The Castle (1999)

Must See Movie...

Awesome Movie

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

Australia has always historically had a bit of a self-depreciating streak about it, deemed unofficially cultural cringe and dealt with unofficially with what we call tall poppy syndrome. We don't like someone who goes out of their way to show off how high and mighty they are. So The Castle is inherently a classic battler (underdog) story, about the little man sticking it to the bullying corporation. But if you saw what he was fighting for you might struggle to hold in a laugh. Dale Kerrigan narrates his family's life on 3 Highview Crescent, Coolaroo. It looks like a nice enough place until the camera pans ever so slightly to the left to reveal an airport runway not fifty metres from their backyard. Darryl fancies himself a bit of DIY guru so he has taken it upon himself to fashion 'extensions' of sorts, propped up by creaky metal scaffolding and tarps flapping about majestically in the wind. He and his family constantly beam inwardly and pinch themselves on getting such a prime piece of land for so cheap (its value hasn't risen once, despite all of Darryl's handiwork with the fake lace and chimney). Tracy is the prize hen of the Kerrigan's, and the only one in the family to have a Tafe degree (somewhat equivalent to a community college) in hairdressing, no less. The flip side of this situation is the black sheep, Wayne, who is in jail for attempted robbery. If you have ever lived in Australia you would know that we always start conversations or meetings with a "How are you" or a "how's it going", without actually wanting to know the specific answer to this question. It's a distinct pleasantry that has attached itself to our daily speech, and The Castle has a delightful play on this notion when Dale goes for his weekly visit to Wayne. They have nothing to talk about (Dale never mentions school, or a job, or anything remotely resembling a future prospect) so the entire conversation is basically a checklist of Wayne enquiring about the family's status: "How's Dad?", "Good", "How's Mum?", "Good", "How's Trace?", "Good" and so on for hours and hours. But they love each other very much all the same, and The Castle never tries to deny this. The Kerrigans and their ways are only a slight exaggeration from some working class Australian families, so the film is not laughing at them, but rather laughing with them. A key aspect of parody is being able to recognise these faults, and this makes the film so much more valuable when one can point out all the details it gets right. The serenity of a sweaty summer night for example, save for the constant hum of the bug zapper (and the cicadas, which the film forgets). Or how Darryl makes sure to use 'serenity' twice, as if to proudly demonstrate his knack for mastering slightly bigger words. The voice-over narration follows put; Dale's thought process is so literal he is sometimes simply followed by the exact dialogue of his recount. A young Eric Bana also joins in, pronouncing disenchanted like he had just looked it up in the dictionary and wants to impress his father-in-law. The family marvels at the luxurious riches afforded them on their honeymoon, mainly the freedom of choice between fish and beef wellington (an exotic term to them). One running joke has Steve constantly interrupting with listings from the sales section of the newspaper, and Darryl entertaining the idea of buying anything and everything, then shooting down the asking price without a second thought. Dads want to show that they are resourceful, but also frugal; Darryl has the uncanny ability to identify the market value of anything that Steve might want to purchase. One guy is selling seven eskies all at once. You can never have too many eskies. Rob Sitch would follow his directorial debut with another warmly Australian movie, The Dish, which was about the contributions of a small New South Wales town's radio telescope in the first manned mission to the moon. If these movies lean heavily on a certain type of caricature ala Ozploitation, then they do so in a good-natured way. They could never ever be set in the big city, where we have all but assimilated into the civilised ways of the west. These days, if we do say "You ripper!" it's probably in an intentional, ironic way, although like the film itself, there's an element of playing along with a grin.

