This offbeat Australian comedy is based on the real life events of 1969, when a huge satellite dish in the middle of a sheep paddock in Australia was used to pick up the TV signals from the first moon landing!
"The Dish" is that rare thing - a movie that"s as near to perfect as it is possible to get. Distinctly Australian, it has much the same appeal as the better known, "Strictly Ballroom", with both movies placing a magnifying glass over a bunch of quirky characters. It"s safe to say that if you liked "Strictly Ballroom", you"ll enjoy "The Dish", although the latter is perhaps not quite as grotesque as the former and has a softer edge to it.
Unlike "Strictly Ballroom" though, "The Dish" is actually based, albeit loosely, on true events. In 1969, the unremarkable and remote town of Parkes in New South Wales took centre stage as part of NASA"s first mission to the Moon. Home to a large radio telescope - the "Dish" of the title - Parkes was nominated as a communication relay station for the southern hemisphere and was instrumental in broadcasting television pictures of the Moon landing to the world. With the eyes of NASA, the Australian Prime Minister and the world upon them, the people of Parkes scramble to make the most of their town"s new found celebrity status. Meanwhile, at the dish itself, the pressure is on for the small team of scientists and their NASA liaison. Needless to say, not all goes according to plan.
Sam Neill stars and delivers a beautifully understated performance as the calm and recently bereaved, chief scientist, Cliff Buxton. Neill"s solid performance provides a credible base which successfully prevents the story from becoming too ludicrous in some of the more comedic moments. And of those moments there are plenty, most of them involving Roy Billing, as the endearingly ignorant Mayor of Parkes, and his family who suddenly find themselves welcoming the US Ambassador and the Australian premiere to their little town. The most unforgettable, laugh-out-loud moment involves the American National Anthem, but to say any more would spoil the fun.
Very much a feel-good-movie, it"s hard to imagine that anyone could find fault with "The Dish". The performances are pitch-perfect from Sam Neill down to the most minor supporting characters - all of whom have their own distinct personalities and quirks and are well served by the sharply written script. This movie should be on everyone"s "must-see" list. And if you"ve already seen it, maybe it"s time to see it again!
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During the days before the historic moon landing in 1969 a bunch of Australian technicians were working with NASA to rig up a satellite link in the middle of a sheep farm...
New South Wales, 1969. Australia's largest satellite dish has been given the task of tracking the Apollo 11 moon mission across the southern hemisphere and of transmitting the all-important television pictures of the landing itself. The local townspeople are proud to be part of such a momentous event and are eagerly preparing for a visit from the US ambassador. Meanwhile, at the dish control station, workers Cliff, Glen and Mitch greet NASA employee Al, who has come to help out. But then, during a party held in the ambassador's honour, a power cut causes the dish to lose contact with Apollo 11. Will they be able to sort the problem out in time for the landing, or are they about to fluff up their big moment?
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