Jasper Jones

Plot synopsis:
Protagonist Charlie Bucktin is a thirteen-year-old boy living in the fictitious rural town of Corrigan in Western Australia. On a summer evening in 1965, Charlie has an unexpected visit from fourteen-year-old Jasper Jones, an outcast in Corrigan due to his mixed White-Aboriginal heritage and rebellious lifestyle. Jasper begs for Charlie's help, and leads him to his private glade in the bush. Here Charlie is horrified to find the dead body of a young girl, Jasper's girlfriend Laura Wishart, battered and hanging from a tree. Jasper, aware that he is likely to be blamed for Laura's murder, convinces Charlie that they should hide the body, so they throw it into a nearby pond, weighted by a large rock.
A search for the missing girl is soon organised, focused on the idea that she may have run away. Jasper is interrogated roughly by the local police, but they soon release him. Meanwhile tension builds in the town, as parents fear more disappearances, and townspeople search for someone to blame.
Charlie spends his days with his best friend Jeffrey Lu, a Vietnamese boy who shares Charlie's love of intellectual banter, and deals stoically with the constant race-hate inflicted on him and his family. Jeffrey is passionate about cricket, but his attempts to join the Corrigan team are thwarted by the racism of the coach and other players. Eventually fortune goes his way, and he finds himself batting in a game against a rival town, watched by Charlie, who has befriended Eliza, Laura Wishart's younger sister. As Jeffrey wins the game on the last ball, Charlie and Eliza hold hands and share their first kiss.
Jasper believes that Laura's murderer is Mad Jack Lionel, a reclusive old man who is rumored to have done terrible things in the past. Jasper determines to confront Lionel, and together with Charlie, goes to his house. Lionel manages to defuse Jasper's aggression, and the truth comes out: Lionel is actually Jasper's grandfather, and when Jasper was a baby, Lionel had crashed his car while racing Jasper's mother to hospital, causing her death. The incident has left him broken, and ostracized by the townspeople.
Late one night, Eliza comes to Charlie's window. They go to Jasper's glade. Here Eliza tells Charlie what she knows of Laura's death: after a violent argument with her abusive father, Laura came looking for Jasper. Eliza followed her to the glade. Finding Jasper away, in despair Laura killed herself, and Eliza could not save her. Charlie then confesses that he and Jasper had thrown Laura's body into the pond.
Jasper leaves Corrigan. Charlie finds a new assertiveness that helps him overcome the local bullies, and remains close to Eliza, who exacts revenge on her father by setting fire to their house, injuring him. The secret about Laura's death remains with the three of them.

Tags: romantic

Review:
Craig Silvey's bestselling novel Jasper Jones has been lauded for its deft exploration of racial tensions and small town prejudices through the lens of a coming of age tale and a who-dun-it mystery.
While the big screen adaptation, which Silvey co-scripted, retains much of what made the novel a hit, its loosely structured narrative doesn't translate quite as effectively on the silver screen.Set in the small mining town of Corrigan, Western Australia in 1969, Jasper Jones tells the story of bookish 13 year old, Charlie Bucktin (Levi Miller).
One night an Aboriginal boy by the name of Jasper Jones taps on his bedroom window asking for help.
Startled by his sudden appearance but persuaded by his desperate pleading, Charlie agrees to follow Jasper into the woods to the gruesome sight of a dead young girl hanging on a tree branch.
Jasper makes it clear to Charlie that he didn't kill the girl and reveals that he was in a relationship with her.
Charlie, who believes Jasper and is eager to help him, agrees to hide the body in a pond nearby and to keep their discovery a secret.Unfortunately what should have been a good set-up for a mystery film lacks one crucial element: there's no reason to suspect foul play in regards to the girl's death.
Jasper instead begins to make up stories surrounding her death and centers on the idea that an old recluse, Mad Jack Lionel (played by the excellent but criminally underused Hugo Weaving), must have murdered her.
Charlie believes Jasper, as there have been rumours that the old man has done bad things in the past, but there's not enough reason for the audience to suspect the old man's involvement in matters.
The suspicion surrounding her death seems only to exist only in the eyes of the children and this robs the film of much of its tension, particularly towards the end of the film when the kids finally decide to confront Mad Jack.
