Bernie) they discovered marijuana stored at the club. It turns out the greenkeeper has been secretly growing marijuana but Jack is blamed by the other members. Dave and two of the ladies, Gwen and Eileen, approach the State Governor and convince her to overturn a lifetime ban on Cliff Carew, the club's best player, and the latter takes Len's place. Cityside fights their way into the lead and Stan throws the winning shot but he suffers a severe heart attack as he does so and Bernie lodges a protest, meaning the shot is disallowed. Jack insists that the rules allow the team a re-shot and he takes his special shot, the 'Flipper', which wins the tournament. To rub salt into the wounds, Nancy proves that while spying on the club, Bernie violated a restraining order banning him from the club, an illegal act which disqualifies Bernie from holding a gaming licence. Cityside experiences both triumph and tragedy; the club is saved and can continue in its old form. However, Stan passes away and the club names the green in his honour. The pot growing greenkeeper is sacked and Jack takes over his job and is comforted by Len who says Stan loved him like a son, he and Nancy begin a new life with their friends at the club. The film's end credits feature a postscript with still images and a narration by Jack describing the later exploits of all the characters.


Cast

*''Jack Simpson'' –
Mick Molloy Michael Molloy (born 11 July 1966) is an Australian comedian, writer, producer, actor and television and radio presenter who has been active in radio, television, stand-up and film. He currently hosts '' The Front Bar'' on the Seven Network. ...
*''Stan Coombs'' – Bill Hunter *''Dave Jackson'' –
Samuel Johnson Samuel Johnson ( – 13 December 1784), often called Dr Johnson, was an English writer who made lasting contributions as a poet, playwright, essayist, moralist, literary critic, sermonist, biographer, editor, and lexicographer. The ''Oxford ...
*''Nancy Brown'' –
Judith Lucy Judith Mary Lucy (born 25 March 1968) is an Australian comedian and actress, known primarily for her stand-up comedy. Lucy joined the team of the ABC's ''The Weekly with Charlie Pickering'' in 2019. Early life Lucy's adoptive parents emigrate ...
*''Bernie Fowler'' – John Clarke *''Len Johnson'' – Frank Wilson *''Eileen'' –
Monica Maughan Monica Cresswell Maughan (née Wood, 15 September 1933 – 8 January 2010) was an Australian actor with roles in theatre, radio, television, film and ballet over a career spanning 52 years. Early life and education She was born Monica Cresswel ...
*''Gwen'' –
Lois Ramsey Lois June Ramsey (; 18 June 1922 – 22 January 2016) also billed as Lois Ramsay, was an Australian actress, best known for her regular roles on television series '' The Box'' and ''Prisoner''. She often played quirky, eccentric old ladies on ...
*''Norm'' –
Cliff Ellen Cliff Ellen (born 22 March 1936) is an Australian character actor who played a prominent guest role on the soap opera ''Neighbours'' as Charlie Cassidy. His first role was in ''Homicide''. His credits include '' Crackerjack'', '' Garbo'', and ...
*''Ron'' –
Bob Hornery Robert James Hornery (28 May 1931 – 26 May 2015) was an Australian actor. He won both the Helpmann Awards and the Equity Awards lifetime achievement award, with a career spanning 60 years, in both Britain and Australia. He was well known for h ...
*''Cliff Carew'' –
John Flaus John Flaus is an Australian actor. Career Flaus began acting in 1969 when he was on the set of the short film ''The American Poet's Visit'', directed by Michael Thornhill. Flaus was there to observe the set, but Thornhill had told him to be ...
*''Edgar'' – Peter Aanensen *''Mrs Jenkins'' –
Esme Melville Esme Melville (born Esme Grace Mount-Melville, 23 July 1918 – 14 September 2006) was an Australian theatre, television and film actress. At the Tropfest awards for 2003 she won Best Actor – Female for her role of Granma in the short film, '' ...
*''Mandy'' –
Robyn Butler Robyn Butler is an Australian writer, actress and producer who is best known for her starring role in the television comedy series '' The Librarians''. Butler hosted a radio program called '' Tough Love with Mick Molloy'' on the Triple M network ...
*''Greenkeeper'' – Brett Swain *''Supervisor'' –
Christopher Kirby Christopher Kirby is an Australian actor. He is known for his performance in the 2012 film ''Iron Sky''. Other films he has appeared in include ''The Matrix Reloaded ''The Matrix Reloaded'' is a 2003 American science fiction action film w ...
*''Official'' – Denis Moore *''Governor'' – Joan Murray *''Announcer'' – Tony Martin *''Security Guard'' – Steve Hutchinson


