Review: The Final Winter

Mostly authentic, earthy 2007 Aussie sports drama directed by Brian Andrews and Jane Forrest tells the story of Australian Rugby League in the early 80s in NSW, as the era of ‘bringing the biff’, ‘hard men’ of the game, and the somewhat legendary Newtown Jets football club, was all about to make way for progress, and a new era of big business (and players leaving club loyalty behind for the almighty dollar), represented by heartless former real estate agent turned club CEO John Jarratt (spot-on). Having to deal with this transition is veteran ‘hard man’ Grub (Matt Nable, a former semi-professional player of the game himself, and the film’s screenwriter), a good player, and well-meaning but troubled man. Grub’s brawling on-field antics (often fighting with his estranged, and more talented, younger brother, played by Nathaniel Dean) and constant trips to the judiciary, are not in Jarratt’s grand plans for the club’s future and the feeling of hatred is mutual. Basically, the CEO stands for everything Grub hates. Raelee Hill is Grub’s long-suffering wife, Conrad Colby is his easy-going best mate and teammate, and former league star (and TV sports personality) Matthew Johns plays the coach, who must follow orders, but wants to do right by his players. Look for cameos by league personalities Roy Masters, the legendary Tommy Raudonikis, Ivan Cleary, and others, as well as long-time Manly Sea Eagles fan (and author) Thomas Keneally.

If it weren’t for the fact that the filmmakers have seemingly focused solely on the ‘biff’ element of the game (a crucial element, especially for the era), this would be an absolute bullseye. Rugby League also involves, running, kicking, and other skills that you wouldn’t know about if this were your first exposure to the game. The game scenes, are over-produced (the sound design is appallingly overblown, like the kind of promo Channel 9 would do to pump us up for the impending State of Origin series) and not terribly interesting for someone like me who (although no longer a fan of the game) enjoyed the high-flying, try-scoring elements of the game (admittedly elements more prevalent in the post-Newtown era, but nonetheless not entirely absent I’m sure). So I thought that was a shame. It definitely gives you an authentic feel for the era, an important era in the game, despite, or perhaps because of, the fact that the Newtown Jets were a fairly short-lived rugby league enterprise. A film set during the same era, with a different club, might not have worked as well.

Despite playing a deeply troubled, unlikeable character the likes of which are indicative of why I no longer watch the game, Nable is truly excellent in the lead, and you feel that it’s real- this is what league tough guys are like, complicated, somewhat Neanderthal creatures, and Nable clearly knows what he’s on about here, despite Grub being a fictional character (the film itself is fictional). Jarratt is every bit his match, as a cold-hearted guy not at all interested in the game itself, or the people playing it. Johns acquits himself admirably too, even if he’s always a bee’s testicle away from his Reg Reagan caricature from his days on “The Footy Show”. Colby, meanwhile, quietly steals scenes, and it’s no surprise he started to turn up a lot on TV and in movies after this.

Even non-sports fans should get something out of this, the human drama, and the themes are fascinating enough and true enough. Although I no longer have a love of Rugby League (The Johns brothers being one of several reasons for that I might add) and prefer to watch cricket, it’s nice to see a rare Rugby League movie- oddly neglected on-screen before this, weird given we’re famous for being a nation of sports nuts. Even though I was somewhat annoyed by the focus on the less graceful elements of the game, I must admit there’s a perverse sense of satisfaction in seeing a film about not just a sport, but one of our less glamorous, more down-to-earth and harsh sports. And hooray for Tommy!

Rating: B-