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December 2002 | |
Interview: Trade Secrets Industrial: It�s About Overtime, Stupid Unions: Full Steam Ahead Bad Boss: The BBQ Battle Axe Economics: Different Dimensions of Debt History: Raking the Coals History Special: Wherever the Necessity Exists History Special: Learning from the Past History Special: A 'Cosy Relationship' Politics: Regime Change for Saddam International: World War Corporate: Industrious Thinking Review: Jack High Culture: Duffy�s Song Satire: A Nation of Sooks Poetry: Mr Flexibility
The Soapbox Awards The Locker Room Bosswatch Month In Review
Lessons from History
And On the Seventh Day � Satan Joins Union Casuals Written Out of the Script ACTU Examines The Cap Option On Hours No Sweetener for Diabetic Workers Pressure Goes on Apartheid Employers ASIC Turns Blind Eye on Dodgy Boss Family Test Case a Priority Campaign Brutal Bashing Sparks Prison Strike Minister Challenged by Cleaners Uni Backs Down On Regional Review
State Based Organising Gino on the Gong
Labor Council of NSW |
Review Jack High
When a city bowling club is set to go bust they are faced with a choice: install poker machines or go for broke in a major bowling competition offering enough prize money to keep the wolves at bay ... for the time being at least. But membership is aging, with bad backs, gammy legs and brittle bones seriously undermining their chances of success. Struggling to find the numbers necessary to form a team but determined not to give up without a fight, a group of stalwart bowlers trawl through the membership books searching for a miracle. Enter Jack Simpson (aka Mick Molloy), a tawdry, lazy and scruffy young lad whose long-term membership has only ever been about netting himself the free car space that comes along with it. In fact Jack is so keen on the parking spaces he has actually joined a couple of times under various aliases and has been renting out the extra spots to supplement his income. When the bowlers tell Jack he has a choice between helping out or relinquishing his membership he begrudgingly comes to the party. Splitting his time between serving cut-price beers and polishing glasses behind the bar, Jack is floored when he is told to get onto the bowling green and start playing like a team member. Jack has what it takes in terms of technique but being a team player comes a little less naturally. Mainly he is just distracted by a super cool bowling journo (Judith Lucy, essentially playing herself) who bides her time cutting him down with her biting barbs. One of the highlights of the movie comes when Jack's good friend and housemate (Samuel Johnson) discovers the joys of bowling culture. Jack has also joined under Samuel's name but, unlike Jack, when Samuel is brought in to help out he feels he has died and gone to heaven. Cheap beer, great company, yummy food, plenty of female attention and sitting out in the sun watching bowling balls roll by is Samuel's idea of a good time. This fact is written all over his face every time he takes on a new task to help his newly found home stay afloat. But are Samuel's good vibes and the determination of the remaining team members going to be enough to inspire Jack - their number one weapon - to fight the good fight? And even if he does, will they be able to attract the much needed members to sustain the club into the future? Crackerjack hits the mark on many fronts. It's a battle of good versus complacency, of greed versus community values, and of change versus tradition. In the end the winners are the ones combining the best of old and new to create something of lasting value. Rating: 6 out of 10 (fluffy but fun)
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