The Postcard Bandit
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

''The Postcard Bandit'' is a 2003 Australian
television film A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie, telefilm, telemovie or TV film/movie, is a film with a running time similar to a feature film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a Terrestr ...
directed by
Tony Tilse Tony Tilse is an Australian television director. He won the Australian Directors' Guild Award for best direction of a TV drama series (periodical) and TV mini-series for '' Underbelly'' in 2008. Tilse also directed '' The Postcard Bandit'', and ' ...
, loosely based on the life of a convicted
bank robber Bank robbery is the criminal act of stealing from a bank, specifically while bank employees and customers are subjected to force, violence, or a threat of violence. This refers to robbery of a bank branch or teller, as opposed to other bank ...
Brenden James Abbott. The plot is based on the biographical book ''No Fixed Address'' by newspaperman Derek Pedley, who also assisted screenwriter Peter Gawler.Born to Run
.
The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...
, 26 May 2003


Plot

Brenden Abbott is on the run with fellow criminal Aaron Reynolds, having just escaped together from
Fremantle Prison Fremantle Prison, sometimes referred to as Fremantle Gaol or Fremantle Jail, is a former Australian prison and World Heritage Site in Fremantle, Western Australia. The site includes the prison cellblocks, gatehouse, perimeter walls, cottages, ...
,
Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...
. They rob banks across Australia before Abbott decides that it is time to live the high life for a while. To hinder identification, the two travel the country with a Japanese tourist and, during this trip, Abbott tells Reynolds he is giving him the flick. Reynolds tells Abbott, "You won't last a week without me," but it is Reynolds who is arrested some four weeks later. Although Glenn (brother) and Brenden have NO criminal history together, people are still lead to believe other wise which is incorrect. At
Gold Coast, Queensland The Gold Coast, also known by its initials, GC, is a coastal city and region in the state of Queensland, Australia, located approximately south-southeast of the centre of the list of Australian capital cities, state capital, Brisbane. It is ...
, Brenden meets the future mother of his only son William. He soon returns to robbing banks to feed his extravagant lifestyle. Abbott's brother Glenn introduces a driver whom he uses as an accomplice to rob a Perth bank, going in through the roof and breaking his ankle in the process. Abbott returns to Gold Coast and learns that his lover is pregnant to him. He leaves her and resumes bank robberies; she learns the true identity and character of the man she knew as "Peter". He begins seeing a prostitute, who becomes the
getaway driver A crime scene getaway is the act of departing from the location where one has committed a crime. It is an act that the offender(s) may or may not have planned in detail, resulting in a variety of outcomes. A :crime scene is the "location of a c ...
for his next few robberies. He teams up with his brother Glenn, who proves to be a loose cannon. He informs Glenn that he will still need his services in obtaining guns and fake ID cards, but will no longer rob banks with him. Glen replies that he is, "No good on me own," and punches Brenden before the pair go their separate ways. Glenn is detained by police while in possession of illegal weapons, and is forced to give up information on his brother's whereabouts, resulting in Brenden's arrest at Surfers Paradise. Abbott is sent to a maximum-security prison in Brisbane, where he befriends a small-time criminal who is due for release and successfully plots an escape with four other inmates. The four are quickly recaptured, while Abbott and his new partner remain at large. The pair rob a number of banks, including his most notorious robbery, netting some $800,000 from the Commonwealth Bank at Pacific Fair, Gold Coast. Abbott's partner soon is the target of a manhunt, after killing two police officers during a failed drug deal. He goes back to Abbott distraught at his actions and the two escape to Darwin, where they remain for some time. While walking down the street one day, Abbott returns a cricket ball hit by a boy. The boy's father—a policeman—recognizes the criminal, who is recaptured and sent back to jail in Queensland. A sequence in the film debunks the popular myth, created by police, that Abbott sent postcards to taunt them while on the run. In reality, an accomplice was caught with a roll of film which the police subsequently developed and sent prints to news media.


Cast

* Tom Long as
Brenden Abbott Brenden James Abbott (born 8 May 1962) is a convicted Australian bank robber. He is reported to have stolen and hidden millions of dollars, and was dubbed "the postcard bandit" by police seeking media coverage.Nyst, Chris (defence lawyer"The ...
*Brett Stiller as Glenn Abbott *
Matthew Le Nevez Matthew Le Nevez (born 10 January 1979) is an Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as Doctor Patrick Reid in the TV series ''Offspring'', Detective Brian Dutch in the Tasmanian Gothic sci-fi television show '' The Kettering Incident ...
as Aaron Reynolds *
Geneviève Lemon Genevieve Lemon (born 1959) is an Australian actress and singer who has appeared in a number of Australian television series and international film, including a frequent collaboration with Jane Campion for Academy Award-winning ''The Piano'' (1 ...
as Nola *
Simon Burke Simon Gareth Burke (born 8 October 1961) is an Australian actor, active in films, television and theatre. Biography Simon Burke began his career at the age of 12, starring in Michael Cove's ''Kookaburra'' (1974); a painful look at a dysfuncti ...
as Thomas *
Helen Dallimore Helen Dallimore (born 31 October 1971) is an Australian stage, television and film actress, known for originating the role of Glinda in the West End production of '' Wicked''. Early life Dallimore grew up in Oxford, England and Sydney, Austra ...
as Gina *
James Reyne James Michael Nugent Reyne Order of Australia, OAM (born 19 May 1957) is an Australian musician. He achieved fame as the lead singer of Australian Crawl, and subsequently went on to a successful solo career. Biography Early years Reyne was born ...
as himself * Nick Simpson-Deeks as Greg *
Tasma Walton Tasma Walton (born 19 August 1973) is an Aboriginal Australian television and film actress. Early life and education Tasma Walton was born on 19 August 1973 in Geraldton, Western Australia. She is of Boonwurrung descent through her mother. ...
as Frankie *
Felicity Price Felicity Price is an Australian actress and screenwriter. She co-wrote and starred in ''Wish You Were Here'' which saw her nominated for the 2012 AACTA Awards for Best Actress in a Leading Role and won Best Original Screenplay. Early life Price ...
as Receptionist *
Annie Byron Annie Byron is an Australian film, stage, and television actress best known for '' Wolf Creek 2'', ''Fran'', '' Muriel's Wedding'', and '' Doing Time for Patsy Cline''. Early life and education Annie Byron was born in Inverell, New South ...
as Thelma Abbott *
Michael Denkha Michael Denkha is an Assyrian-Australian actor known for his roles in ''Get Rich Quick'', ''Stealth'', ''The Combination'', ''Down Under'' and, most recently, '' Here Come the Habibs'' TV series. Biography Born in Tehran, Iran, Denkha moved ...
as Pippos *
Ned Manning Ned Manning is an Australian playwright, actor and teacher. His film credits include the lead role in '' Dead End Drive-In'' (1986), and television credits include '' The Shiralee'' and ''Prisoner'', and '' Brides of Christ''. His plays include ...
as Branch Manager


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Postcard Bandit 2003 television films 2003 films Australian television films 2003 crime thriller films Crime films based on actual events Films directed by Tony Tilse 2000s English-language films English-language crime thriller films