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| October 2003 | SITE MAP SEARCH |
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Stranded cast: Liam Cunningham, Brana Bajic, Bonnie Wright, Jesse Spencer, and Charlie Lucas director: Charles Beeson 175 minutes (PG) 2002 widescreen ratio 16:9 Warner Vision DVD Region 2 retail Also available to buy on video RATING: 7/10 reviewed by James Starkey |
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Liam Cunningham is predictably excellent as David Robinson, a man whose devotion to his religion causes him to fall foul of the British government. As punishment he is banished as a spy and traitor to a remote Australian outpost at the edge of the empire. With family in tow, they set sail only for disaster to strike en route. In the midst of a freak storm their ship is sunk and the captain killed. Robinson's son Joshua is lifted to safety onboard a lifeboat, but for the other members of his family a life washed ashore upon a seemingly deserted island awaits.
One thing that is quite clear early on in the movie is that the beautifully filmed landscape is rather let down by the mediocre special effects. This is especially apparent during the storm scene where one can almost picture the director shaking the camera and stagehands throwing buckets of water about the set. This aside, director Beeson performs competently enough. A seemingly enduring pitfall of any movie such as this is that there are spectacular fireworks to begin with, where all the director's efforts are poured into setting the scene prior to their characters arrival on the island. However, once there we are often subjected to a tediously predictable course of events with no dynamic whatsoever. Stranded is different in this respect. Almost immediately, Beeson introduces a conflict between Robinson and his son Fritz (Jesse Spencer of Australian soap opera obscurity). This conflict is clearly for control of the group and the decision-making process and is believably played out by both Cunningham and Spencer. At no point in the initial stages is it clear that this conflict is near to being resolved and it seems simply a matter of time before Fritz overrules his father in a bid for respect and acknowledgement.
Adding a much-needed kick to proceedings is Roger Allam as Captain Blunt. Ruthless in every way, Blunt turns to piracy after fleeing the wreck of the penal ship where he oversees the development of Robinson's lost son Joshua. His criminal ways take a turn for the worse however, when he raids a British ship and kidnaps the daughter of a prominent naval officer.
Stranded is clearly aimed at the family audience but is rather overlong to retain the interest of younger viewers. It does have some very slick elements within it though and is kept afloat (no pun intended) by the presence of Cunningham who is a fine actor. If an alternative to the overblown American offering is what is required then this will not disappoint.
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