A cab worth hailing, LAST CAB TO DARWIN features another iconic characterisation by Michael Caton.
Caton plays Rex Macrae a cabbie, born and bred in Broken Hill. When he is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he is determined to die in dignity and that means driving to Darwin, where euthanasia is deemed legal.
Most people’s bucket list would include travelling to places that they would really love to see, but Rex is only interested in the city of Darwin as his journey’s end.
Life, however, is not that simple and neither is dying.
On his his outback trek to his personal Never Never, Rex encounters a bunch of bush people, malevolent and benevolent, that widens his world view, and forces the insular bloke to re-evaluate his life before its timely end. Talk about travel broadening the mind!
It’s Caton front and centre as Rex, but he’s surrounded by an excellent supporting cast.
Ningali Lawford-Wolf as Polly, who lives over the road, and is his occasional lover, gives a brash, no bullshit account of a woman jack of both black and white cultures, both of which she is a part of yet apart from. Her relationship with Rex is casual and uncomplicated, yet there is a deep connection.
Rex is determined to shield her from any fuss his dying might bring, but his odyssey seems to pinpoint their unsaid commitment to each other. This performance plays poignant and piquant, but not in isolation, but as part of the rich panoply of the piece.
Mark Coles Smith as Tilly is the cheeky, young Arabana man deadly but very casual with his Australian Rules. This is a stand out, take notice performance, a fine judging of the affable and affectionate, playfulness and pathos.
Emma Hamilton as Julie, a British nurse working as an outback barmaid who takes a shine to the cheeky Tilly whilst taking a professional interest in Rex’s well-being, portrays a pragmatic Pollyanna.
Together, this trio take the trip to Darwin to facilitate Rex’s wishes to meet with euthanasia advocate, Dr. Farmer, played by Jackie Weaver.
These foisted confederates foster friendship with the determined taxi driver and forces Rex to reappraise his relationship with the girl he’s left behind.
There’s also terrific work from Rex’s three amigos back in Broken Hill, played by David Field, John Howard and Alan Dukes, who elevate mateship to friendship during the course of the film.
Shot by Steve Arnold, no stranger to the outback, having lensed Mad Bastards and Disgrace, evokes iconic films Walkabout and Wake In Fright, capturing the terrible beauty of the north.
Writer Reg Cribb (the screenplay adapted from his acclaimed 2003 play) and director Jeremy Sims have made a polished gem of a road movie that visits Broken Hill, Marree, William Creek, Oodnadatta Marla ,Alice Springs, Barrow Creek, Tennant Creek, Daly Waters, Katherine, and Darwin and plots a terrific topography of real characters in a poignant, funny and totally entertaining way.
Ed Kuepper’s excellent score is one of the best of the year, and the soundtrack is peppered with iconic pop songs from the last few decades by the likes of Richard Clapton and The Master’s Apprentices.
Well written, deftly directed, fabulously framed , sensationally scored and perfectly played, LAST CAB TO DARWIN deserves to be first off the rank at box offices everywhere.