FILM
Movie made in Motueka BY EDDIE ALLNUTT
Blue Moon Crime, Thriller Directed and written by Stefen Harris Starring Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Doug Brooks and Olivia Hadlow 85 minutes Rated M
T
his film noir is like a farmers’ market, packed with local flavour and ingredients. It’s written and produced by a man some of us might have already met; Motueka-stationed police officer, Stef Harris. Rumour has it, the plot came to him one night when refuelling his patrol car. He’s actually created a doozy that builds tension right from the get-go and never pulls over. Blue Moon has a simple yet twisty concept and it’s almost in the genre of a set-in-one-room movie. Those of this ilk rely on acting, and Kiwis Mark Hadlow (Horace Jones) and Jed Brophy (Darren Cates) have delivered with raw, gutsy performances. Family man Horace Jones works the graveyard shift pumping gas. He’s no spring chicken, has the IRD breathing down his neck and believes in ‘happy dragon, happy castle’. It all seems quite desolate for Horace apart from a possible cash cow venture. He’s just got to keep the wolf from the door for a few more weeks until a certain date known as the ‘Blue Moon’. It’s an auspicious calendar day that has something to do with a pseudoscience from China. However, things go from bad to worse for Horace when a Chevy Impala pulls into the forecourt, and from horrible to terrible when a motorbike parks up and an old ‘friendship’ is rekindled. Brophy as drug lynchpin Darren Cates works his part with genius. He comes across as a loose cannon but with bittersweet humour, who won’t give you the luxury of settling into your cinema seat. Cates, aka Ratty, is aptly named. Hadlow, as the main protagonist Horace Jones, is chameleon-esque and leaves you guessing just how many hats he wears. He’s worked with Brophy before and the two of them gel in what seem to be quite ad-libbed roles. Some local constabulary perform cameos, which are done with ease. Hadlow’s daughter, Olivia, has acting in the blood and inherently plays Horace Jones’s daughter, Lucille. Then there’s Rueben (Doug Brooks), who’s a menacing hard nut turned apocalyptic zombie who got mixed up with the wrong rodent and bit off more than he could chew. The filming was done by an iPhone 7 Plus, which was quick and easy to use when time and budget were important. It’s proved to be a masterstroke since it’s created a slick flick. Apart from brief views of High Street in the wee small hours, along with a sunny stretch of coastal road, Blue Moon is set in or around the immediate proximity to BP Motueka. It’s in real time throughout an evening and flashes of the iconic clock tower, ticking down the minutes, will keep you informed as we near the crescendo of 6 am. Harris deserves plenty of credit for this homegrown movie. It’s not his first either with the acclaimed The Waimate Conspiracy (2006) and No Petrol, No Diesel (2009). Let’s hope everyone out there is behaving and our constable gets enough time for his passion. Blue Moon is screening at State Cinema Motueka during November. 96
91 Trafalgar Street, Nelson - Ph: 548 3885
Movies Screening in NOVEMBER BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY
M | 2hrs 24min A foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet.
THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB
Rating TBC | Runtime TBC A first-time adaptation of the recent global bestseller, Lisbeth Salander will return to the screen in the cult figure and title character of the acclaimed Millennium book series created by Stieg Larsson.
FANTASTIC BEASTS 2
Rating TBC | Runtime TBC Gellert Grindelwald has escaped imprisonment and has begun gathering followers to his cause. The only one capable of putting a stop to him is the wizard he once called his closest friend, Albus Dumbledore.
ROBIN HOOD
M | 2hrs 6min Robin of Loxley a war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown in a thrilling action-adventure packed with gritty battlefield exploits and timeless romance.
For more information, go to our website:
www.statecinemas.co.nz