Day 6: “Siam Sunset”: A Little Bloody, Lotta Funny Trip to the Outback

Film 6: “Siam Sunset” (1999)
Written by Max Dann and Andrew Knight
Directed by John Polson

Problem: Englishman (yeah, yeah…so I’ve got a thing with the U.K. this week) Perry can’t get over his wife’s freak accident-caused death – a refrigerator falling out of the sky (turns out it fell off a plane) – and broods at work. He creates paint colors and becomes obsessed with one color he can’t get right: Siam Sunset. His boss wants him to take a break, his family wants him to start living again, but Perry (Linus Roache) just stirs and stirs…

Solution: …Until he wins a 10-day break to Australia. Enter adventure. Unfortunately for those around Perry, disaster seems to follow him…as it has since his wife’s death. Cars break down, earthquakes rumble and homicidal maniacs track down their ex-girlfriends…all on one simple bus tour through the bleak, waterless Outback.

Result: Helluva lot different than the recent “Australia” – and that’s what’s so funny. ‘Dirty’ in Baz Luhrmann’s world equals sexy, rugged, abs-that-can-cut-through-cans (and on Hugh Jackman, it’s not a stretch). But ‘dirty’ in “Siam” means flies that won’t leave you alone, teeth that time forgot and overwhelming relief that as a viewer, I can’t smell the screen. There’s plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor about the ‘beautiful scenery’ and entertaining ribbing of the English by the Australian writers. Never fear, Perry represents the island well – by being eccentric enough himself to not notice or mind half of the insanity that surrounds him. The rough Sheila that catches his eye, Grace (Danielle Cormack), fits in perfectly – not mannered or illiterate, but somewhere nice – and vaguely criminal – in between. The supporting cast is goofy and fun to watch.

I don’t imagine it would leave anyone in tears – either from crying or laughing – but “Siam Sunset” manages to be original and enjoyable without going overboard in any direction.