Hammers over the Anvil (1991)

A humane, well-observed coming-of-age tale set in the Australian outback, Hammers over the Anvil details with gentle frankness the growing self-awareness of Alan Marshall (Alexander Outhred), a boy whose dreams of riding a horse are hampered as much by his dull shopkeeper father as by the braces on Alan's crippled legs. Alan's idealized role model is the tanned and rugged East Driscoll (Russell Crowe), a friendly but solitary man given to lonely midnight rides, whose individuality and happy embrace of nature seem, to the budding young writer, nearly pagan. (The opening scene of the film is of East merrily splashing about naked in a stream with his horses, with Alan gazing on admiringly.) East is the sort of good-natured, simple soul who thinks nothing of calling the young man always close on his heels a "bloke" and offering him swigs from his flask. Nor is he the type to hesitate from making his move when the lovely Grace McAlister (Charlotte Rampling) comes to town just because her staid husband is in tow. The touching love scenes between East and Grace are believable and carnal (one realizes that part of the reason it took so long for Crowe to reach superstardom was the lack of a female lead who could appraise his unapologetic masculinity as wittily and engagingly as Rampling does here), all the more so for being viewed through Alan's eyes. Ann Turner has crafted a film much quieter that her fine, fantastical Celia (albeit every bit as heartbreakingly ironic), but it is no less sympathetic and understanding of a child's sometimes confusing view of the adult world. --Bruce Reid Amazon.com

X-rated!

I bought this UNRATED movie becasue we love horses and horse stores. I threw it in the garbage after 10 minutes of viewing. Thannk Goid my children were not in the room. It was discusting. Nudity and sex. Its not for families. I'm sick I didn't read the description better. February 22, 2006

touching story about growing up

The youth's need of role models. Very good acting, an unusual story with rare characters. October 23, 2005

Coming of age film

As you may know by reading most of my reviews, I love Russell Crowe and feel he is the best actor to grace the big screen, ever. That aside, this was a decent film. I feel that this is the type of film you either love or you hate, and I really think you need to relate to the film to appreciate it. Growing up I had no older brothers to look up to but I always long for someone like East, and for a while I had that someone. The young boy in this movie wants to be around East (Crowe) at all times, helping him on his ranch just to be around him, and he even goes as far as to become somewhat of a pest, always there even when unwanted. I know what thats like. I particularly like the opening sequence when Crowe is skinny dipping and the boy is just watching him, talking about how there are gods amoung men or something like that (can't remember exactly what he says) but what I like is the fact that this shows the pure admiration in this boys eyes...East is perfect, even just to watch. I remember when I admired my friend I bugged the crap out of him. We're cool now (I'm older and have my own life, but at the time...I was a bit of a nuesence) That's besides the point. I loved this movie becasue it helped me see what I was going through. It helped me understand what my friends were feeling. That and Crowe is just amazing here. He is captivating and makes this film as great as it is. The quality of the film is poor, but the message it brings is worth it. If you've felt similierly at any point in your life, try this movie, you may find it's just what you need to see. June 10, 2005

Slow but well-acted

Polio-stricken youngster Alan Marshall (Alexander Outhred) hero-worships the local horseman and blacksmith, East Driscoll (Russell Crowe) in the early 1900s in the Australian Outback. When East has an illicit affair with a married woman (Charlotte Rampling), Alan has a hard time reconciling his admiration of the man with his distaste for his actions. Horses are only a backdrop, but there are some nicely done equestrian and wildlife scenes. Based on the memoirs of Alan Marshall.

Staci Layne Wilson
January 1, 2005

You can slow the passage of time, just watch this movie.

Not only was the main character coming of age, I felt myself getting old as the minutes dragged by. My wife and I were ahaking our watches about halfway through.

Nothing worth seeing ever happens. The sorely needed redemption never comes.

These people need to stay home more.

If you already have rented the video, just watch your pizza or the news or golf.

Don]t say you were not warned. December 5, 2004

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