btm1 I saw the film on TV with the title "Introducing the Dwights." I guess that is because the film is about the Dwight family. I think the original Clubland title is more descriptive, because the story involves entertainers who work the club circuit for little money.The family members that share a home are a divorced mother, Jean (Brenda Blethyn), and two sons. The boys father has his own home. The mother works as a cook at a diner but also has a career as a stand up comic. Before her marriage she had been something of a rising star in England, but moving with her husband to Australia and the birth of her children killed her career, which she is trying to resurrect. One son, Tim (Khan Chittenden), has a job as a mover, is still a virgin. Jean leans on him for support and is fearful that he is at an age when some girl will take him away from her. The other son, Mark (Richard Wilson) is slightly brain damaged but treated by Jean as if he is severely retarded. The father works as a security guard but is a singer who a long time ago had a single hit record.Although the parent's efforts to resurrect their careers is one thread, a second is Tim's "coming of age" problems. A third thread is spastic Mark, who also leans on Tim for support and is sort of bounced around like a cork floating in water. These threads are skillfully interwoven, with the major conflict being Tim's effort to get free from the mother he doesn't want to hurt.There are no dull moments in this movie. There is humor and pathos. I thought the acting is terrific, especially Brenda Blethyn and Richard Wilson.My only quibble is that I thought Tim's girlfriend and her room mate were too hip and too hot to be interested in the shy Tim. Perhaps Australian girls have a hard time finding decent young men.

ptb-8 CLUBLAND to me is a very poor film: it asks audiences to accept a truly irritating leading character, played by Brit stalwart Brenda Blethyn yet again playing her overbearing mother role. Released in Oz with great hope only drawn from a big US sale and not from the realities of this weak and annoying film, CLUBLAND left cinemas for good almost immediately. It grossed less than $1.5m when overexcited local industry execs misread the tone of the film and the annoyed audience... so who actually likes this film? Some crits keen to associate with an overseas sale and 'friends of the production'..NOT the general public who vote with their bottoms in another chair (at home). Friends of the cast crew and local distributor might rake through these negative comments and seek to have them removed (my previous on was) but the reality for CLUBLAND is simple: it is boring and it is dull... suburban drone characters are always just that, and sadly nice leading male, the young Khan Chittenden also seen in the equally tedious suburban drivel WEST just released in Sydney will see two performances erased by a yawning public who will not leave their homes to pay $16 a ticket for this very ordinary stuff. Producer Rosemary Blight is a talented humorous professional whose previous gem was FRESH AIR - her charming little film that is genuinely good and interesting and yes, suburban.

Tim Johnson Diane and I watched this fabulous, loving film as a double today and we both loved every minute of all that we saw. We see a reasonable number of films but neither of us have see such a feeling glimpse into the lives of people such as we saw today. As a country we should be so proud of the manner in which we can deal, through film and in reality, with the more difficult parts of human existence; we seem to have a gift unlike, if I can be permitted this generalisation, other countries and their approaches to cinema with the "pieces unexamined". There seems to be a rare acceptance of the breadth of human experience and our conditions; a breadth that passes beyond mere acceptance while the ear and the eye are absently directed away from the focus of interest and here I am dealing with Tim's multiply challenged brother Mark. Mark is allowed to be an integral character in this film rather than a challenged vision in the background. The scene where the girls take him onto the ice in a Sydney rink is priceless, as well as the last scene of the film at the wedding where he and his Downs girlfriend lead the dancing; again, priceless film with scripting, directing and acting at its magical best.Little can be added to the outstandingly sensitive portrayal of Tim's mum by Brenda Blethyn, an actor who deserves every accolade that has been given her for this portrayal that is ridden with pathos. I know, I know, already I can read viewer comments that I have not looked at yet who will damn this film for its "formulaic" script and its accompanying acting where characters are "cardboad" and not sufficiently drawn and I say Rubbish! Let us look at ourselves in situations where the actors fit perfectly into life's costume as if that costume were custom made such as this wonderful film.Go out of your way to see this fabulous viewing experience.

jonathanbray-1 ...with a great Sundance festival story. While attending the 2007 Sundance Film Festival (living in Utah means easy access to the Festival) I had the opportunity to meet the Australian agent for Emma Booth. Random seating at the restaurant for lunch placed my brother and myself next to a charming woman and as we began to converse she spoke of her work at the festival (at Sundance everyone is promoting something). Of course, this person was representing "the next big star" and encouraged us to check out the movie Clubland. When you hear that kind of thing one must always take it with a grain of salt and just smile and nod... Well, this woman was so utterly charming and genuinely friendly that we decided to make the effort and spend our Sunday afternoon committed to the "wait list" for this film. Clubland delivered... great performances, a great story and a wonderful cast of future stars. I actually felt invested in the characters within the first 5-10 minutes. It is rare that a chance recommendation turns out to be true but this is one of those moments when our time spent to see this film was worth every minute. Thanks for recommending such a wonderful film and watch for Emma Booth, after viewing this performance she really is "the next big star".