However, the confrontation still ends up being the stand out moment in the film as it results in some startling revelations about Jasper Jones as a character.
It's a well-crafted dramatic scene that is only undermined by its lack of cohesion with the rest of the film.
For most of its running time, the film weaves together a collection of different subplots and side stories revolving around Charlie's life, including his parent's rocky marriage and his growing feelings towards local girl Eliza (Angourie Rice).
Jasper only periodically intersects with the narrative and he remains a largely passive character, disappearing for large swathes of the film at a time.
When the ending sharply puts the focus back on him, it feels forced and disjointed; not allowing the revelation to hit with the devastating impact the film is clearly striving for.
That's not to say that the film doesn't have its moments but overall Jasper Jones feels like an amalgamation of disparate parts that only come together under the broad hat of a coming of age story.
There's a bit of everything: a touch of mystery, a pinch of comedy mixed in with a bit of family drama and racial tension.
A mystery surrounding a girl's death..
An Australia's murder mystery set in a small town.
The film was based on the novel of the same name.
Starred by the next generation Aussie actors like Levi Miller and Angourie Rice.
Too intentional and right away jumped into the suspense.This is a children's film, the story of teenagers, and a mystery surrounding the death of a girl.
So according to me, only the mid parts held the film for me to look for something in the later.
The rest of the film failed to stretch with the best developments.
Definitely a good tale for literature, but for a film, to witness everything on the visuals, it needed more detail.
Only if it had depth, I would have found it a better film.The story that happened in the holiday week that comes between the Christmas and the New Year.
In a fictional Aussie town called Corrigan, a young Charlie was approached by Jasper in the middle of the night.
Later he comes to know Jasper's girlfriend has been murdered.
When the time comes to the truth, the secrets were revealed just before the film's end.-xX] You're just like her, your mother.
All the above, the character Jasper Jones seemed an imagination of Charlie.
Yet the murder mystery always stayed top of the film topic.
When the end revealed everything, that reminded me the films of 60-70 years ago.
Following it, what happened to his family was a nice flow of the story.
Charlie's family too, the issue of the parents, crisis is their marriage.
The reviewers, the film critics comparing it to some of the classics like 'To Kill a Mockingbird' to 'Stand By Me'.
But I would say, it is too late to come to get equal status of those films.
It was just an above average, but if it came in the 80s or 90s, surely would have been a gem and changed the Australian filmdom.Despite the film title, the story was narrated by Charlie, the one who developed an unexpected relation in the most extreme situation with Jasper Jones.
A coming-of-age film, worth a watch, but no doubt that it should have better.
Not sure if the majority would like it or dislike it, but it is once watchable film.
When a bookish teenager helps solve a mystery death to avoid his aboriginal friend being blamed, he digs deep to find the courage to sort out the mess of his family and friends' lives.Set in a rural 1960s town, a young Levi Miller takes a worthy turn at a Mark Twain style hero who, sustained by a childhood wonder about important things like Batman's superpowers, is caught up in a tragedy which uncovers far more about the dark nature of people than any child should know.
Toni Collete as a depressed mother and Hugo Weaving as a the town's recluse give the story emotional depth, and director Rachel Perkin brings out the simmering malevolence in an everyday setting.
Based on a contemporary novel, the casual racism and intolerance is particularly relevant to our times.
Worth seeing for- Levi Miller & Hugo Weaving.
Set in the small Western Australian town of Corrigan, in 1969, this Australian indie has loads of concurrent themes abounding, including a murder mystery, the blatant racism of the time, sexual molestation, infidelity, loyalty, friendship, and the list goes on.Although the film may have thrown "one iron into the fire" too many, I still found it to be quite engaging, and it kept my interest as to how this would all play out.
There's a strong cast here as well, led by Levi Miller, Toni Collette, Angourie Rice,
Aaron McGrath, and Dan Wylie.Overall, this coming-of-age tale, directed by Rachel Perkins, with a screenplay by Shaun Grant and Craig Silvey, based on his novel, may not always work, but it contains some solid twists and surprises and it kept my interest throughout..
A good family movie (from a ever dwindling supply).
