No doubt looking to emulate the success of homegrown hit Second Hand Wedding is this comedy-drama about a bunch of people who enter an endurance contest to win a car - whoever keeps their hands on it the longest wins. Billed as a 'tale of desperation, determination, and love', Show Of Hands pits these Kiwi characters against each other and tests which inner motivation will prove the stronger. Stars Kiwi great Melanie Lynskey (Heavenly Creatures, Coyote Ugly) and Craig Hall (TV's Outrageous Fortune), with music by Don McGlashan.
The question on my mind before seeing this film was not whether or not its characters could withstand an endurance competition to win a car, but whether a feature-length film about such a topic could sustain my interest. Ninety minutes later, the answer is yes, but only just.
Full review
Melanie Lynskey, probably our best actress and certainly one of the most appealing, plays Jess, a really, really nice and decent New Plymouth single mother and parking warden with the cutest freckles.
Full review
McCarten's smart plotting maintains the tension well (there is a clever twist at the climax) and the performances - in particular Lovatt's as the sleazy car dealer whose idea the whole thing is - are good. It's a matter of debate, though, whether the characters are interesting enough for the length of a feature.
Full review
There is plenty to like about this film, and while it does tend towards talking itself a little too seriously at the end, the story is an engaging one.
Full review
But the real genius behind this film is ... well maybe it's us and whatever our national character might be. Because whatever it is, films such as Show of Hands are beginning to distil it and get it up on the screen. This is a cracker little film. Do go.
Full reviewShow of Hands is available to stream in New Zealand now on NZ Film On Demand and Academy On Demand.
Get to your watchlist.
Or sign in with your email
Don’t have a Flicks account?
Keep track of the movies and show you want to see + get Flicks email updates.
Or sign up with your email
Already have a Flicks account?
Don’t have a Flicks account?
Remembered your password?
To post ratings/reviews we need a username. This is what will appear next to your ratings and reviews.
