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Byron Shire
March 29, 2024

Cinema Review – In the Heart of the Sea

Latest News

Man charged over domestic violence and pursuit offences – Tweed Heads

A man has been charged following a pursuit near Tweed Heads on Monday.

Other News

Adaptive Surf Pro winds up in Byron

A week of mixed weather had seen almost 100 adaptive surfers take on the beaches of Byron Bay in the Byron first international adaptive surfing event to be held in Australia – the 2024 Australian Pro.

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival

Caper Byron Bay Food & Culture Festival returns to Byron Bay in May, and this year ‘locals favourite’ pub...

Cinema: Wicked Little Letters

Based on a true scandal that stunned 1920s England, Wicked Little Letters centres on neighbours Edith Swan and Rose Gooding in the seaside town of Littlehampton.

New report highlights gaps in rural and remote health

The second annual Royal Flying Doctor Service ‘Best for the Bush, Rural and remote Health Base Line’ report has just been released. Presenting the latest data on the health of rural and remote Australians and evidence on service gaps, it identifies issues in urgent need of attention from service providers, funders, partners and policy makers.

Richmond Valley Rail Trail grand opening

The latest leg of the Northern Rivers Rail Trail opened in style on Saturday, with hundreds of two-wheeled travel enthusiasts spinning along the newly opened 13.4 kilometre section from Casino to Bentley.

Wild dog breeding season can increase attacks on domestic dogs

Local Land Services are reminding landowners to be aware of wild dogs as they have received five reports of domestic dogs being attacked and killed by wild dogs in the last two months.

InTheHeartOfTheSea

Ron Howard has made so many good and popular (ie mainstream) movies that it is hard to imagine cinephiles ever conferring on him the breathless accolade of ‘great filmmaker’. From outer space to the circuits of Formula One to now the fathomless briny, he has persistently eschewed nastiness in favour of positivity, albeit with insight’s melancholy never far below the surface. This salty dog’s tale covers the events that inspired Herman Melville to write Moby Dick. Told in flashbacks, it has the ambitious but uncertain Melville (Ben Whishaw) hearing the recollections of Thomas Nickerson (Brendan Gleeson), last surviving member of the crew of the ill-fated Essex. As a 14-year-old (Tom Holland), he sailed aboard the ship out of Nantucket, its commission to gather from the sea’s leviathans the oil that lit New England’s homes and streets.
There is a difference between rejoicing in the kill and telling it like it is – 1820 was another world, an age of uncushioned realities, and the men who hunted the whales were no armchair pussycats. Howard captures the virility of their chase, in rowboats and with hand-held harpoons, but when it’s done the faces of his blood splattered sailors are etched in remorse at the realisation of their savagery. It’s an incredibly moving moment (some critics must have been looking the other way). Tension builds when the Essex is forced to enter the Pacific. Between the patrician captain (Benjamin Walker) and self-trained first mate (Chris Hemsworth) there stews a Bligh/Christian mutual contempt, but more threatening to the venture is the legendary white sperm whale that stalks them – and there is more than just a hint of Jaws in many of cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle’s shots. CGI is exceptional – the ship ablaze at sea and the whale itself are wholly convincing – and, owing to the sympathetic performances, a dark secret of survival held on to for so long by old Nickerson is met with blunt acceptance. Subject matter will deter a lot of people, which is a pity, for this is a fantastic movie.


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