Movie Moments: #38

Crackerjack (2002)

Comment:

Bill Hunter, one of Australia’s popular actors, died yesterday of cancer. He was aged 71. Hunter starred in numerous local films - Gallipoli, Strictly Ballroom, Muriel's Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Australia - but my personal favourite is Crackerjack. A very funny Australian movie about a very Australian pastime, lawn bowls, with some very fine Australian actors, including Mick Molloy, Bill Hunter, John Clarke and Judith Lucy. Go Oz.

Synopsis:

Jack Simpson, a bit of a smartarse, joins a lawn bowls club to be allowed to use a free parking space. When the club enters financial difficulty, Simpson is forced to play lawn bowls with the much older crowd, resulting in some funny moments and self discovery.

Quote:
(Gwen is an elderly lawn bowler and club member).

Gwen: Swear jar.

Jack: What?

Gwen: It's a jar you put money in if you say ‘fuck’!

Trivia:

The 'Wheel of Cheese' incident actually happened. While the writers were visiting various bowls clubs for inspiration, one of them explained the sordid story of a club investigation into a member using the cheese for a sandwich instead of the regulation cheese and biscuits.

Bill Hunter standing in front of his portrait by Jason Benjamin for the 2005 Archibald. It won the Packing Room prize. 

RIP.