Not Quite Hollywood: 103 minutes. Rated: MA. Director: Mark Hartley. Starring: Brian Trenchard-Smith, Russel Mulcahy, Quentin Tarantino, Philip Adams, Barry Humphries et al.
During the 1970s, Australian cinema experienced what many now regard as its golden age. Filmmakers such as Peter Weir (Picnic at Hanging Rock) and Gillian Armstrong (My Brilliant Career) were turning out the kind of 'culturally important' films with popular appeal that see a film industry excel on the world stage.
Gleefully scuffing up the flipside of that glittering coin were a raft of filmmakers creating the kind of cinema that was tailor-made for the drive-in set. These were Australia's answer to US and European 'exploitation' movies; low-budget genre flicks that exploit violent, sexualised or other lowbrow content for sheer entertainment value.
The most famous (or infamous) products of the 'Ozploitation' boom include Mad Max and The Adventures of Barry McKenzie. Other notable mentions include the killer pig horror of Razorback (think Jaws in the outback), the 'nature fights back' thrills of The Long Weekend, and the abysmally bad but oh-so-fun antics of Turkey Shoot — which has the distinction of being Phillip Adams' least favourite film.
All of these, and many others, are bounced around like thrill-busting piñatas by director Mark Hartley in Not Quite Hollywood. Obviously a fan, Hartley crams plenty of excerpted footage into this irreverent but reverential documentary. It's a larrikin celebration of the best of bad Aussie cinema.
The complementary interviews are both plethoric and downright fascinating. Ozploitation brand-name directors Brian Trenchard-Smith and Russel Mulcahy relive their glory days. Cultural commentators Adams and Barry Humphries deride the genre and its proponents. Actors recall the indignity (or otherwise) of getting their kit off for the camera. Crewmembers relate the very real danger of being involved with amateur stunt work.
All marvel at the maverick and pioneering efforts of filmmakers determined to push the envelope despite working with limited resources and against the grain of cultural acceptability.
Quentin Tarantino, himself a great lover of cinema and self-schooled expert on exploitation films, dedicated the Sydney premier of his film Kill Bill to Trenchard-Smith. The fact that he features prominently as a Not Quite Hollywood talking-head, gushing like a fanboy on sherbert about his Ozploitation favourites, is a boon for Hartley and a tribute to just how well these filmmakers knew their stuff.
The documentary is exuberantly packaged, frank and unashamedly celebratory. You may not harbour