The opening of the movie is voiced over by the narrator – Dale Kerrigan (Steven Curry), he opens up his story with introducing himself, his family and their home… or there Castle should I say. This movie has won multiple awards, one of few being "Australian Movie of the Year". 'The Castle' is an Australian Comedy-Drama, most people would call it a classical Australian Comedy but I found it rather not humorous at all and quite boring, but not everything can suit everyone so you may be like me and dislike and not at all enjoy the movie whilst everyone around you is laughing… or you might be one of those people laughing and enjoying the movie. This story is told through the eyes of Dale Kerrigan, the youngest boy of the Kerrigan family. The Kerrigan family has 6 members, each having a very strong sense of identity, each showing very strong, loving "Bogan Australian" characteristics. In the Kerrigan family there is Darryl and Sally who are the parents, then there's Wayne who is the oldest son who throughout the movie spends all his time in gaol because "it wasn't his fault he robbed the servo", then there's Tracey and Con who recently just married, Tracy is the only daughter and everyone is so proud of her and he hairdressing career, there's also Steve who is constantly looking for random things to buy in the newspaper and then last of all there's Dale the narrator. The Kerrigan family are an extremely loving, caring and understanding family, which is why so many people love this movie, through anything and everything they still stick together and support each other's decisions. If you love classic Australian humour this is a movie that will get you laughing, but if you are like me and do not at all find it funny, I still suggest you watch it if you have the time but you just might not enjoy it all that much. The movie is based around a problem that this family encounters with their small family home which is next door to an airport in Melbourne. Dale tells his story of his family and the adventure they have after they have a visit from the council telling them that their much loved family home is being taken from them so they can extend the airport. Through-out the film the strong characteristics of each main character is shown constantly, showing that they aren't going to give up, but in the end do they succeed? Or do they eventually give up? The Kerrigan family love their home no matter what anyone says, they love every single thing about it, even the airport next door doesn't bother them with the constant noise of planes coming and going, they think it's amazing they get to live so close to one of the greatest man made creations, and the fact that the government is trying to take that away from them kills them all inside but they won't just give up their house, there home and their castle just in a snap of fingers and they won't give up without a fight. What the government was trying to take from them was a house but really what they would be taking was a home, home is more of a feeling and comfortable memorable place rather than a house which is just a building you live in. The whole neighbourhood are furious about losing their houses and they will all do what they can so they can keep their houses, but is all they've got to give stronger than what the council and government want? Or will they come up with an agreement that everyone agrees with? Or do they not at first succeed but continue fighting their battle like a knight would fight for its castle and village? Overall even though I did not enjoy the movie the story line of a family who doesn't give up no matter what and will fight for the things they love is very heart warming and leaves you with a sense of love and care for the family even though it's just a story.

This movie is by the creators of the D-Generation and Frontline (both Australian comedies) though there is little similarities between them. The Castle is about an Australian family who lives next to an international airport and the government wants to buy their property so that they can extend the runway. The owner of the house, Daryl Culligan, refuses to sell because this house is his home and decides to take the government to court. Unfortunately the only lawyer he has available is solicitor named Denis Denito who is hopeless. So bad that I wonder how he actually ever passed law school.It is the characters that make the Castle a decent movie. Daryl's oldest son is in gaol after an armed robbery and he is watching the world go buy from behind bars. Daryl is a very noble husband. Though he doesn't know much, he is a very wise man. He loves his wife and his actions show it. In fact I see Daryl as being a great role model for a husband. He always complements his wife on her cooking and is always encouraging her. One may look on the family as being stupid, but that is only a thin veneer; we actually see a very gifted family underneath. Daryl is a born leader and this is shown by how he leads the residents of his street against the government. His middle son is always looking through the Trading Post for bargains, and some of them are cool such as a spiral staircase, a pair of jousting rods, and a pulpit. His youngest son is the mouthpiece of the story, and he seems to be the least brightest, getting excited over digging a hole.Daryl's wife I also find very noble. Though the age of feminism fiercely attacks this belief, Daryl's wife does indeed submit to her husband. What is more important is that Daryl does not abuse her and their marriage seems to be harmonious. Both of them have their gifts and they work together to hold each other up, especially since they are fighting a huge corporation in the courts. There is also the Iraqi who lives next door who seems to have a fascination with bombs: "they said that the planes that fly over the house devalue it but I am not concerned, in Iraq planes that fly over your house drop bombs." He is a very trusting neighbour yet very intimidating.They bring up Mabo occasionally in this case and Daryl says "now I know how the aboriginals feel." This movie seems to be a response to the aboriginal land claims and attacks the Australian government for the way they took the Aboriginal's land away from them. They are placing the pain of the aboriginals over that of the typical white Australian and are trying to open our eyes to the truth behind what the aboriginals feel. We kicked the aboriginals off their land so that we could set up a colony. In the Castle, the Culligan family is being kicked off of their land because of the government's desire to expand the airport.Favourite Quote: What's a pulpit? Something a preacher preaches from. How much they asking? 800 bucks.Tell them they're dreaming.

As an Australian, you don't get much better than this. I really don't know many Australian's that don't enjoy this film, or use the colloquials in everyday life ('tell him he's dreamin'). Each time I watch this film I laugh at the irony at the absurd simpleton family that find the smallest things amazing (like when they go on holiday to Boonie Doon. That cracks me up, as it is probably one of the ugliest places Australia has to offer), yet the wholesome and loving family values that shine through the family.In honesty, we could all take a leaf out of the Kerrigan family's book and appreciate the simpler things in life, as much as they do.If you watch this Australian classic film with an open mind to Australian humor, I truly believe that anybody could enjoy it. It has so many great one-liners and all of the characters have been cast so perfectly. Stephen Curry is going quite well in cinema these days, taking on much more serious roles! Give the Castle a go. It's a ripper!