Customer Reviews

Hammers Over the Anvil

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Ann Turner's "Hammers Over The Anvil" is a delightful coming of age story set in small town Australia and depicts Australian country life during the early 20th Century (1910). We watch as a young boy grows into a young man while sharing his unique perspective on life and those around him. The young man, who is crippled and uses braces and crutches to get around, shares his thoughts via narration and his life as we are guided through his world as his experiences it. By the end of the story, we gain knowledge of the inner boy, his friendships, family connections, loves, losses, and amazing ability to see past the socially acceptable conclusions toward the true meaning of many human behaviors.

The wonderful cast brings a rich fullness to each and every scene. The cast members speak with heavy Australian accents which will necessitate careful listening on most non-Australian viewers parts. Many viewers will rent/buy this film to see a wonderful early performance by a then up and coming Australian actor, Russell Crowe. Mr Crowe does not disappoint his fans and delivers a quality performance as he depicts one of the film's most likable characters. To the viewer's delight, the film's entire cast delivers performances that meet and, at times, out shine the high level performance of Mr Crowe.

"Hammers Over The Anvil" presents material which is at times adult in nature, but does so in a respectful and tasteful manner. The scenes which project this material are necessary to successfully depict the plot and its full meaning to the movie's viewers. I enjoyed this movie and know many of you will too.

Russell Crowe has to be one of the best actors around. He is versatile, believeable, and the "Everyman" most of us can identify with on some level. Of course the fact that he's got a great body and reminds me of a boy I was crazy about in high school has nothing to do with my judgement of his acting abilities.

Seriously, the actors and the director of this film should be commended. In my book, HAMMERS OVER THE ANVIL ranks right up there with ANGEL AT MY TABLE (Kerry Fox) and MY BRILLIANT CAREER (Judy Davis). All these films are set in Austrailia and New Zealand, directed by women, and about a young person's coming of age. All three of the young protagonists grow up to become writers and the stories are autobiographical.

If you appreciated the cinematograpy in Campion's ANGEL AT MY TABLE and you love the Australian countryside you will marvel at scenes shot in the dewy mists of morning, the blazing noon day sun and by moonlight. The DVD is very clear and the frames are well articulated. The Australian Film Board sponsored the film so it's a work of art.

HAMMERS OVER THE ANVIL is set in 1910--before WWI. As I watched the film I felt I was observing a lost way of life. Even 50 years ago in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the U.S. agricultural communities still existed and blacksmiths were relatively common (hammers and anvils).

HAMMERS a slice of life, and more. A dramatic series of events unfolds. I won't reveal the ending, but say it did not end the way I thought it would. This film was directed by a woman and contains a strong female lead. Most women I know will appreciate the story. Charlotte Rampling is wonderful and I could totally identify with her in this role (whereas I could not when she played Ms. Haversham in GREAT EXPECTATIONS). She is an excellent actress and her relationship with East (Crowe) was entirely believeable. It may be HAMMERS OVER THE ANVIL is the story of a boy's coming of age, but the women and girls in this film create a real presence. A keeper.

I was pleasantly surprised recently to discover a gem in the foreign movie circuit I had previously never even heard of before. Hammers over the Anvil is a beautifully told story of awakening adolescence, love, regret and hope. Told through the narration of an adolescent and handicapped boy, the story is really about an ensemble of characters in an Australian town and their relationships with one another. Due mostly to the talented cast of actors in this film as well as the superb writing and direction, Hammers over the Anvil does something few two hour movies achieve - and that is compassion for all of the characters no matter how deceptively small a part each character plays. Russell Crowe proves once again that he was a very fine actor way before fame came his way and an equally talented cast of actors only adds to his performance. This is really the only film I've seen Crowe in where his leading lady brings in as strong a performance as he does. The result is truly one of those great movie romances that makes you wish for more. The scenery is breathtaking, the performances magnificent, the story beautifully written...this is one that I would buy for my personal collection to see again and again!

I purchased this not even knowing much about it. I am a big fan of Russell Crowe and have found most of his films, whether the film itself is good or not, he brings a certain life and charisma to each of his roles. This is one of his earlier films and certainly bears worth seeing. He won a best actor award for the role as well. You will have to view it with a certain appreciation and an open mind. The opening scene may shock you just alittle but it also expresses the carefreeness of his character, East Driscoll,so I can see how it was necessary to the storyline. I enjoyed the film very much...while it doesn't compare to some of his later films is nonetheless a delightful earlier film although, don't read if you haven't seen, it ends quite sadly. Crowe is wonderful as usual and it is neat to see some of his earlier work before he became such a big star. It is definitely worth a look-see. the acting is also superb.

