The Brush-Off

TV Movie
2004
1h 31m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

The political adviser to Australia's Minister of the Arts investigates the suspicious death of a disgruntled artist.The political adviser to Australia's Minister of the Arts investigates the suspicious death of a disgruntled artist.The political adviser to Australia's Minister of the Arts investigates the suspicious death of a disgruntled artist.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

196

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 5 nominations total

Photos20

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Storyline

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Trivia
When Murray Whelan (David Wenham) goes to visit Giles Aubrey (Alex Menglet), the two young boys with him are wearing black masks/ helmets in the manner of Ned Kelly, the most famous Australian bushranger. Given the Arts theme of the movie, the helmets are also likely to be an homage to the series of Ned Kelly paintings by Australian artist, Sydney Nolan, who painted a large series of paintings about Ned Kelly which featured Kelly's helmet as the central motif.

Connections
Follows Stiff (2004)

User reviews2

Featured review

6/10

A very funny crime drama

In the second adaptation of one of Shane Maloney's crime novels, Sam Neill and writer John Clarke come up with another hilarious comedy about venal politicians, pretentious art aficiandos and dirty deals in the local art market.

David Wenham is again excellent as the hapless Murray Whelan, who is forced to go places that most political advisors wisely avoid. He is supported by some great performances: Mick Molloy as the lazy politician, Deborah Kennedy as Whelan's long-suffering offsider, Steve Bisley as a tricky businessman, Justine Clarke as a flighty art journalist, Leah Vandenberg as Wenham's love interest, Andrew S. Gilbert as another of Whelan's fellow staffers, Heather Mitchell as a supporter of the arts and plotter, and Bruce Spence as the exhuberant art gallery director.

The story is easier to follow than Stiff, but just as entertaining and funny.