Andrew Lancaster’s Accidents Happen tells the tale of fifteen year old Billy Conway (Harrison Gilbertson), an immensely accident prone young man whose life turns around after he causes a fatal car “accident”. Geena Davis plays Billy’s depressed yet immensely strong willed mother, who is dealing with an unwanted divorce an alcoholic son and another son left brain dead after a horrific family accident. The concept of Accidents Happen is self explanatory really, but it is the dissection of how exactly the accidents happen that is the most interesting element of the overall story. The slow motion editing effects during the course of the accidents supports this narrative theme by creating an illusion of time which acts in highlighting the significance and intricacy of the particular moments.
The mise en scene seems quite authentic, from the vintage colour schemes to the nineteen seventies Connecticut style housing and costuming. A true testament to the quality of Australian film production of late, in that it does not have that “Australian feel” that is sometimes so hard to ignore in locally produced films. Then again, I did still feel a moment of national pride when I saw familiar Sydney landmarks and street scapes, or when I heard a song from Perth born musician, Luke Steele playing on the soundtrack.
Accident’s Happen does not commit to just the one genre, slipping from dark comedy, to coming of age drama, to art-house, then back again to dark comedy. I assume that this was intentional to show the moodiness of the characters personalities as they develop and change dramatically throughout the film. This shift in tone was made quite evident in my screening by the way in which one half of the audience laughed at some lines and I laughed at others. It was almost as if Scriptwriter Brian Carbee was writing in an accessible means for all generations.
The inexperience of some of the actors is difficult to ignore, yet redeemed by the charismatic and at times quite witty performance of Geena Davis. I also enjoyed Troy’s Planet’s performance as Tiny Post, the alcoholic brute with a television remote glued permanently to his hand. Although I would have loved to have seen this character developed a bit more, particularly in regard to his potentially concerning relationship with his son, Doug (Sebastian Gregory) which was surprisingly glazed over in preference to the other less intriguing themes of the film.
Directed by Andrew Lancaster
Written by Brian Carbee
Starring: Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise, The Long Kiss Goodnight), Harrison Gilbertson, Sebastian Gregory (Acolytes), Harry Cook, Joel Tobeck and Sarah Woods.
Producer: Anthony Anderson
Executive Producer: Heather Ogilvie
Director of Photography: Ben Nott
Production Designer: Elizabeth Mary Moore
Costume Designer: Nina Edwards
Film Editor: Roland Gallois
Composer: Antony Partos
Country of Origin: Australia
Running Time: 94 min
Rating: M
Release Date: 22 April, 2010 (Australia)
