Storm Boy Movie Review, Plot, Story: The movie has the background and motivation from the love between a boy and his pelican. This forms the heart of the second screen adaptation of Colin Thiele’s beloved Australian children’s novel Storm Boy.
The story’s center is featuring Geoffrey Rush as the grown-up version of the child character fitting in the frame. Shawn Seet’s rendition will prove as the most appealing to fans of the book or the 1976 film adaptation. Even for all those who are unfamiliar with the tale will find it charming and moving. It is so often the case with Australian films, the scenery can’t be blown out easily.
Main Plot of the Movie
The film’s present-day sequences are as to feature Rush as an older version of the title character, Michael Kingsley. He is now an aged tycoon called from retirement to vote on his company’s proposal. This is to lease land on the country’s western coast to a mining company. Kingsley’s son-in-law Malcolm (Erik Thomson), now the company’s head, is very much in favor of the deal. Malcolm’s 17-year-old daughter, Maddy (Morgana Davies), on the other hand, is vehemently opposed to her father’s plan, horrified at the ecological repercussions.
The delay in the process of voting caused the extended flashback in which Kingsley regales his granddaughter. He has the story of his childhood spent at the remote land in question. The young Michael (Finn Little) grew up with his widower father (Jai Courtney). He is so particular that he’s earned the nickname “Hideaway Tom.”
Michael has already made friends with the local man. One day, he, Fingerbone Bill (Trevor Jamieson), discovers three baby pelicans. The mother was abruptly killed by drunken hunters. Michael cares for them at his home, to overcome his father’s reluctance. He named them Mr. Proud, Mr. Ponder, and Mr. Percival. Michael does such a good job raising them and he gets so much attached to them that he tearfully agrees to his father’s instructions to set them free. But Mr. Percival returns back soon. This is because Michael has formed a special bond, soon returns, with the boy and the affectionate pelican becoming inseparable through various adventures.
Outline of the Movie
It’s a sweet, moving tale, leavened with enough grittiness in terms of characters and situations to ameliorate all the aspects. Moreover, the framing device in Monjo’s screenplay isn’t that much necessary. It does only to entertain the opportunity for Rush to deliver one of his more subtle, effective performances in recent years. It also lends an environmental protection theme that provides both contemporary relevance and a crowd-pleasing happy ending.
Child actor Finn delivers a terrific and a very natural and justified performance that has the audience rooting for young Michael from the beginning. Courtney delivers a solid supporting turn. This is because he is an emotionally scarred dad, while Jamison nearly steals the film with his charismatic turn as Michael’s new friend. The film includes the nice touch of a cameo appearance by the great David Gulpilil. He is the one who played Fingerbone Bill in the original film and here turns up as the character’s father.
