Rams
Theatrical movie poster
Directed by
Written byJules Duncan
Based onRams
by Grímur Hákonarson
Produced byJanelle Landers
Aidan O'Bryan
Starring
CinematographySteve Arnold
Edited byMarcus D'Arcy
Music byAntony Partos
Production
company
WBMC
Distributed byRoadshow Films
Release dates
  • 27 August 2020 (2020-08-27) (CinefestOZ)
  • 29 October 2020 (2020-10-29)
Running time
115 minutes
CountryAustralia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$4,376,781[1]

Rams is a 2020 Australian comedy-drama film directed by Jeremy Sims, written by Jules Duncan, and starring Sam Neill, Michael Caton, and Miranda Richardson. It is based on the Icelandic drama film Rams (2015) by Grímur Hákonarson.[2]

The film premiered at the CinefestOZ Film Festival on 27 August 2020. Rams was released in Australian cinemas on 29 October 2020 to generally positive reviews.

At the 2021 ARIA Music Awards, the album was nominated for Best Original Soundtrack, Cast or Show Album.[3]

Synopsis

In remote Western Australia, two estranged brothers, Colin (Sam Neill) and Les (Michael Caton), are at war. Raising separate flocks of sheep descended from their family’s prized bloodline, the two men work side by side yet are worlds apart. When Les’s prize ram is diagnosed with a rare and lethal illness, authorities order a purge of every sheep in the valley. While Colin attempts to stealthily outwit the powers that be, Les opts for angry defiance. But can the warring brothers set aside their differences and have a chance to reunite their family, save their flock, and bring their community back together?[4]

— Roadshow Films

Cast

Production

Rams is the first produced screenplay of writer Jules Duncan, a former TV reporter for Channel 9 and regional network GWN.[6] While the film is based on the Icelandic film of the same name, director Jeremy Sims says the Australian version is a "complete reinterpretation of the original".[6] The film reunites Sims with star Michael Caton and several crew members from his previous feature, Last Cab to Darwin. Caton and co-star Sam Neill previously worked together in the 1976 TV series The Sullivans.[7]

Shooting started on 1 October 2018.[8] All filming took place in Mount Barker, Western Australia.[9] Caton and New Zealander Neill were announced as the film's leads in October 2018.[8] English actress Miranda Richardson joined in November 2018.[10] The production included several Dorset Horn sheep, a rare and endangered breed recognised for their distinctively curved-horns.[11] The film's score is by Antony Partos, an Australian film and TV composer who worked on Animal Kingdom, The Rover and the 2011 TV drama The Slap.[12]

Release

On 17 July 2020, Rams was announced as the opening film of the 2020 CinefestOZ Film Festival.[13] The film premiered at the CineFestOZ Film Festival in Busselton, Western Australia on 27 August 2020.[14]

After numerous delays, Rams was released in Australian cinemas on 29 October 2020.[15]

Reception

Box office

Rams debuted at number one at the Australian box office, earning $568,722 throughout the country on its opening weekend.[16] The film has earned $3,624,786 at the Australian box office with a further $748,290 in New Zealand and $3,705 in Russia, bringing its total worldwide gross to $4,376,781.[1]

Critical reception

Rams has received generally favourable reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 91% of 54 critics gave the film a positive review, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A rare remake that preserves the heart of the original, Rams draws on the chemistry of its talented veteran stars to explore complicated – and often comedic – sibling ties."[17]

Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian said that, "At the heart of the picture are two very appealing performances from Neill and Caton, who feel even from early moments like real, lived-in characters, well cast to reflect their differences as actors."[18] Leigh Paatsch of the Herald Sun said, "At times, it is as charming a (blackish) comedy as they come. At others, it is a strikingly well-observed drama."[19]

Accolades

Award Ceremony
date		 Category Subject Result Ref
AACTA Awards 3 November 2020 Best Actor Sam Neill Nominated [20]
8 December 2021 Best Film Janelle Landers Nominated [21]
Aidan O'Bryan Nominated
Best Adapted Screenplay Jules Duncan Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Michael Caton Nominated
Best Original Music Score Antony Partos Nominated
Best Costume Design Tess Schofield Nominated

References

  1. 1 2 "Rams All Territories Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  2. ↑ Clarke, Stewart (2 November 2018). "First Look: Sam Neill and Michael Caton in 'RAMS'". Variety. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  3. ↑ Kelly, Vivienne (20 October 2021). "ARIA Awards nominees revealed: Amy Shark & Genesis Owusu lead the charge". The Music Network. Archived from the original on 20 October 2021. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  4. ↑ "Rams". Roadshow Films. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Rams", IMDB.com, retrieved 6 July 2020
  6. 1 2 "Jeremy Sims on turning an Icelandic hit into a mainstream Aussie drama". IF Magazine. 22 October 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  7. ↑ "First look at Michael Caton and Sam Neill in new film 'Rams'". 7NEWS.com.au. 14 May 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 "RAMS Leaps into Production as Cast are Announced". Screenwest. 2 October 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  9. ↑ Goodall, Hamish (15 May 2020). "First look at Michael Caton and Sam Neill in new Aussie film 'Rams'". 7 News. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  10. ↑ Clarke, Stewart (27 November 2018). "Miranda Richardson Joins 'Rams' Remake With Sam Neill, Michael Caton (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  11. ↑ Attwooll, Jolyon (9 November 2019). "Best in show: The prize-winning Dorset Horn sheep from just outside Ballarat". The Courier. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "Antony Partos - The Screen Guide". Screen Australia. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "WA Feature RAMS to open CinefestOZ Film Festival in 2020". Screenwest. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  14. ↑ Siemienowicz, Rochelle (26 June 2020). "The most anticipated Australian films of 2020". ArtsHub. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "RAMS (2020) - In Cinemas October 15- Roadshow". roadshow.com.au. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "Australian 2020 Weekend 44". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Rams". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  18. ↑ Buckmaster, Luke (29 October 2020). "Rams review – Sam Neill and Michael Caton's unpretentious sheep farmers will move ewe". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  19. ↑ Paatsch, Leigh (29 October 2020). "Movie reviews: Leigh Paatsch's verdict on the remakes of Rams and Rebecca". Herald Sun (Australia). Retrieved 31 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "Winners & Nominees (2020)". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  21. ↑ "Winners & Nominees (2021)". www.aacta.org. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
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