| Big Reef | |
|---|---|
| Written by | Roger Simpson |
| Directed by | Steve Jodrell |
| Starring | Angus Grant Madeleine West |
| Country of origin | Australia |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Producers | Roger Simpson Roger Le Mesurier Andrew Walker |
| Cinematography | Mark Wareham |
| Editor | Peter Carrodus |
| Running time | 100 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | Nine Network |
| Release | 2004 (2004) |
Big Reef is an Australian television film that aired on the Nine Network in 2004.1 It was intended as a pilot for a series.2 It was filmed on Cooktown, Queensland.3
Synopsis
After losing his job, apartment and girlfriend Melbourne journalist Tom Stopple move to the far north Queensland town Paradise. He arrives during a cyclone, gets involved in a boat rescue, a chase for a giant crocodile and a hunt for a lost fortune.45
Cast
- Angus Grant as Tom Stopple
- Madeleine West as Casey Lane
- Jack Finsterer as Nick Ritten
- Steve Bisley as Denton Reilly
- Lisa Hensley as Charlene
- Damien Garvey as Jim Daisy
- Catherine Moore as Alana Gock
- Sharni Page as Alison
- Brendan Glanville as Sergeant Tremain
- Andrew Blain as Arnold
- Mellara Gold as Gina
- Steven Smith as Mandy
- Kevin Potts as Phyllis
Reception
Mark Mordue of the Australian calls it "a masterpiece of the so bad it's good school" and writes "By the time an English backpacker is screaming a crocodile's got Gina and Steve Bisley is cruising through scenes with black wraparound shades and bad-man music playing, Big Reef is piling on enough ridiculous characters and twists to hold you in its jaws until the end."6
In the Sun-Herald Brian Courtis gave it 2 stars. His casual review asked "What is it about Channel Nine's drama ventures in Queensland that makes them so often forget the plot?"7
References
References
- Idato, Michael (18 October 2004), "Virgin birth", The Sydney Morning Herald
- Fidgeon, Robert (6 May 2006), "worth a look", Herald Sun
- Roberts, Sarah (22 October 2004), "Trouble in Paradise", The West Australian
- Ellis, Scott (24 October 2004), "Dropping out - into trouble", The Sun Herald
- James, Caron (24 October 2004), "Tackling the extremes in Paradise", The Herald Sun
- Mordue, Mark (23 October 2004), "Ramshackle masterpiece", The Australian
- Courtis, Brian (24 October 2004), "Critic's choice", The Sun Herald