Review of Chopper

Introduction

“It doesn’t matter if you’re a professional criminal. A professional thief. A professional murderer. A professional ... whatever. When you’re in prison, nothing is more frightening than a f***ing psycho”.

Mark “Chopper” Read makes this claim in an interview on this DVD. And he should know because he is a total, f***ing psycho. And not just any psycho. Chopper is probably Australia’s most famous psycho.

A career criminal since childhood, Chopper has spent most of his life in jail and based on the content here, he deserved it. While the film goes to great pains to state that this is an interpretation of events and not a biography, Read does nothing to refute the events (murder, maiming, slapping women about, general psychotic behaviour) and comes across as a thoroughly nasty piece of work.

It would be easy to loathe the man. Except for the fact that he is charismatic and, damn it all, likeable character. Australia has certainly fallen for his dubious charm – he is a best selling author with 10 books written about his exploits. This film gives the rest of the world the chance to make up its mind about the man they call “Chopper”.

Video

Good quality anamorphic transfer. It isn’t the absolute best you are likely to see because this isn’t a big budget film but good nonetheless.

The use of lighting is worthy of note. Many scenes are washed in blue or green light heightening the sense of disquiet and menace.

Audio

Good solid DD 5.1 soundtrack. Dialog is clearly reproduced and the surround channels are sparingly but well used especially during the night-club scenes. The soundtrack by Mick Harvey is fairly mundane – in fact, I can’t remember anything about it. Dull.

Metrodome have generously included the DD Locomotive trailer which is a nice bonus if you haven’t seen/heard it.

Features

Chopper gives us an excellent bunch of features. Firstly, there is a batch of interesting interviews with Mark “Chopper” Read himself. These are enlightening since they give you the chance to see the real Chopper in the flesh. As with Eric Bana’s portrayal in the film, it is difficult to make your mind up about the man. He comes across as quite amiable – a good laugh – but there is a manic streak behind his easy going persona and you get the sense that he might head butt the camera man without much hesitation. His “F***ing psycho” monologue is a case in point. He states that there is nothing more frightening in prison than a “F***ing psycho” and you believe him.

In addition, there are a few deleted scenes (with director’s commentary) which are fine but not essential viewing.

The real meat of the disk’s extras are the two commentaries. The one by director Andrew Dominik is decent enough but, on occasion, he hasn’t much to say and I wouldn’t consider it mandatory viewing. The commentary by Chopper himself is a different matter. He doesn’t shut up from titles to credits. Every second is filled with a recollection or, possibly, an invention. At one point in the film, Chopper states that the truth shouldn’t get in the way of a good story and you get the impression that this is his life’s credo. You feel that he is making up this stuff (shooting guys in the stomach, driving them to hospital and then whinging that his victims should be thanking him rather than putting a contract out) as he goes along. At the same time, you wonder if the real truth is much, much worse.

Conclusion

Chopper is uneasy viewing. It is both brutal and vicious yet, at the most inappropriate times, quite funny. This seems to reflect the character of Mark Read. I think there is little doubt that he is a vicious killer and, still, you probably couldn’t help but like the man if you met him. Well, up until he knee caps you anyway.

The most compelling part of the film is Eric Bana’s portrayal of Chopper. He captures perfectly the mad intensity, the brutality and the amiable charm of Chopper. He is on screen for most of the film and you can’t, literally, take your eyes of him. He is superb.

On a technical level, Chopper and this DVD are excellent. There is one big problem, though. Mark Read himself. Chopper has become somewhat of a folk hero and, Mark Read has both created the myth and believes his own hype. The truth is, though, that Chopper shouldn’t be anyone’s hero. This is the contradiction of the character and the film. You shouldn’t like it but, when it comes down to it, you can’t really help yourself. Charming but dangerous.