Matthew Newton Movies
- 2002
Clinging to their youthful recklessness before hurdling headlong into the dreaded world of adulthood responsibility, the graduating high school class of 70,000 head to the Gold Coast to live it up at the Australian phenomenon known as Schoolies and party themselves into oblivion. Whether by train, bus, car or limo, Blurred just goes to show that getting there is half the fun as a variety of characters experience the youthful rush of youthful abandon. Set to a frenetic pace and taking on the madness of Schoolies for the first time, director Evan Clary's freshman effort offers a rare glimpse into the wild world of Australia's equivalent to America's spring break antics. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Newton, Craig Horner, (more)
One of the most expensive miniseres ever assembled for Australian television, Changi covered a time-span of nearly 60 years. The story was told in flashback as a group of six former POWs, arranging a reunion, recalled their experiences in a Singapore prison camp. Though all six suffered mightily at the hands of their Japanese captors, all managed to survive the ordeal and remain friends even after cessation of hostilities. Still, each man had retained a deleterious "side effect" from his imprisonment, which threatened to cast a tragic pall on their reunion. Running an exhaustive gamut from comedy to horror, Changi sustained its believability by having each of the main characters played by two actors -- one young for the WWII scenes, one old for the postwar scenes. Though critics and the general public were impressed when the series first aired on Australia's ABC network from October 14 to November 12, 2001, there were a number of real-life prison camp survivors who condemned the project as unrealistic and offensive (and never mind that at least one of the lead actors on the show had himself weathered six years in a Japanese stockade). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
The second and third novels in author Anne Rice's popular book series The Vampire Chronicles provide the inspiration for this horror sequel starring ill-fated actress and recording artist Aaliyah, who was killed in an airplane crash before the film's release. Stuart Townsend is the vampire Lestat, who has awakened from a century-long slumber and turned his considerable energy to rock music. His vampirism identity mistaken for a gothic hard rock publicity stunt along the lines of Kiss or Marilyn Manson, he quickly becomes a pop music sensation. Lestat's powerful music reaches the ear of the slumbering Akasha (Aaliyah), the millennia-old "queen of the vampires" who was the first immortal bloodsucker. Akasha is soon free and embarking on a quest to seize control of the world with Lestat at her side. In the meantime, Lestat becomes an object of fascination for Jesse Reeves (Marguerite Moreau), member of a secret order studying the supernatural called the Talamasca, and a band of ancient vampires come together in an effort to stop Akasha, even though her destruction could potentially cause their own deaths. Queen of the Damned co-stars Lena Olin and Vincent Perez. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Aaliyah, Stuart Townsend, (more)
A trio of sailors about to be sent off to war hit the town for one last party in this semi-improvised drama from actor and filmmaker Matthew Newton. Sam (Ewen Leslie), Dean (Toby Schmitz), and Harry (Matthew Newton) are members of the Australian Navy who have orders to board the HMAS Dignity and set sail for duty that will eventually send them to Iraq. With 24 hours of liberty before they report for duty, Harry suggests they hit Sydney and party. However, despite plenty of booze and a visit from some friendly hookers, it's hard for the men to relax and enjoy themselves. Sam isn't sure he can handle the stress of war, and has a one-night stand with a waitress (Gracie Otto) while wondering if he'd be better off deserting. Dean takes some time out for a dinner with his wife-to-be and her folks, but drinking loosens his tongue and he says some things he should have kept to himself. And Harry, the wild man of the group, doesn't seem so jovial when his day comes to a close. Three Blind Mice received its world premiere at the 2008 Sydney Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Matthew Newton, Toby Schmitz, (more)
