Top Five Aussie Flicks

If you pay any attention to cinematic news, you will have heard plenty of talk about foreign films. There is a whole world (yes, literally) of cinema beyond the borders of the United States, and great things are happening in it. If you don’t have much patience for subtitles, consider taking in some Australian movies. Australian cinema has been booming in recent decades and has its own unique flare, but all in the English language (with that great accent, mate)! Whether you rent them on DVD or stumble upon them while flipping through satellite TV, here are the top five Aussie flicks that you shouldn’t miss:

Mad Max:
You might not know this is a 100% Australian classic, considering the movie was originally dubbed by American actors for its release in the United States! In fact, you might not know even that American-Irish Mel Gibson was raised in Australia. Unless you rent this on DVD you will probably get the American dub, although if you are lucky some satellite TV stations might broadcast the original soundtrack so you can hear the young, then-unknown Gibson with full Aussie accent. As one of Australia’s all-time top grossing films, there is no better place to start than with this classic post-apocalyptic thriller. Check out this or its sequel, Road Warrior, in High Definition format for the full experience.

Strictly Ballroom
From director Baz Luhrmann comes this very off-beat comedy. A young star in the sport of ballroom dancing must stand up against tradition and expectations by dancing his own unorthodox steps with an unlikely partner, as he strikes out against what is considered “strictly ballroom.” If you liked Luhrmann’s later creations, like Romeo + Juliet starring DiCarprio and Danes, or the flashy Moulin Rouge, check out this quirky movie and see where this distinctive director got his beginnings.

He Died With a Falafel in His Hand
The movie is as unusual as its title, and I might never have known about it if I hadn’t randomly come across it one night thanks to the endless variety satellite TV. Based on a novel by the same name, the film is a colorful depiction of the 20-something lifestyle as the main character moves around different shared housing situations, in each new house finding roommates weirder than the last. Features fantastic writing, acting, and soundtrack.

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Are you getting the idea yet that Australian cinema can be pretty deranged? That’s absolutely why I love it so much. In this distinctive film the title character is a bus, driven by three drag queen performers as they quest about the Australian outback, with plenty of glitter and glamour to flash in the High Definition version. The characters are likeable and well-developed as the trip reveals personal dramas, mechanical failures, and the reality of running into violent prejudice – as well as unexpected friendships.

Crocodile Dundee
This light and fun romantic comedy certainly succeeded in its initial attempts to appeal to a larger global audience. The savvy Dundee character is the best kind of hero, being a quick and clever sportsman with a sense of humor who can handle himself in the outback of Australia or on the streets of New York City – even if he makes the occasional faux pas along the way.

Expand your horizons and become a foreign film buff – and do it without learning a foreign language! With the endless variety of channels on Direct TV, you can catch all of these and many more international classics. There are some great Direct TV packages, especially movie buffs, that I strongly recommend checking out.