''Idiot Box'' is a 1996 Australian film starring

Ben Mendelsohn Paul Benjamin Mendelsohn (born 3 April 1969) is an Australian actor. He first rose to prominence in Australia for his breakout role in ''The Year My Voice Broke'' (1987) and since then he has had roles in films such as '' Animal Kingdom'' (2010) ...

and

Jeremy Sims Jeremy Hartley Sims (born 10 January 1966) is an Australian actor and director. Career Jeremy Sims was born in Perth, Western Australia in 1966, and was educated at Wesley College 1977–83. His first appearance on the big screen was as 'boy on ...

. Set in (around 1980's or 90's) middle class city urban Australian youth and young adults culture with local criminal well to do's and widespread general unemployment. The story viewing is shown from the private and illicit side of the activity of friends turning to crime by personal circumstance, all the way to the nitty-gritty of sand-shoes and caring considerate criminals' sincerity. Idiot box is another "era" Australian "bank robber film" entwined with a wry sense of humour. At the

ARIA Music Awards of 1997 The 11th Annual Australian Recording Industry Association Music Awards (generally known as the ARIA Music Awards) were held on 22 September 1997 at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney. The event was hosted by Australian actor–comedian Paul McDer ...

the soundtrack was nominated for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.ARIA Award previous winners.

Plot

The story follows two fictional characters Mick (Jeremy Sims) and Kev (Ben Mendelsohn) who have nothing to offer. They are stereotypical

bogan Bogan ( ) is Australian slang for a person whose speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour are considered unrefined or unsophisticated. Depending on the context, the term can be pejorative or self-deprecating. The prevalence of the term bogan ...

s with a taste for cheap thrills. Kev's hobby is being angry, his motto is ''"Maximum fear, minimum time"''. He is unemployed with "attitude," an antagonistic manner. Mick is his best friend ("mate") and together they kill time drinking beer, watching the Idiot Box and looking for action on the street. One day Kev tells Mick they have drawn their last dole cheque. Instead of giving in to their limited circumstances, they are going to get rich quick doing the only thing they are qualified for - crime. Conning a friend into driving the getaway car, the gang of three plan a bank robbery. But it is a heist that is doomed from the start when professional criminals target the same bank.

Production

The film's writer-director

David Caesar David Caesar (born 1963) is an Australian television and film director and writer. He grew up in Turlinjah on the south coast of NSW and attended school in nearby Moruya where he was school captain in his senior year. Caesar graduated from the A ...

said:

I think that ''Idiot Box'' is about two young men who are doing the best they can with the resources available to them. Now, the fact that the resource available, as far as they're concerned, is robbing a bank doesn't change the fact that it's still about them trying, basically not giving up. I'm surprised that people haven't come down on me for saying, 'Oh, this is going to promote people robbing banks.' The issue with the film, from my point of view, is that it was about people who hadn't given in to their circumstances.

Box office

''Idiot Box'' opened on 42 screens in Australia and placed tenth at the Australian box office with a gross of A$278,769 for the week and went on to gross A$837,689 at the box office in Australia.

Home media

''Idiot Box'' was released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment in March 2012. The DVD is compatible with all region codes and includes special features such as the theatrical trailer, behind the scenes, the screenplay and audio commentary with David Caesar and Glenys Rowe.

References

External links