tvmovienews 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: 6.5/10For more Movie and TV News, Reviews and Rumours go to: www.facebook.com/tvmovienews

Tony Heck "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-.

Tim Meade Expectations for the lowish-budget Aussie surfing film Drift were not pitched overly high. My local cinema's synopsis of the story about two brothers who 'spend their youth searching for the perfect wave…(dreaming) of a world where they can surf to live and live to surf' I pretty much felt sure what I was letting myself in for.But the film delivered more than was promised.The film has a lively start, with the brothers as young children arriving fortuitously at the Western Australian surf town which would become their home after the cross-continent drive from Sydney where their mother had executed a tense midnight flit for the three of them to escape their drunken brute of a father.The action quickly fast forwards to their young adulthood as they lead a laid back if dead-end lifestyle before realising they can make surfboards better than those commercially available, moulding them in the garage at their home as their seamstress mother starts fashioning custom-made wetsuits. Their ambitions to expand are constantly thwarted by a lack of funds, the myopic tendencies of the town's old world conservative bank manager and the unwanted attentions of the local constabulary suspicious of their motives and lifestyle. Matters are complicated by a feud with the local bikie-gang – also the town's drug suppliers.A talented, itinerant and very hirsute surf filmmaker, a slightly unconvincing Sam Worthington, arrives on the scene in his bus-come-home with an attractive Hawaiian companion befriending the brothers and giving them much needed support in their constant battles with the bikies and encouragement in their enterprises.The main characterisations within the film were well drawn. Myles Pollard gave a stand-out performance as the elder brother, Andy, whose drive and business acumen didn't impinge upon his enjoyment of the more flippant things in life. The younger, rather wayward and unreliable brother Jimmy was nicely played by Xavier Samuel with roguish charm. Their mutual attraction and rivalry for the Hawaiian girl was subtly underplayed.The story swept along at a good pace and remained surprisingly fresh and original until the film's showdown. In debt to the bikies after becoming unwittingly involved in a drug deal by an accomplice, the boys desperately need cash they don't have. But as luck would have it, there is an upcoming major surf competition on the horizon. If only this could be won and the cash prize used to get them out of trouble…Jimmy, the more talented surfer, has gone walkabout so it falls to Andy to register as a wild-card entrant and save both their dreams and business – as well as his unbroken legs. From that point onwards, we were in rather familiar territory.This is a small scale film, well aware of its limitations which on the whole punched nicely above its weight. It portrayed a dark side to the sleepy coastal town to a degree I had not expected. Cinematography from Geoffrey Hall was first rate capturing the beauty and awesome power of the surf. There is enough good surfing action to please the aficionados but not at the expense of developing story and characters. A sporadic glam-rock soundtrack was insufficient, possibly the result of budget restraints.

jacquie-109-602428 Wow! Volunteered for CinefestOz and ended up being able to stay and watch the movie premiere! The opening scene creates an unexpected tension with the mother and the young brothers heading off in darkness. They drive and drive and end up at overlooking what appears to be the Margaret River beach and its seems like their fate lies in the region. It not easy fitting into a tight knit community and the boys find it difficult though they find do find a friend who's pretty good at fixing up boards. Cut to years later, with surfing still a big part in the life of the Kelly brothers, though Andy now works at the mill while younger brother Jimmy gets in with the wrong crowd. Poor Mum spends lots of time drinking tea or coffee at the sewing machine! JB is a surf photographer who drifts into the area and sets up camp overlooking the spectacular coastline. He is accompanied by Lani who both the boys begin to fall for. The movie coasts along at a slow pace mixing awesome surf photography interspersed with the drama unfolding to the final surf competition and showdown with the baddies, bank and promoter, and coming back to the beginning of the story when Jimmy saves Andy from drowning but the roles are reversed. The scenery in the film is breath taking and showcases the Margaret River region, including Augusta, Bunker Bay and Yallingup as places with pristine ocean and natural beauty. Like Red Dog, this will be an iconic Australian movie, honoring mates sharing waves, and the sentimental Aussie battler. From the speeches at the premiere, it is like a dream to the directors who have created something they are obviously stoked and proud of.