Before the abysmal realisation of Ang Lee’s Marvel adaptation of The Hulk, Eric Bana was an Australian stand up comedian, and also managed to portray a fictionalised version of Mark Brandon Reed, also known as Chopper.

I don’t know that much about the real Chopper, though my understanding is in real life he was a psychotic serial killer, notorious for not just killing but instigating rough justice in the form of deviant torture and brutality to his victims. How closely this film resembles is life is arguable, as the film itself states it is not a dramatisation nor an autobiography. A modern day equivalent would be the film Monster starring Charlize Theron.

In any case, what Andrew Dominik has created in Chopper is a bold, brash, funny and dark film. It is many ways reminiscent of the excellent Belgian film Man Bites Dog, in so far as it’s almost tragic portrayal of a killer that could easily fit into society. He could have killed 20 to 30 people, and you wouldn’t even consider the guy have a pint is not just some normal Joe drinking a pint. Both films have many interesting contrasts.

Dominik’s film is perhaps a little more glossy, seeing as Man Bites Dog starred and was filmed by three film students. Still, Chopper is no less adventurous or any less original. Eric Bana is absolutely brilliant playing the psychotic and sometimes sympathetic killer. He cares about his friends, he doesn’t really enjoy killing people, and if ever does hurt anyone he does his best to help them. Of course it’s not a reputation that he wants spreading, so he always denies ever attempting to help someone he’s shot.

It’s a testament both to the casting of Eric Bana, and also Bana’s performance for pulling Chopper off in such a mann

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For those looking for a high body count and gore fest, this film is far from being that. Gore lovers would be best suited to a Miike Takashi film. At most I think there were perhaps 4 or 5 deaths. It’s less than I was expecting, and admittedly I wanted to see more, but it helped provide more time to feel sympathy for Chopper who is, all in all, a very likable character. He doesn’t actually seem psychotic, indeed there are moments where he emphasises that he is just “a bloke” and very much comes across as one.

It’s a testament both to the casting of Eric Bana, and also Bana’s performance for pulling Chopper off in such a manner.
Locales are run down, fashion doesn’t quite exist yet and the whole feel of the film fits in with the era of when the story takes place very well. You end up becoming drawn in to this world, and the accent is no longer an issue. You’re not longer watching an Australian film, you’re watching some psycho’s life unfold before your eyes.

what Andrew Dominik has created in Chopper is a bold, brash, funny and dark film

As mentioned, the performance by Eric Bana as Chopper is supremely outstanding. It provides a level of flexibility and intelligence in his acting absent from the horrendous Hulk. It’s unfortunate that his acting abilities were not able to shine through a comic book character, and I do hope he goes on to start in more challenging roles. As Chopper he is convincing as a psychopath, with his piercing eyes and oversized bulky build, and a tenacity for sneering and seething makes you wonder if he might just jump out of the screen and wring your neck.

The story is fairly basic, that of a criminal who becomes famous through his crimes. He is considered dangerous, insane and every other criminal label you can attach. It’s all handled with a streak of black humour that is often only found in low budget Indie films (whether this counts as such, I don’t know). Dominik’s direction and the script is incredibly fun and well paced over the 90 minutes, removing any sense of a dull moment, there’s always something to laugh at, or something to watch over, not knowing what will happen next or who Chopper will turn.

My expectations for the film were not met in the way I had expected them to be. I looked for a bloody film, with a psycho, lots of bodies, lots of torture and so on. What was delivered was a dark, morbid, funny film with a very sympathetic criminal who lives in his own world and is completely disillusioned with reality as we see it. At times serious, at times sad, but rarely a dull moment in a very entertaining film.

Verdict: Intelligent and funny portrait of a serial killer. Eric Bana deserves to succeed.