The Australian genre flicks of the 1970s and ’80s receive a jam-packed documentary tribute in Mark Hartley’s “Not Quite Hollywood: The Wild, Untold Story of Ozploitation.”
It’s a kicky, slightly exhausting look at a bygone era of low-rent moviemaking, whose colorful trove of film clips should delight fans of cinematic esoterica, nostalgic schlock and high-octane drive-in fare.
A bit of history: In 1971, relaxed Australian censorship standards ushered in a string of locally produced sex farces with such titles as “Stork,” “The Adventures of Barry McKenzie” and “Alvin Purple.”
These and other nudity- filled titillators hit box-office gold, generated sequels and copycats, and eventually gave way to a wave of influential horror and action films (including “Patrick,” “The Man From Hong Kong” and, most notably, “Mad Max”) that also pushed the envelope, but with gonzo violence and outrageous stunts.
A raft of Australian filmmakers, actors and critics enjoyably weigh in here on the so-called “Ozploitation” phenomenon, as do several of the American actors who appeared in these pictures, such as Stacy Keach and Jamie Lee Curtis (“Roadgames”), Dennis Hopper (“Mad Dog Morgan”) and Steve Railsback (“Turkey Shoot”).
But it’s famed exploitation- movie geek Quentin Tarantino who has the most fun as he vociferously extols the virtues of these lowbrow thrillfests.
“not quite hollywood: the wild, untold story of ozploitation.” ***
R for graphic nudity, sexuality, violence and gore, some language and drug use. 1 hour, 43 minutes. Written and directed by Mark Hartley; starring Phillip Adams, Christine Amor, and Glory Annen. Opens today at the Chez Artiste.
