How to Make Gravy is a 2024 Australian drama film directed by Nick Waterman from a screenplay he co-wrote with Megan Washington, based on the 1996 song of the same name by Paul Kelly. It was produced by Warner Bros. International Australia. This will also be the first original film to be released by the Australian streaming service Binge.[1][2]
| How to Make Gravy | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Nick Waterman |
| Screenplay by |
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| Based on | How to Make Gravy by Paul Kelly |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Edward Goldner |
| Edited by | Ahmad Halimi |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | Binge |
Release date |
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| Country |
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| Language | English |
Synopsis
editThe film expands on the characters and stories detailed within the song's lyrics, which take the form of a letter from Joe writing from prison, four days before Christmas.[3]
Production
editThe film was produced on the Gold Coast, Queensland, with filming commencing in October 2023.[4]
Cast
edit- Daniel Henshall as Joe
- Brenton Thwaites as Dan (Joe's brother)
- Kate Mulvany as Stella (Joe's sister)
- Damon Herriman as Roger (Stella's husband)
- Agathe Rousselle as Rita (Joe's wife)
- Hugo Weaving as Noel
- Kieran Darcy-Smith as Red
- Brendan Maclean as Possum
Release
editThe film was originally set for release as a Christmas movie by Warner Bros in December 2023. That was delayed, and it was then scheduled to be released, by the Binge streaming service, on 1 December 2024.[3][5]
A trailer for the film was released on 9 October 2024.[6]
Reception
editGarry Maddox, of the The Sydney Morning Herald, praised the film, saying that it was an impressive expansion of the original song, with Henshall, Weaving and Herriman all providing moving performances. Maddox rated the film four out of five stars.[7]
In his review, Luke Buckmaster of the The Guardian said that the film veered towards sentimentalism, and that it was a well-intentioned misfire. He rated the film two out of five stars.[8] Jenny Valentish, also of The Guardian, praised the production design, noting that it was almost impossible to pin the film down to a specific era, with its use of an earthy 70s colour palette, and the fashion and cars being 90s shabby.[9]
Soundtrack
edit| How to Make Gravy | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
| Released | 13 December 2024 |
| Label | Suitcase Records |
| Singles from How to Make Gravy | |
| |
A limited edition soundtrack was released on vinyl in December 2024.[11]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Little Drum" (performed by Vince Guaraldi) | Vince Guaraldi | |
| 2. | "Red Hot Chrissy" (performed by Beddy Rays) | Jackson Van Issum, Lewis McKenna, Bradley O'Connor, Benjamin Wade, Matthew Cochran | 2:20 |
| 3. | "Christmas Time Is Here" (performed by Vince Guaraldi) | Vince Guaraldi, Lee Mendelson | |
| 4. | "Take Care of Business" (performed by Nina Simone) | Andrew Benjamin Stround | |
| 5. | "The Hook" (performed by Meg Washington) | Meg Washington, Mehdi Benjelloun | 3:05 |
| 6. | "Dream On" (performed by Electric Fields & The Prison Choir) | Meg Washington | 3:51 |
| 7. | "Isolationism" (performed by Ben Salter) | Ben Salter, C MacDonald | 3:37 |
| 8. | "Fine" (performed by Brendan Maclean & The Prison Choir) | Washington | 3:36 |
| 9. | "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" (performed by Vince Guaraldi) | ||
| 10. | "How to Make Gravy" (performed by Paul Kelly) | Paul Kelly |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "BINGE Announces First Original Feature Film "How to Make Gravy"". BINGE. 3 December 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ "Official Trailer and Characters Revealed for BINGE Original Feature Film How to Make Gravy". BINGE. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ a b Cain, Sian (9 October 2024). "How to Make Gravy: first trailer for film based on Paul Kelly song released". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 October 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Dalagarno, Paul (26 October 2023). "How to Make Gravy: cast named for Paul Kelly-inspired Binge film". Screenhub. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Hassett, Kate (10 October 2024). "'How To Make Gravy' Is About To Become Your New Favourite Christmas Movie". Marie Claire Australia. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ Binge (9 October 2024). "How To Make Gravy — Official Trailer". Retrieved 10 October 2024 – via YouTube.
- ^ Maddox, Garry (1 December 2024). "If Paul Kelly's classic Christmas song makes you tear up, this film will too". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (30 November 2024). "How to Make Gravy review – a well-intentioned, mawkish misfire". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Valentish, Jenny (29 November 2024). "'Inside the Kellyverse': how Paul Kelly's How to Make Gravy became a Christmas film". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Soundtrack To 'How To Make Gravy' Movie Revealed, Meg Washington Performs The First Single 'The Hook'". noise11. 26 September 2024. Archived from the original on 7 October 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Electric Fields, Beddy Rays & Brendan Maclean Drop New Songs From 'How To Make Gravy' Film". The Music. 29 November 2024. Archived from the original on 12 December 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2024.