PETER FAIMAN

Bil’s rating (out of 5):   BBBB

Australia, 1986.  Rimfire Films.  Story by Paul Hogan, Screenplay by Paul Hogan, John Cornell, Ken Shadie.  Cinematography by Russell Boyd.  Produced by John Cornell.  Music by Peter Best.  Production Design by Graham ‘Grace’ Walker.  Costume Design by Norma Moriceau.  Film Editing by David Stiven.  

Beloved comedy that still has the same spark that it had in 1986.  Linda Kozlowski plays a photojournalist who travels to Australia to meet and interview an outbacker (Paul Hogan) who runs a safari business and has just survived a nasty fight with a crocodile.  Initially surprised by the foreign environment, Kozlowski takes to Hogan’s charms and invites him back to New York City while she finishes her report. His culture shock at meeting the Big Apple makes up some of the most enjoyable aspects of this terrific film, which turns into an even more enjoyable romance when the two leads find their chemistry working in their favour. Hogan is marvelous, and the film deservedly found itself a large audience, but the sequels to follow are lamentable.

Academy Award Nomination:  Best Original Screenplay

Golden Globe Award:  Best Actor-Musical/Comedy (Paul Hogan)
Nominations: Best Picture-Musical/Comedy; Best Actress-Musical/Comedy (Linda Kozlowski)