My Brilliant Career

Starring:Judy Davis, Sam Neill, Wendy Hughes, Robert Grubb, Max Cullen, Aileen Britton, Peter Whitford, Patricia Kennedy, Alan Hopgood, Julia Blake, David Franklin, Marion Shad, Aaron Wood, Sue Davies, Gordon Piper, James Moss, Bill Charlton, Suzanne Roylance, Zelda Smith, Bobbie Ward
Director: Gillian Armstrong
Studio: Blue Underground
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The acclaimed debut of Judy Davis is the best reason to see My Brilliant Career, and the award-winning film is highly recommended as the feature debut of director Gillian Armstrong. This was an early entry in the magnificent "New Australian Cinema" movement that yielded such classics as Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli, and Breaker Morant, and 27-year-old Armstrong (who would later direct the popular 1994 version of Little Women) brought just the right feminist touch to this stately adaptation of the 1901 semi-autobiographical novel by Miles Franklin. Davis (who was 23 at the time) plays 16-year-old Sybylla Melvyn, on the verge of womanhood in turn-of-the-century Australia and determined to have a "brilliant career" as an independent writer and lover of life, but her attraction to a wealthy bachelor (Sam Neill, charming as always), and the pressures of her family to lead a conventional life of devoted domesticity, turn this into a romantic and highly observant drama of personal dilemma and free-spirited conviction. It's no surprise that Davis and Armstrong went on to brilliant careers themselves (Davis starred in David Lean's A Passage to India just a few years later). --Jeff Shannon
Description
Winner of Six Australian Academy Awards, Including Best Picture and Best Director.

Exquisite 2-Disc Special Edition

Amazon.com

The acclaimed debut of Judy Davis is the best reason to see My Brilliant Career, and the award-winning film is highly recommended as the feature debut of director Gillian Armstrong. This was an early entry in the magnificent "New Australian Cinema" movement that yielded such classics as Picnic at Hanging Rock, Gallipoli, and Breaker Morant, and 27-year-old Armstrong (who would later direct the popular 1994 version of Little Women) brought just the right feminist touch to this stately adaptation of the 1901 semi-autobiographical novel by Miles Franklin. Davis (who was 23 at the time) plays 16-year-old Sybylla Melvyn, on the verge of womanhood in turn-of-the-century Australia and determined to have a "brilliant career" as an independent writer and lover of life, but her attraction to a wealthy bachelor (Sam Neill, charming as always), and the pressures of her family to lead a conventional life of devoted domesticity, turn this into a romantic and highly observant drama of personal dilemma and free-spirited conviction. It's no surprise that Davis and Armstrong went on to brilliant careers themselves (Davis starred in David Lean's A Passage to India just a few years later). --Jeff Shannon

Description

Winner of Six Australian Academy Awards, Including Best Picture and Best Director.

Exquisite 2-Disc Special Edition

Customer Reviews:

A daughter who is useless, plain, and godless.......2007-04-12

If you loved Anne of Green Gables and Out of Africa, you would probably enjoy My Brilliant Career. A determined young woman in Autralia deals with adversity and love, while holding onto her dream of becoming a writer.

Realism Heaped Upon Reality.......2007-03-01

In early twentieth century Australia a young woman, Sybylla Melvyn, played by the ever-capable Judy Davis, is determined to escape the mundane domestic existence she sees laid out before her, in order to seek her fortune, her "brilliant career" as a writer. She passes up a sound offer of marriage to a smitten, wealthy young man, played by none other than Sam Neill, and as a consequence makes due with residing in reduced circumstances as a governess: itself hardly the fulfillment of her egoistical dream. The statement here is more than just one of ideals before romance, it also says much about the reality of the limited choices open to women even as late as the nascence of the 1900's, and the at least short-term fate Sybylla (a stand-in for real life writer Miles Franklin) meets as a result of her choice was nicely depicted by director Gillian Armstrong. The sad fact was that when a woman in times past strayed from those narrow roles society dictated as available to her (wife and mother being by far the most obvious and approved one) she was seldom rewarded. Sure Sybylla is allowed to choose her path for herself and perhaps reaped some feeling of empowerment from that, but My Brilliant Career makes it plainly apparent what the probable outcome is to be. Undoubtedly things could be better for women (and everyone else) than they are today, but dare I point out that we've come a long way..."baby?"

Judy Davis is Extraordinary.......2006-09-30

I will not attempt to repeat the complimnts of other viewers. I will say only that MY BRILLIANT CAREER is a beautifully written and photographed tale of a vivacious, independent young woman (Judy Davis) and the unrequited love of her suitor (Sam Neill). The characters are unforgettable and the love story complex. As a period piece, the film comes alive. New South Wales and other sites emerge through meticulous art direction, wonderful costumes and delicious cinematography.

While the score hangs its hat on a single melody from Robert Schumann's "Scenes of Childhood," the salon performances are captivating and the dance sequences lively and colorful.

But this is Judy Davis's film by far. Her performance is funny, fiery and nuanced. She is also a natural beauty who speaks as clearly with her body and eyes as with her words. She conveys the stubbornness with which many writers pursue their work, forsaking everything for the freedom and space they need to create.

The extras here are generous, with the most valuable feature in this two-disk set "The Miles Franklin Story"-- on which the film is ultimately based.

I am grateful this film is accessible again, beauifully remastered in high definition, with a crisp, clear soundtrack. The packaging is also exemplary.

