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ACUTE MISFORTUNE (2019)
Acute Misfortune poster

CAST
DANIEL HENSHALL
TOBY WALLACE
MAX CULLEN
GILLAN JONES
GENEVIEVE LEMON

BASED ON THE BIOGRAPHY BY
ERIK JENSEN

SCREENPLAY BY
EROK JENSEN
THOMAS M. WRIGHT

PRODUCED BY
JAMIE HOUGE
VIRGINIA KAY
LIZ KEARNEY
THOMAS M. WRIGHT

DIRECTED BY
THOMAS M. WRIGHT

GENRE
BIOGRAPHY
DRAMA

RATED
AUS:MA
UK:NA
USA:NA

RUNNING TIME
90 MIN

 

 

 

Acute Misfortune image

A stunning directorial debut from Thomas M. Wright, Acute Misfortune tips the biopic genre on its head in this delve into the life of an unconventional artist and the biographer who bore the brunt of his madness.

History has long told the story of many artists who worked on the edge of madness. That link between creativity and insanity plays a role in the narrative of painters, composters, actors, writers and others who not only suffered for their art but brought others into their suffering as well. Adam Cullen was one such artist. The Archibald Prize winning painter had already established himself as a wild man whose work was as controversial as his personality. Yet it took the biography from young journalist Erik Jensen to show that while, yes, Cullen was indeed a talented artist, who was also a dangerous and quite mad one as well.

Playing the parts of Cullen and Jensen in Acute Misfortune are Daniel Henshall and Toby Wallace. It is quite brilliant casting. Henshall, who broke through big time in his role as South Australian serial killer John Bunting in Snowtown, inhabits Cullen with an intense, unpredictable nature that makes him such a compelling yet equally frightening character. Cinema is filled with wild-man characters whose dangerous personas seduce the viewer. In the case of Acute Misfortune, Cullen the character and the actual man brought upon his own cult of personality that made him into a lauded and controversial figure.

For young Jensen (who at the age of 19 jumped at the chance to interview Cullen) it was a magnetism that proved too heard to break. Whether it was a stubbornness, a pride, or some sort of twisted connection, Jensen stuck with his assignment despite the twisted, dangerous nature of Cullen’s persona. This included “accidentally” shooting Jensen in the leg during a hunting trip and getting thrown off a moving motorcycle. Where others would (rightly) fold, Jensen held firm. Wallace plays that conviction, and that stubbornness with the right balance of naïve innocence and pride filled madness. He is the fixed firm oak that would not budge as the tornado raged around him.

As a genre, biopics are often conventional in filmmaking, which is a shame as they deal with very unconventional subjects. Wright brilliantly, steadfastly refuses to follow convention. Acute Misfortune is not a tale of inspiration or lessons learned. It is a film that looks at the life of a damaged yet brilliant artist, as told through the eyes of a young journalist navigating his own messed up life. Wright’s presentation of this unlikely of duos is as unpredictable as Cullen’s behaviour. A scene of routine journalism can flip into a violent argument. A potential confrontation in a pub can lead to a brazen act of sexuality.

Paranoia and danger blends with a search for identity and drive for creativity. Wright hits these notes and the grey in between. It’s a stunning display of filmmaking and storytelling skill, told with raw, intimate honesty and artistry.

 

****

 

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Acute Misfortune image Snowtown image

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