Muriel's Wedding Review

Muriel's Wedding

Release Date: 29th September 1994 - Australia

Production Companies

House & Moorhouse Films

Film Victoria (developed and produced with the assistance of)

CiBy 2000

Film Queensland (developed with the assistance of)

Pacific Film and Television Commission (developed with the assistance of)

Australian Film Commission

(project developed with the

assistance of)

New South Wales Film and

Television Office (produced

with the assistance of)

Distribution

Roadshow Films

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Rating: M (Not Suitable

for Young Children)

Runtime: 101 minutes

Budget: $9,000,000

Box Office Gross: $15,765,571 (Australia)

Plot Summary
All her life, Muriel Heslop was a socially awkward woman who wanted to get married but had never dated anyone because of her domineering father, who is a politician. Even her more socially adept friends ostracise her. After being shunned, Muriel meets a fellow outcast. The two move from their small town to the city of Sydney, where Muriel changes her name and

begins the painstaking task

of remaking her life to suit

her imagination.

Cast

Toni Collette - Muriel Heslop

Rachel Griffiths - Rhonda Epinstalk

Bill Hunter - Bill Heslop

Sophie Lee - Tania Degano

Daniel Lapaine - David Van Arkle

Jeanie Dryman - Betty Heslop

Matt Day - Brice Nobes

Gabby Millgate - Joanie Heslop

Roz Hammond - Cheryl

Gennie Nevinson - Deidre Chambers

Belinda Jarrett - Janine

Pippa Grandison - Nicole

Daniel Wylie - Perry Heslop

Chris Heywood - Ken Blundell

Susan Prior - Girl at Wedding

Nathan Kaye - Peter 'Chook' Vernell

Cecily Polson - Tania's Mother

Rob Steele - Leo Higgins

Geneviève Picot - Store Detective

Richard Sutherland - Constable Saunders

Steve Smith - Constable Gillespie

Katie Saunders - Penelope Heslop

Dene Kermond - Malcolm Heslop

Jeamin Lee - Chinese Waitress

Jon-Claire Lee - Chinese Maitre D'

Kuni Hashimoto - Akira

Ken Senga - Victor Keinosuke

Des Rodgers - Island MC

Rohan Jones - Restaurant Boy

Scott Hall-Watson - Restaurant Boy

Craig Olson - Restaurant Boy

Justin Witham - Restaurant Boy

Rodney Arnold - Ejected Diner

Barry Crocker - Himself

Steve Cox - Cruise Taxi Driver

Kevin Copeland - Sailor

James Schramko - Sailor

Richard Morecroft - Himself

Richard Carter - Federal Policeman

John Gaden - Doctor

Heather Mitchell - Bridal Manageress #1

Heidi Lapaine - Bridal Assistant #1

Robert Alexander - Barrister

Troy Hardy - Young Boy

Robyn Pitt Owen - Singer at Muriel's Wedding

Annie Bryon - Rhonda's Mother

Jacqueline Linke - Press at Muriel's Wedding

Alvaro Marques - Press at Muriel's Wedding

Fiona Sullivan - Press at Muriel's Wedding

Ineke Rapp - Press at Muriel's Wedding

Julian Garner - Press at Muriel's Wedding

Vincent Ball - Priest

John Hoare - Well Wisher at Muriel's Wedding

Frankie Davidson - Sergeant

Louise Cullen - Deidre's Friend

Basil Clarke - Funeral Priest

John Walton - Taxi Driver

Crew

Writer/Director - P.J. Hogan

Associate Producer/First Assistant Director -

Tony Mahood

Associate Producer - Michael D. Aglion

Producers - Lynda House and
Jocelyn Moorhouse
Choreographer - John O'Connell

Production Designer - Patrick Reardon
Art Director - Hugh Bateup
Set Decorators - Glen W. Johnson and
Jane Murphy

Costume Designer - Terry Ryan

Director of Photography - Martin McGrath

Camera Operator - David Williamson

Production Manager - Catherine Bishop

Stunt Coordinator - Rocky McDonald

Special Effects Coordinator - Ray Fowler

Film Editor - Jill Bilcock

Assembly Editor - Jane Moran

Sound - David Lee, Glenn Newham,

Livia Ruzic and Roger Savage

Original Music - Peter Best

Review

Of all the movies produced in Australia from the past to recent years, Priscilla, The Castle and Mad Max are considered the nation's top films. One movie, in particular, is MURIEL'S WEDDING. It came out in the same year as Priscilla. The film is an Aussie melodramatic comedy that can be black and painful (at times). It showcases the topical elements of Australian society and engages viewers in its themes of acceptance. Containing heartbreak and awkward laughter with songs from ABBA impacts the film as optimistic and melancholy. It succeeded that the film isn't a romantic comedy as the title suggests, with Toni Collette as its titular female character and Director P.J. Hogan doing a terrific job caricaturing a shameless world in a black comedy.

Collette gets a moment of applause as the social misfit who longs to get married and struggles with her issues. Aussie legend Bill Hunter was fantastic as the rotten political father who mistreats and ignores his family. Rachel Griffiths is a supporting player in their lives, and so is Jeanie Dryman for portraying Muriel's put-upon and depressed mother.

MURIEL'S WEDDING is a fantastic and memorable movie that is inspiring for a broad audience. I highly recommend it to viewers who enjoy Australian comedy and drama.

Star rating: (8/10) Very Good Movie

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