Picks From the Pouch: The Last Kangaroo’s Australia Day movie list

The psychological thriller stars Gary Bond, Donald Pleasence, Chips Rafferty, Sylvia Kay and Jack Thompson, providing “surprisingly (to me) good acting performances,” said Mr Wu.

“You can see why some old time actors were famous in those days.”

Mr Wu first watched Wake in Fright following a recommendation from a customer of his Civic Video store in Windsor.

“Beautifully shot in desert country, very Australian in outlook and outback life,” Mr Wu said. 

“Interesting to see city boy exposed to very extreme country types, and country style of living – drinking, gambling and vomiting.

“Good watching, but bit bloody when they shoot the kangaroos and some stage hands passed out at the sight of it. But it was not staged – it was really done.”

Mr Wu’s top five releases for the month are Crazy Rich Asians, The Predator, Johnny English Strikes Again, Ladies in Black, and A Simple Favour.

Brand new films in store include Venom, Night School, Alpha, The Forgiven, Billionaire Boys Club, Juliet, Naked, A-X-L, Office Uprising, and Waves.

Which two new releases would Mr Wu personally recommend?

First up, it’s The Wife, “a very moving story of the woman behind the man,” Mr Wu said.

“Most successful men need someone to help and encourage them.

“Glenn Close gives a fine performance of a wife who has done it once too often and has come to the end of playing the role.

“First half hour is a bit slow, but as the story develops it becomes a good watch.”

He also recommends Ladies in Black as a “good Aussie movie”, albeit a “little bit girly”.

“Good movie for man want to make girlfriend or wife happy. Interesting to see Sydney in 1950s, trams, ferries and clothes styles.”

All these films are available for hire at Civic Video Windsor, open seven days, located at the car-park end of the Old Post Office Arcade, Windsor (off Windsor Mall).

Check out The Hawkesbury Gazette page on Facebook for a special Australia-themed song from Mr Wu in this month’s Picks From the Pouch video.