MY BRILLIANT CAREER has been on my top-20 list for a quarte- century, and it still holds its place. A captivating, funny and deeply moving film with a first performance by a young actress that has no equal.

Great but Rather Sad.......2006-07-05

I guess as a married woman, I feel saddened that some women felt that to marry was confining or otherwise restrictive to their freedoms as women. This movie was wonderful - great, sweeping romance, but sad. The scene where the star breaks off the relationship and rejects the marriage proposal from the Sam Neill character is heart breaking. It reflects Miles Franklins' decision not to marry, but instead to pursue her career as a writer and travel the world. Despite its sadness, this is probably one of the most romantic movies I have ever watched.

This movie reminds me of how much progress women have made - we no longer feel that we have to choose between romance and our careers. We can have it all!

A Contrarian View.......2005-12-06

The movie is exquisitely styled, well-paced, filled with interesting characters and beautiful scenery. The story is unsettling and problematic though. In fairy tales or classic British novels, such as those by Jane Austen, a girl dreams of meeting and marrying her prince and finally does just that. In this movie, Sybilla does meet her prince who falls in love with her, but she turns down ordinary human happiness to lead the life of an artist, whatever that may mean in her case. She also turns down someone's true love - most people, unfortunately, can only wish they could find it and end up settling for a lot less. I never actually read the book but, from watching a movie, I never got a sense that there was anything remotely brilliant about her career, or that she had talent that showed any promise. Her personality is fun but not exactly appealing. She is full of vitality yet excessively self-centered and, as she herself admits, egotistical. She seems to have little or no consideration for others. Harry Beacham, on the other hand, is very sympathetic. He is an arrogant young man but that is expected of him - he is a prince-like figure. He is still very likeable - aristocratic yet surprisingly understanding, given his sheltered existence, strong yet vulnerable. He must have fallen for her because she was different from other girls he met. She seems to have some feelings for him too, but she is too self-centered and preoccupied by self-introspection to actually love someone else. In the end, she tells him that she "almost" loves him, or something like that, and that what she is really after is finding out who she is and what is wrong with the world. Yeah, right. I was somewhat like Sybilla when I was young (though I had a lot more concern and appreciation for people and things) and it took me many years to learn what is of true value in life. The most profound and best line in the movie is "loneliness is a high price to pay for independence". In the end, I felt sorry for Sybilla. The decision not to marry Harry Beacham was something that she would probably regret later, as years would pass. I could almost imagine Sybilla eventually turning into a lonely and bitter old hag, finding her only comfort in grumbling about everyone else being smug, stupid, bourgeois and conformist.

Average customer rating:

A daughter who is useless, plain, and godless
Realism Heaped Upon Reality
Judy Davis is Extraordinary
Great but Rather Sad
A Contrarian View

My Brilliant Career [Region 2]
Starring: Judy Davis , Sam Neill , Wendy Hughes , Robert Grubb , and Max Cullen
Director: Gillian Armstrong
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B00009P9OE

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A daughter who is useless, plain, and godless.......2007-04-12

Realism Heaped Upon Reality.......2007-03-01

Judy Davis is Extraordinary.......2006-09-30

Great but Rather Sad.......2006-07-05

A Contrarian View.......2005-12-06

Gillian Armstrong Gift Set: My Brilliant Career/Star Struck

Average customer rating:

Gillian Armstrong Gift Set: My Brilliant Career/Star Struck
Starring: Gillian Armstrong Gift Set
Manufacturer: Blue Underground
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Musicals & Performing Arts | Genres | DVD | Video

Blue Underground | Cult Movies | Genres | DVD | Video

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

General | Indie & Art House | Stores | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000E41MUE
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Description

MY BRILLIANT CAREER (2-Disc Special Edition)
This is the film that became a worldwide sensation and remains perhaps the most beloved and acclaimed romantic epic of all time! Oscar(r) nominee Judy Davis (PASSAGE TO INDIA, HUSBANDS AND WIVES) made her international breakthrough debut as Sybylla Melvyn, a free-spirited young writer who refuses to conform to society's expectations of how a 'proper woman' should live her life. Sam Neill (JURASSIC PARK, THE PIANO) co-stars as the wealthy suitor who tries to win her restless heart in this Oscar(r) nominated classic directed by Gillian Armstrong (LITTLE WOMEN, STARSTRUCK).

Description

First, a rebroadcast of a conversation with Jessica Lange about her life as a mother and her career as an actress. She discusses her latest film "A Thousand Acres," and an upcoming project, "Hush," that also stars Gwyneth Paltrow. (from September 22, 1997) ||Then, Charlie talks to Australian director Gillian Armstrong about her film career.

My Brilliant Career [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]

Average customer rating:

My Brilliant Career [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Great Britain ]
Director: Gillian Armstrong
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Foreign & International | Stores | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000FTGIZM

Product Description

Great Britain released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Mono), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: Both actress Judy Davis and director Gillian Armstrong made a big splash on the international film scene with this charming Australian film that examines late 19th-century Australian society from the perspective of a headstrong woman who refuses to follow convention. The film charts the developing self-awareness of Sybylla Melvyn (Judy Davis) as she grows from an insecure tomboy to a self-assured woman. Sybylla wants to be a writer and stuns her family and friends by her insistence on following her dream. Despite the objections of her family acquaintances, she rejects the marriage proposal from the rich Harry Beecham (Sam Neill) to continue going her own way, in spite of the odds stacked against her in a repressive Victorian environment.

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