Year of Living Dangerously
Directed by Peter Weir
Starring Mel Gibson and Sigourney Weaver
1982
This movie is an Australian take on another Vietnam era 'problem' - the crackdowon of Indonesian strongman Suharto. Weir very deftly uses the symbolism of Balinese 'Shadow' puppetry to tell his tale, one of the strong points of the movie.
Another is the relationship between Journalist Gibson and Aussie Diplomat Weaver - which sizzles. Both actors were fresh from their initial grasp at stardom. Gibson with the first Mad Max movie and Weaver with her Lt Ripley character in the movie Alien. This production cemented their star status with the critics, as well as this 'observer'.