Hammers Over the Anvil is one of those few films that has many of the complexities of life blended together in a way that some part of it will touch the viewer. Life is seen through the eyes of a young boy who does not judge. Instead he can enter each character's intermost being and know their thoughts and feelings. The film won Best Actor for Russell Crowe at the Seattle International Film Festival and the Young Actor's Award for Alexander Outhred at the Australian Film Institute.

This is an excellent movie. All the actors do a superb job.
Set in the late 1890's or early 1900's in Australian horse and cattle country, the story unfolds through the eyes of a young, crippled boy. His hero is East (they pronounce it "Ace") acted by Russell Crowe. East is a horse breaker (wrangler??)and owns a string of well-bred horses. The young wife of an elderly, wealthy Australian(English) land- owner wishes to breed a mare with one of East's stallions. From this a romance ensues. Charlotte Rampling is the upper class English wife, who falls, temporarily, for the illiterate East. Russell is superb riding his horses........... and one tremendously romantic scene has him galloping up to Charlotte as she rides, he sweeps her off her horse and they ride off laughing!!
This is close to a 5 star movie!!

Beautiful, passionate rites of passage film. Ann Turner, the director, chose her actors well. Charlotte Rampling's cool femininity and Russell Crowe's intense masculinity created a special chemistry on screen. Ann Turner had some very delicate scenes to direct and used a subtle and artful touch. The opening scene was glorious and a joy to see an actor (or anyone) so comfortable in their own skin.

The young boy who played Alan Marshall (Alexander Outhred) was absolutely wonderful. There was a magical, childlike wonder and innocence about the love scene between East & Grace that Alan witnesses and another reason why this film is so good. The whole cast was exceptional. I don't want to spoil this for anyone. I'll just say this could become one of my favorite films.

This movie just blows me away each time I watch it. Visually, the scenery is expansive, wild and unspoiled. The characters are "real people", natural, believable, and appealing in their own ways. The story meanders from one relationship to another, all of which center around the young disabled boy who narrates in retrospect, having become a successful writer.

At times there is almost a voyeuristic feel, as Alan observes and becomes aware of his own sexuality, and that of those he cares for. He shows the awkwardness and uncertainty of one in the throes of his first crush, and looks to his older and much admired friend East, for clues.

East is everything Alan believes he is not- confident, wild, masterful with horses, physically strong, lusted after by women, and involved with Grace, an attractive older married woman Alan fantasizes about. He is drawn into the relationship between Grace and East, first as a mutual friend, then as confidant in order to keep the affair quiet, and finally as a go-between when life choices must be made. He comes to realize that East is just as much at a loss emotionally, as he himself is physically. They both want things which in reality are unattainable, and refuse to accept the fact.

Dwelling on the "hunk" factor sells this film short. The performances of the leads are beyond fine. So much is conveyed visually, with expressions, movements, and gestures, the words are secondary. I was left with an ache in my heart, my toes tingling and really wanting a cigarette when it was all over.

I thought I was purchasing a bit of fluff. This is one of the most sensitive and heart rending movies I have seen in years. Allen, East and Grace draw the viewer into their world with ease and eloquence in a very down to earth way. You become a part of the movie without even knowing it. The simplicity of a young boy trying to figure out what life is all about is heart warming and wrenching at the same time. These actors have full command of the craft and deserve any awards they can garner.

Though I truly enjoyed this film, particularly the characters portrayed in it, I found myself wishing that the director had taken more advantage of the third-person perspective that film allows. While director Ann Turner retains the first-person point of view of the stories written by Alan Marshall, I felt that a little broadening of the viewpoint might have helped the development of this film. A couple of the scenes and characters were left largely undeveloped, making me wonder why they were left in at all, other than the fact that these were some of the people in the town.

Despite the need for some expansion, this is a truly charming film. The actors do a wonderful job with material that could be considered somewhat controversial without ever making the audience feel uncomfortable. Scenes that could be embarassing to watch are instead handled with such grace that the viewer is allowed to stay emotionally connected with the film.