Placid Lake is of course the name of a satirical horror film from 1999, so the writer of this film was possibly trying to indicate the lead character's life was a modern day horror film, perhaps. Placid is anything but placid as he and his female friend Gemma just don't fit in, as displayed by the opening scene in which they both prefer watching television away from the other high school revelers. Placid is not just bullied like those that do not fit in, but he's raised by extremely idiotic parents stuck in a hippie/new age time warp. Placid's plan to fit in comes about accidentally when he's cornered by the bullies with no escape. He ends up becoming a drone working for an insurance company before realizing he's not cut out to put on a show for society to fit in.The film tries to be earnest with its message, and the film certainly has its funny moments, especially the student film Placid produces. However, the pacing is slow, even for a ninety minute film, and it never builds to a comic crescendo one might expect. The ending is not that satisfying either as Placid simply returns to his previous unorthodox self with his happy female friend in tow ecstatic to have the old Placid back. Unfortunately, the film builds an all or nothing case with being an individual vs. being a member of society with no room for a happy medium. Someone in his twenties may call it thumbing his nose at the system, but after thirty it's really just becoming a loser. This coming of age film would have been much more enjoyable with a quickened pace, more judicious editing, and perhaps a compromise to its all or nothing perspective. **1/2 of 4 stars.

I can't believe some of the positive reviews of this movie. The dialog is pretentious, pristine and unnatural.The characters: NONE of them are likable. You just don't buy anything they say or do. POOR writing all around. This movie wants to be Rushmore or Juno or something like that and just falls flat on its face.It is a needless movie that adds NOTHING to film.Most of all, it's just not funny. Or clever.At all.I like Ben Lee's music and find it sad and unfortunate that he wasted his time with this unoriginal and lame movie.

before i start, i'm just for warning you all that i am one of Ben lee's biggest fans, and so in a way, am pretty biased. but by the same token, this movie is amazing. it had everything that doomed it to fail - a first time director, a first time leading actor AND a low budget. but if you didn't know better, you wouldn't have even guessed that after watching it. placid lake is a gem, there's no question there. and a laugh out loud comedy too, with lines like "she must have got hit by a car...women, huh?" when his best friend didn't turn up for a golf match when he was trying to impress his boss. but it isn't the jokes that make it so good, but the thought provoking questions it raises. i won't go into it, because in the end those questions being raised and thought about are individualist.placid lake (played by singer/songwriter Ben lee) is the only child of hippie parents, who make him wear a dress for his first day of school and who let the bullies hurt him for it. yes, they are unconventional parents, but by the end of it, you won't be sitting there thinking "they are horrible people", surprisingly enough. and you also won't be thinking placid lake is the coolest guy ever, either, because put blankly, he isn't. but you get drawn to him and his struggle for normality all the same, and want him to find it, even though it seems hopeless. and while he is struggling to fit in with life after school, you see his science-nut best friend Gemma Taylor (played by Rose Bryne) trying to cope with a life that has been planned out for her since she was tiny.and if these things don't grab you, seeing Placid in a full body cast will.Overall, a great movie, and well recommended for everyone (well, just so long as they are old enough to cope with the strong sexual content).10 stars!

I can't believe I didn't hear about this film when it was released. I must have missed The Movie Show that particular week. I saw the DVD on the shelf of my local video shop, while it was in the New Releases section. I saw the cover, loved the word-play in the title, and, thinking it was American, I told myself I would get it out when it gets moved to the weekly section.I saw it, in the weekly section, some time later, and I read the blurb on the back and thought, 'that sounds really interesting, I'll get it out someday'. Then last week, I picked it up again, and noticed the Australian Film Finance Corporation named on the back. I was in. I hired it, took it home, and loved every minute.From the first scene, 'The Rage in Placid Lake' sets itself up to be taken only semi-seriously. The parents of Placid Lake, our hero, are, as his name would suggest, extreme New Agers. We first meet Placid at primary school, where his mother drops him off in a dress, admonishing him to challenge the other children's pre-conceived notions of sexuality. Between flashbacks to his childhood, the film follows Placid's transition from school to work, which is fraught with stresses. Having failed to achieve happiness following his parents' advice, Placid takes a new tack: he gets his hair cut like George W. Bush, buys a suit, and lands a job with an insurance company. All of which is most distressing to his best friend Gemma, and his parents, who go to great lengths to shake him out of this Capitalist madness.Writer and Director Tony McNamara has worked primarily in theatre, and has also written for television, including Southern Star's magnificent 'The Secret Life of Us'. His background in the theatre, however, lends this film a very intimate and human touch. He had originally thought of this story as a play, but rightly judged it to be more suited to film, and made adjustments accordingly. The result is a film that stands out as something fresh, something that takes old ideas and stereotypes, and employs them to great effect.While the characters in this film can be described as caricatures, Placid's journey into adulthood—his discovery of himself and of his relationships—resonates with such humanity that the suspension of disbelief is no effort. The pathos with which the characters are written boldly emphasises McNamara's assertion that we must be true to ourselves.The most remarkable aspect of this film, however, remains the sad fact that so few people have seen it or even heard about it. It is an example of the magnificent films being produced in this country, and highlights the miserable plight of Australian filmmakers, overshadowed by the monstrous marketing ploys of their American counterparts. 'The Rage in Placid Lake' may not quite be as noteworthy in the history of Australian film as 'Jedda' or 'Mad Max' or 'Romper Stomper', but it makes a profound statement about humanity that sits somewhat uncomfortably in a world of Free Trade Agreements and 'Wars on Terror'. What's more, it makes that statement beautifully.