Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 01:09AM The Sapphires- review
“The Sapphires”
Directed by Wayne Blair
Starring Chris O'Dowd, Deborah Mailman, Jessica Mauboy
Running Time 103 Minutes Rated 
4 Mitch’s out of 5
Mitch Hansch/ movieswithmitch.com
At times “The Sapphires” is a bit hokey, a bit predictable, and a bit manipulative, but it’s gotta whole lotta soul making it one of the more pleasant cinematic surprises all year.
There was literally a man in the audience clapping along with some of the music pieces in the film, and while that would normally bug the crap out of me, I couldn’t help but join, of course the clapping I did was in my head. But you get the point, here is a film that has the heart and soul of any Otis Redding or Temptations song and enough humor to make the Blues Brothers smile. 
Telling a fast and loose story of the true events surrounding Aboriginal sisters who go from getting shafted in rural Australian talent shows to singing country western because of the color of their skin to later soul singing their way in front of thousands of U.S. troops as they travel around in the Vietnam War.
The three sisters, later accompanied by their lighter skinned cousin, team up with the whiskey swilling music manager Dave, very hilarious and at times wonderfully dramatically played by Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids). The sisters’ family fights and the racism of the time are nothing new, but the upbeat joy and very strong chemistry is undeniable. The film’s music and singing, led by Australian Idol champion Jessica Mauboy, is so delightful.
Tony Briggs and Keith Thompson’s script focuses so heavily in the film’s first half with levity, even with its race plagued troubles, that the when the sharp tonal curves from the Vietnam war shed its a bit too sharp. That still doesn’t stop you choking back the tears.
I was not successful choking back those tears, and I wish you good luck.
I was not successful choking back “this”, and I wish you good luck.
Chis O'Dowd, Comedy, Drama, Musical, TCFF, Twin Cities Film Fest in 4 Mitch's
Reader Comments (1)
Another awesome verse! I adore this film, i just listed my top 5 and this is my #1 favorite of the entire films I saw at TCFF, A Late Quartet is a close second. Interesting that some of my faves have musical themes in it.
It was great hanging out with you and Suzanne at the fest, we should get together for lunch/dinner one of these days! :)