The Year of Living Dangerously

Year: 1982
Cast: Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Linda Hunt, Michael Murphy, Noel Ferrier, Bill Kerr
Directed By: Peter Weir

Political thriller features Gibson as immature, impulsive Australian journalist Guy Hamilton, who's covering a political story in Indonesia, circa 1965. During the coup against President Sukarno, he becomes involved with British attache Jill Bryant (Weaver) at the height of the bloody fighting and rioting in Jakarta. Hunt is excellent as male photographer Billy Swan, central to the action as the moral center. Rumored to be based on the activities of CNN's Peter Arnett, although the original source is a novel by C.J. Koch, who reportedly collaborated/battled with Weir on the screenplay. Fascinating, suspenseful film, set up brilliantly by Weir, with great romantic chemistry between Gibson and Weaver. Shot on location in the Philippines (then moved to Sydney after cast and crew were threatened). First Australian movie financed by a U.S. studio.

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