BOSCH & ROCKIT
****
Director: Tyler Atkins
Screenplay: Tyler Atkins & Drue Metz, based on a story by Atkins.
Principal cast:
Luke Hemsworth
Rasmus King
Leeanna Walsman
Savannah La Rain
Martin Sacks
Michael Sheasby
Country: Australia
Classification: MA15+
Runtime: 106 mins.
Australian release date: 18 August 2022.
Bosch & Rockit is an impressive first film from director/co-writer Tyler Atkins and it features an equally impressive debut performance from young actor Rasmus King (the movie was shot in 2020 and King has subsequently starred in another new Australian film, 6 Festivals, and in the ABC TV series Barons). Judging by the abundant talent on display here, we should be seeing a lot more of him in the future if he sticks with acting, but he’s also a pro-surfer so who knows? The plot, we are informed by an on-screen card, is “Inspired by true events” and it’s a pretty wild ride focussing on a father and son on the run from the police. Only the son isn’t aware of this fact - he thinks he’s on a fantastic surfing safari with his dad.
Single father Bosch (played by the eldest of the Hemsworth brothers, Luke) has a farm on the east coast of Australia where his principal crop is marijuana. He’s having a great time because he’s under the protection of a couple of local cops, until the day the head detective (Martin Sacks) orders him to on-sell a kilo of cocaine he’s seized from a dealer. Bosch complains that he’s “just a farmer” but his protestations fall on deaf ears. That’s merely the first of his worries, however, because his property and freshly-picked harvest are in the line of a massive bushfire bearing down on the region. In his haste to flee the fire, the drugs, both the green and white varieties, are destroyed and he’s left with no choice but to go on the run, so he picks up his son, Rockit (King), and tells him they’re heading north to Byron Bay on a spontaneous surfing holiday. Needless to say, the grommet is stoked! Rockit is barely into his teens and anything that gets him out of school and into the waves is alright with him, not to mention getting the opportunity to hang out with his dad. What could be better? Unfortunately for the boy, though, the trip is not the magical time he is hoping for.
Hemsworth is very good as the irresponsible but caring father who gets in over his head through no choice of his own. He successfully conveys the love Bosch has for his son while recognising deep down that he can’t possibly continue to care for him. Basically, he’s playing the kind of character you could find in many a car park or pub near a surf beach anywhere in Australia - heart of gold but a bit of a lad. And King, as mentioned, is brilliant. Not having had the opportunity to see his work before, you wonder whether he isn’t actually playing someone similar to himself (albeit a couple of years younger), so intuitively does he inhabit Rockit. You totally believe his performance as this cheeky kid. Supporting roles are excellent, too, particularly Leeanna Walsman as Rockit’s estranged mother. And what casting! King could really be her son, such is the resemblance between them. Michael Sheasby does well as a cop who’s friendly with Bosch; his is a small but important part, and Savannah La Rain is first-rate as a teenage girl who befriends Rockit when he’s in Byron Bay. She’s another young star in the making.
The two cinematographers, Ben Nott on land and Shane Fletcher in the water, are also in excellent form, particularly Fletcher’s surfing shots (although it’s hard to believe that there are never any other surfers at these terrific breaks). Atkin and Metz’s screenplay does veer into overly sentimental territory on occasion but for the most part the actors carry off these lines convincingly. Bosch & Rockit ain’t perfect but it’s an auspicious debut.
Screenplay: Tyler Atkins & Drue Metz, based on a story by Atkins.
Principal cast:
Luke Hemsworth
Rasmus King
Leeanna Walsman
Savannah La Rain
Martin Sacks
Michael Sheasby
Country: Australia
Classification: MA15+
Runtime: 106 mins.
Australian release date: 18 August 2022.
Bosch & Rockit is an impressive first film from director/co-writer Tyler Atkins and it features an equally impressive debut performance from young actor Rasmus King (the movie was shot in 2020 and King has subsequently starred in another new Australian film, 6 Festivals, and in the ABC TV series Barons). Judging by the abundant talent on display here, we should be seeing a lot more of him in the future if he sticks with acting, but he’s also a pro-surfer so who knows? The plot, we are informed by an on-screen card, is “Inspired by true events” and it’s a pretty wild ride focussing on a father and son on the run from the police. Only the son isn’t aware of this fact - he thinks he’s on a fantastic surfing safari with his dad.
Single father Bosch (played by the eldest of the Hemsworth brothers, Luke) has a farm on the east coast of Australia where his principal crop is marijuana. He’s having a great time because he’s under the protection of a couple of local cops, until the day the head detective (Martin Sacks) orders him to on-sell a kilo of cocaine he’s seized from a dealer. Bosch complains that he’s “just a farmer” but his protestations fall on deaf ears. That’s merely the first of his worries, however, because his property and freshly-picked harvest are in the line of a massive bushfire bearing down on the region. In his haste to flee the fire, the drugs, both the green and white varieties, are destroyed and he’s left with no choice but to go on the run, so he picks up his son, Rockit (King), and tells him they’re heading north to Byron Bay on a spontaneous surfing holiday. Needless to say, the grommet is stoked! Rockit is barely into his teens and anything that gets him out of school and into the waves is alright with him, not to mention getting the opportunity to hang out with his dad. What could be better? Unfortunately for the boy, though, the trip is not the magical time he is hoping for.
Hemsworth is very good as the irresponsible but caring father who gets in over his head through no choice of his own. He successfully conveys the love Bosch has for his son while recognising deep down that he can’t possibly continue to care for him. Basically, he’s playing the kind of character you could find in many a car park or pub near a surf beach anywhere in Australia - heart of gold but a bit of a lad. And King, as mentioned, is brilliant. Not having had the opportunity to see his work before, you wonder whether he isn’t actually playing someone similar to himself (albeit a couple of years younger), so intuitively does he inhabit Rockit. You totally believe his performance as this cheeky kid. Supporting roles are excellent, too, particularly Leeanna Walsman as Rockit’s estranged mother. And what casting! King could really be her son, such is the resemblance between them. Michael Sheasby does well as a cop who’s friendly with Bosch; his is a small but important part, and Savannah La Rain is first-rate as a teenage girl who befriends Rockit when he’s in Byron Bay. She’s another young star in the making.
The two cinematographers, Ben Nott on land and Shane Fletcher in the water, are also in excellent form, particularly Fletcher’s surfing shots (although it’s hard to believe that there are never any other surfers at these terrific breaks). Atkin and Metz’s screenplay does veer into overly sentimental territory on occasion but for the most part the actors carry off these lines convincingly. Bosch & Rockit ain’t perfect but it’s an auspicious debut.