Breaker Morant, a 1980 Australian biographical war film, has been named the most underrated and overlooked movie of all time by IMDb users. The film, which is now streaming on Amazon Prime, explores the Nuremberg Defence through the true story of three Australian lieutenants court-martialed for executing prisoners during the Boer War.
Plot and Background
The film is based on Kenneth G. Ross' 1978 play of the same name. Its synopsis states: "Three Australian lieutenants are court martialed for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers." Directed by Bruce Beresford, the film stars Edward Woodward, Jack Thompson, John Waters, Bryan Brown, Charles Tingwell, and Terence Donovan.
Awards and Critical Acclaim
Breaker Morant won ten 1980 Australian Film Institute Awards, including Best Film, Best Direction, Best Screenplay, Best Leading Actor (Edward Woodward), and Best Supporting Actor (Bryan Brown). It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film holds a 7.8/10 rating on IMDb and a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Audience Reactions
One Rotten Tomatoes reviewer called it an "Amazing movie! Acting, plot, script, cinematography all at the top. This movie is the flag bearer of a great period of Australian cinema." Another said: "Absolutely fantastic film that brings to life the horror of the Boer War while focusing on the plight of a small group of characters. Truly captivating." A third reviewer noted: "The script is tight and well written... the movie captures well the atmosphere of the time." An IMDb user added: "I have repeatedly come back to this film as one of my all-time classics."
Breaker Morant is now available for streaming on Amazon Prime.