These days you have a hard time to select a movie to watch as a family.
The movie is very well acted and has the two talented youngsters Angourie Rice and Levi Miller supported by none other than Toni Collette (big fan) and Hugo Weaving.
They do not take center stage in this coming-of-age drama.
We all enjoyed the movie tremendously, and even though it deals with adult topics, it makes it accessible for all ages.
If you want an easy watching movie with the family, this is a good pick.
When I saw this was finally getting the film treatment I was excited, but I was left a little disappointed.
The movie is visually enjoyable/well shot, but doesn't quite live up to the book.
The character development in the film is lacking.
A flawed diamond of a movie should have been better:.
I enjoyed Jasper Jones especially the lead performances by Levi Miller as Charlie Bucktin , Aaron L McGrath as Jasper Jones ,Jeffrey Lu as Charlie's best mate and Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving but in my opinion it missed being a much better movie .I must read the book hopefully it will answer the questions the movie leaves up in the air such as why Jasper goes to Charlie for help when he's never spoken to him previously?
I may be wrong but I suspect readers of the book may be disappointed not in the actors but in the Production of this movie.I think it needed a better Director and production crew.
and the cut on his face suddenly disappearing overnight, these are trivial things I know but points to bad editing and attention to details and this story deserved more.
A truly Australian story.
I read this book after seeing Belvoir's mesmeric stage production, which so perfectly captured the claustrophobia of a small town in Western Australia in the 1960s.
No movie was ever going to manage that and, as much as I love Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving I would have loved to see the same cast in the movie as I saw onstage.
That said I couldn't help but become entwined in the lives of these young people and their community.
This story reminds of another favourite, 'The Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night Time'.
If you like this book then I recommend 'Jasper Jones'..
It could have perhaps been saved had the director gone for realism.For instance, in 1969, no small town Aussie kid spoke as if they were straight out of a preppie school in Britain.
I might have forgiven this massive oversight if perhaps the parents of the said children were all Oxford professors but no, Toni Collette knew how to be her Australian best as did every other adult in the film, but somehow the kids, including the young Indigenous man, flopped into this small pint pot of a place with plums in their gobs.
The opening scenes are wonderfully iconic of country Australia in the era but that's where the realism ends.All important topics utterly wasted: The effects of racism, incest, teen suicide, parents betraying their children and behaving badly...
Except for the irritation of small town kids in 1969 speaking like private school kids from 2017..
See the movie, then read the book..
I always the thought the book had some flat spots, so the movie is better in keeping the pace going.
This film set in Western Australia in the late 1960s is engrossing and sometimes moving, but gives up on the main plotline and makes its subplots centre pieces.
There are some mysteries that keep it interesting, however I wish it tied things up a little more with the subplots.
I guess for us to make our own assumptions, but I like things more buttoned up.Great acting from Toni Collette!.
This film was fun, enjoyable, with and hilarious.
I laughed a lot, I cried a bit, but I liked all the characters, and it was possibly 10,000 times better than I expected it to be..
Based on Australian author Craig Silvey's beloved novel of the same name, this semi-successful and well-received Australian offering looks to capture the magic that was found in Silvey's paper version of this tale of death, love, racial tension and growing up in a small Australian town of the late 1960's but Rachel Perkins film lacks a certain spark that would've made Jasper Jones one of the year's must see local productions.Perkins film certainly looks and sounds the part, thanks to quality contributions from acclaimed composer Antony Partos, DOP Mark Wareham and production designer Herbert Pinter but the heart and soul of the story of young boy Charlie Bucktin and his sudden friendship with aboriginal outcast Jasper Jones after the two get caught up in the death and cover up of local girl Laura Wishart never truly gels on the big screen thanks to some so-so performances and plodding editing.Following on from his mediocre turn in Pan and so-so turn in fellow Australian big screen event Red Dog: True Blue, Australian actor Levi Miller has the tough task of bringing Charlie to life and the young performer who appears in almost every scene of Perkins film doesn't quite make it work to the levels the tale needed him to hit.Supported impressively by newcomer Kevin Long as best friend Jeffrey Lu, Aboriginal actor Aaron L.
