Bootmen

Bootmen is a 2000 Australian comedy-drama film, directed by Dein Perry. It was distributed by Fox Searchlight Pictures in Canada and United States and 20th Century Fox Distribution in Australia and funded by the Australian Film Finance Corporation. Production was from 19 June to 18 August 1999 in Sydney and Newcastle by cinematographer Steve Mason who won two cinematography awards in the 2000 AFI awards and the 2001 FCCA Awards. It stars Adam Garcia, Sophie Lee, Sam Worthington.

The film was released in Australia on 5 October 2000 and was Dein Perry's debut film, who was previously involved with stage shows such as Tap Dogs and Steel City. It is also known as Tap Dogs in Japan.

Plot
Sean and Mitchell are young adult brothers, having grown up in the rugged Australian steel city town of Newcastle. The father is a tough coal miner and they have no mother. Mitchell is a small-time criminal, while Sean dreams of being a professional dancer. Their father does not approve of Sean's dancing, so he hides his passion. Sean meets local hairdresser Linda at a dance class and falls in love with her. She admires his dancing but falls in love with his brother Mitchell. Sean creates his own dance troupe and plans to show the people of Newcastle what they can do. Sorry, I didn't see the middle of the film. If somebody can fill the gap that would be great. Mitchell gets in trouble with local thugs and escapes on his motorbike. They later catch him in a warehouse and he plunges to his death. The police immediately charge the culprit. Linda is pregnant with Mitchell's baby, but agrees to help Sean put on his show. They charge $10 a head and estimate 5,000 patrons will attend the event, even Sean's proud Dad who now accepts his son as a dancer and tells Sean even his mother would be happy. Despite his brother's death, Sean realises his dream of being a respected dancer.

Cast

 * Adam Garcia as Sean Okden
 * Sophie Lee as Linda
 * Sam Worthington as Mitchell Okden
 * Richard Carter as Gary Okden
 * Andrew Kaluski as Colin
 * Christopher Horsey as Angus
 * Lee McDonald as Derrick
 * Matt Lee as Johnno
 * William Zappa as Walter
 * Susie Porter as Sara
 * Anthony Hayes
 * Justine Clarke
 * Grant Walmsley
 * Andrew Doyle
 * Bruce Venables

Awards won

 * Australian Cinematographers Society (2001):
 * Award of Distinction (awarded to Feature Productions Cinema - Steve Mason)
 * Australian Film Institute (AFI) (2000):
 * Best Achievement in Cinematography: Steve Mason
 * Best Achievement in Costume Design: Tess Schofield
 * Best Achievement in Production Design: Murray Picknett
 * Best Achievement in Sound: David Lee, Laurence Maddy, Andrew Plain, Ian McLoughlin
 * Best Original Music Score: Cezary Skubiszewski
 * Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards (FCCA) (2001):
 * Best Cinematography: Steve Mason
 * Best Editing: Jane Moran
 * Best Music Score: Cezary Skubiszewski (tied with Edmund Choi for The Dish (2000)).

Award nominations

 * Australian Film Institute (AFI) (2000):
 * Best Achievement in Editing: Jane Moran
 * Best Film: Hilary Linstead
 * Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: Sam Worthington

DVD release
The film was released on home video on 27 February 2001 by Fox Home Entertainment.

Soundtrack
The Bootmen Soundtrack was released by RCA Victor in 2000 and composed by Cezary Skubiszewski and other various artists.


 * 1) Rumble - You Am I
 * 2) Opening Sequence - Cezary Skubiszewski
 * 3) Strange Human Beings - Regurgitator
 * 4) Tease Me - Paul Kelly
 * 5) My Family - Banana Oil
 * 6) Sign Post - Grinspoon
 * 7) Love Theme - Cezary Skubiszewski
 * 8) Radio Loves This - Deborah Conway
 * 9) Hit Song - Custard
 * 10) Giveway - Supaskuba
 * 11) Better Off Dead - Grinspoon
 * 12) Don't It Get You Down - Deadstar
 * 13) Nothing On My Mind - Paul Kelly
 * 14) Nipple - Icecream Hands
 * 15) Deeper Water - Deadstar
 * 16) Finale Part 2 - Cezary Skubiszewski
 * 17) Shiver - Oblivia
 * 18) "Even When I'm Sleeping" – Leonardo's Bride
 * 19) Junk - You Am I
 * 20) Tap Forge - Dein Perry

Box office
Bootmen grossed $2,720,302 at the box office in Australia.