What should be a riveting and poignant family in crisis drama is ruined by the performances of the two most famous lead actors: Geoffrey Rush gnawing away and shouting his lines, and Judy Davis in half despair/screwed up face mode....all the fault of TV commercial schlock B pic director Russell Mulcahy. The performances of the kids are excellent and the set design, art direction and period detail, all perfectly photographed, have survived the heavy handed treatment...it is the TV level performances for the parent roles that become more than tiresome. Not to detract from what must have been a tough childhood, the story of this swimming family, the Fingleton's, is no doubt wrought in slapping and soaked in alcohol. Perhaps lesser known but equally talented leads would have been more satisfying and believable than the kitchen sink pantomime from Rush and Davis. I agree they are great actors but they are not in this film. The film was not a success and word of mouth was poor. Tim Draxl, Oz boy cabaret singer by night is one of the better performers in the pool in this one. The lame 80s lifesaver race pic COOLANGATTA GOLD covered the same territory, pestering brute dad playing favorites'n'all. Blame Mulcahey and his HIGHLANDER- RAZORBACK past for Swimming Upstream drying up.
Review of Swimming Upstream