Reception

Paul Byrnes, writing in the ''
Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper in ...
'', referred to ''Crackerjack'' as "a good-natured comedy...in which there's a nostalgia for our lost honour ... This nostalgia for an Australia of mateship and communal spirit is the film's main surprise. This is a broad comedy with a televisual style – including some dreadful mugging to camera – so who expected social critique as well? The movie is about Jack getting knocked off the donkey, like St Paul. Jack grows to manhood through bowls. This field of green becomes his Gallipoli, in a way, as a bunch of senior citizens teach him about honour, fidelity, and teamwork." Megan Spencer, reviewing the film for ''
Triple J Triple J is an Australian government-funded national radio station founded in 1975 as a division of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). It aims to appeal to young listeners of alternative music, and plays far more Australian conten ...
'', gave the film a positive review: "Yes, ''Crackerjack'' is a familiar journeyman story, but it is one that rings true with some generously observed comedy and pathos, a film that unlike its Aussie cousins ''
The Dish ''The Dish'' is a 2000 Australian historical drama, historical comedy-drama film that tells the story of the Parkes Observatory's role in relaying live television of humanity's first steps on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission in 1969. It wa ...
'', ''Welcome To Woop Woop'', ''The Castle'', ''
Siam Sunset ''Siam Sunset'' is a 1999 Australian comedy film directed by John Polson and starring Linus Roache and Danielle Cormack. Plot Perry (Linus Roache) is an English chemist working for a paint company and is depressed after losing his wife in a frea ...
'' etc. etc.... it doesn't patronise its characters, nor over-exploit the 'middle Australia' culture in which it is set."
David Stratton David James Stratton (born 1939) is an English-Australian film critic and historian. He has also worked as a journalist, interviewer, educator, television personality, and producer. His career as a film critic, writer, and educator in Austral ...
, writing in ''
Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'', was less enthusiastic, referring to Crackerjack as "a middling comedy which fails to live up to its explosive title ... A pleasant enough screen personality, Molloy is, however, barely able to carry such a modest project ... Stronger support comes from a fine ensemble of vets, especially saucy octogenarian
Esme Melville Esme Melville (born Esme Grace Mount-Melville, 23 July 1918 – 14 September 2006) was an Australian theatre, television and film actress. At the Tropfest awards for 2003 she won Best Actor – Female for her role of Granma in the short film, '' ...
... and
John Flaus John Flaus is an Australian actor. Career Flaus began acting in 1969 when he was on the set of the short film ''The American Poet's Visit'', directed by Michael Thornhill. Flaus was there to observe the set, but Thornhill had told him to be ...
as the club's most enigmatic member." When ''Crackerjack'' was first screened on free-to-air television,
Network Ten Network 10 (commonly known as the 10 Network, Channel 10 or simply 10) is an Australian commercial television network. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Paramount Global's Paramount Networks UK & Australia, UK & Australia division and is o ...
ran station promotions over the film's end credits, obscuring most of the postscript narration by the character Jack. Interviewed by ABC TV's '' Media Watch'', Mick Molloy expressed his annoyance.


Filming

The main location for bowls scenes, including the greens, carpark, and interior rooms, were filmed at the
Melbourne Bowling Club The Melbourne Bowling Club, nicknamed the Demons, and affiliated with Bowls Victoria (BV), is the oldest lawn Bowls, bowling club in Australia. Founded in 1864, the club has been based at Union Street, Windsor, Victoria, Australia on a continuou ...
in
Windsor, Victoria Windsor is an inner suburb in Melbourne, Victoria (Australia), Victoria, Australia, 5 km south-east of Melbourne's Melbourne central business district, Central Business District, located within the Cities of City of Port Phillip, Port Phill ...
. Location shots of other bowls clubs included filming at the Carrum Bowling Club in the Melbourne suburb of Carrum. The Corowa Bowls Club in the NSW town of
Corowa Corowa is a town in the state of New South Wales in Australia. It is on the bank of the Murray River, the border between New South Wales and Victoria, opposite the Victorian town of Wahgunyah. It is the largest town in the Federation Counci ...
was also used for scenes featured in the finale.


Box office

''Crackerjack'' grossed $8,618,107 at the box office in Australia. ''Crackerjack'' was the highest-grossing Australian film of the year and received two
AFI Award The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards, known as the AACTA Awards, are presented annually by the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA). The awards recognise excellence in the film and television industry, ...
nominations, for direction (
Paul Moloney ''Crackerjack'' is a 2002 Australian comedy film starring Mick Molloy, Bill Hunter, Frank Wilson, Monica Maughan, Samuel Johnson, Lois Ramsey, Bob Hornery, Judith Lucy, John Clarke and Denis Moore. Plot Jack Simpson is a wisecracking, dire ...
) and the screenplay (by
Mick Mick is a masculine given name or nickname, usually a hypocorism of Michael. Because of its popularity in Ireland, it is often used in the English-speaking world as an ethnic slur for Irish people. In Australia, the meaning also broadened to incl ...
and brother Richard Molloy). Crackerjack won a GOLD Award for Cinematography at the 2002 Victorian & Tasmanian awards for Director of Photography Brent Crockett ACS


See also

*
Cinema of Australia The cinema of Australia began with the 1906 production of ''The Story of the Kelly Gang'', arguably the world's first feature film. Since then, Australian crews have produced many films, a number of which have received international recogni ...


References


External links

*
Crackerjack at the National Film and Sound Archive
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crackerjack (Film) 2002 films Bowls films 2000s English-language films Films shot in Melbourne 2000s buddy comedy films 2000s sports comedy films Australian buddy comedy films Australian sports comedy films Bowls in Australia Films set in New South Wales Films set in Victoria (state) 2002 directorial debut films 2002 comedy films Roadshow Entertainment films Films directed by Paul Moloney English-language sports comedy films English-language buddy comedy films