McGrath as the titular Jones and These Final Hours and The Nice Guys breakout star Angourie Rice (once more stealing the show acting wise), Miller has failed to make his mark in 3 big lead turns now and whenever you see him alongside Rice or Australian staples like Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving (it's not an Aussie film without him) you realise that Miller's performances leave a lot to be desired.The other problem with Jones is that its central mystery centring around just what happened to cause Laura's mysterious death is intriguing in a sense but once we are made aware of the answers to the questions we and the characters have, it feels like a bit of a letdown to what has been 90 minutes of build-up that includes detours into racial tensions and coming of age dramas.Final Say – Jasper Jones is a quality Australian production with clearly more money at its disposal than average local produce but despite a solid groundwork at its core, Perkins film feels like a bit of a non-event, even though a collection of commendable acting turns and a story that's journey is more intriguing initially than its destination make Jasper Jones far from the worst Australian made effort.2 ½ game winning innings out of 5.
From the point that Jasper and Charlie go to Jack Lionel's place it goes from trash to pretty well executed drama..
Well made Aussie Movie.
Rachel Perkins has directed another terrific, simple, Australian film here.
Adds to illustrious titles including Radiance and Bran Nue Day. There was certainly good material to work with, being based on the young adult book by Craig Silvey, who has also co-written the screenplay.
Toni Collette as usual, Hugo Weaving in a cameo role.
An understated but really good Dan Wylie, and a terrific performance from young Levi Miller.
All in all a really well made film..
Interesting and intelligent kids "slow afternoon" movie.
Intelligent movie which will keep your brains up all the time.
Mostly rasism and family issues are covered so the movie will be great for teenagers.
Australian story, it was 1969 and Charlie was coming of age..
My wife and I watched this movie at home on DVD from our public library.
It is mostly unmemorable but has a number of good actors in it.Set in a small Western Australia community, Corrigan, it is 1969 and some locals have lost sons in the war in Vietnam.
This creates some racial tension with a local Vietnamese family.Jasper Jones is a teenage boy living there, he is mistrusted because of his mixed race heritage, a white father and an Aboriginal mother.
So the movie is sort of a slice of life in this community, how people behave and react to what is going on.
Plus young Charlie's coming of age.It is an interesting 1.5+ hour movie..
Another Great Aussie Movie.
Nothing better than watching a good Aussie movie, I can't get enough of them....
Love the story line, fantastic actors, location.
I've watched the movie twice now and most likely watch it many more time.
Well done to the writer/director/producer for creating this story/movie and the actors, they portrayed Australia in the 50s to a T..
I would definitely recommend watching this movie..
The only thing I'll say is that the movie looks good.
The movie is trash until the last 30 or so minutes.
From the point Jasper and Charlie go to Jack Lionells place it becomes a pretty decent drama film.
Boring.
I have to say that I watched the movie with interest.But when finished, I was not really satisfied.
There are just too many things going on, all at the same time.
it was just too much.It is hard to believe than in a racist town and in that time period, a white girl, daughter from a prominent white and racist guy would fall and keep a hidden relationship with a mixed race outcast.
They basically ruined what could have been a good movie..
The same can be said for some of the Aussie reviewers here who are just as clearly seeing the film through rose coloured glasses.
Up front it must be said that Toni Collette and Hugo Weaving are typically flawless in their supporting roles, though I suspect the former had misgivings about one scene in which she feels the need to administer a rather dubious and extreme punishment to Charlie.
Levi Miller is the find of the film, showing a maturity beyond his years with a sensitive and endearing multi-faceted performance as the set-upon Charlie, who is privy to Jasper's secret and uncertain what to do wit it.
The rest of the acting, including the title performance, is at best uneven, as is the direction.
When are fart gags going to be see as unfunny, as is one here, demonstrated by Charlie's dad and out of character with anything the role demands of Dan Wyllie on screen.
Collette and Miller aside (Weaving has only one noteworthy scene), Jasper Jones lacks conviction and credibility.
The best that can be said is that lesser films have been less worthy of the aggrandisement..
Morbid and kind of boring.
First 10 minutes of the movie, includes 2 boys drowning the body of a dead girl with a huge rock.
People do things that doesn't make sense a lot.
This has been more time I want to spend on this dumb movie