An Australian made movie, ?Cosi? is a collaboration of a host of Australia?s most talented actors, coupled with a brilliant script and is not to be missed. Right from the opening credits when we see Lewis (played by Ben Mendelsohn) interviewing for a job in a mental asylum, you know you are in for a funny ride. Lewis is a loser; he has dropped out of Uni and has been unsuccessfully looking for steady work for the past 18 months. Nick, a good friend of Lewis? has told him about this job and Lewis believes he will be directing a variety show with some of the less dangerous patients.

The Minister for Health is funding the program aimed at offering additional therapy for long-term patients, and has requested it go ahead with the least amount of disruption as possible. Lewis is told none of the patients are to be allowed to make fools of themselves and Lewis will be ultimately responsible for the whole production. Lewis is hired and sets about auditioning for the show. Two minutes into the auditioning process he realises ?the inmates have taken over the asylum? and before too long he has been railroaded into a production of ?Cosi Fan Tutte? a famous Italian Opera.

None of the players have any talent and very few have the mental ability to be involved in any way in the production, but what they lack in skills they make up for in enthusiasm. Lewis is convinced that the production will be good for them and works hard to get the show underway. Things go from bad to worse when a pyromaniac, who was meant to play the lead role in the opera, lights fire to the theatre and burns it to the ground. The production is shelved and Lewis is sacked. But Lewis? life has been turned upside down by these people and he is determined to make the production happen for them.

The cast ?go underground? and escape each night to an abandoned warehouse to rehearse and build the sets. They are willing to use anything they can get their hands on and the set becomes a hilarious mix of left overs from the asylum. Lewis has risked everything for these people and he is trying desperately to hold it all together, with just a few short days to opening night, Lewis will need to be both Director, Doctor and Therapist for this to succeed, and may just be crazy enough to pull it off successfully.

Based in a psychiatric institute, Cosi has an abundance of characters, nymphomaniacs, psychiatrically affected drug addicts and, obsessive compulsives, not to mention the suicidal and psychotic? This is a really funny look at life on the fringe and there are times when it is difficult to differentiate the characters that belong in the asylum and the ones who are just plain crazy!

I really enjoyed this and although it was a bit slow to start, the DVD was worth persevering with. The characters were well portrayed and the acing standard was high. tTe plot was a bit lacking in action, but made up for any deficiency with such well defined characters. The clarity of the picture and sound were the usual fantastic stuff that you expect from a DVD and the whole package comes together as a brilliant production.

THE EXTRAS

Nothing is marked as Bonus features from Cosi ? just a theatrical trailer HOWEVER

Special featurette “Two Wheeled Time Machine” - This was hard to find on the main menu and to play this you have to select an icon on the main menu I would have missed this if I was not specifically looking for it. This short film runs for approx 20 mins and was a good little added extra.

It?s another example of the Australian Film Industries commitment to exploring new talent and investing in Australian made productions. Take the time to watch this. It is pretty Good.

CONCLUSION

An Australian made movie, ?Cosi? is a collaboration of a host of Australia?s most talented actors, coupled with a brilliant script and is not to be missed. Right from the opening credits when we see Lewis (played by Ben Mendelsohn) interviewing for a job in a mental asylum, you know you are in for a funny ride. Lewis is a loser; he has dropped out of Uni and has been unsuccessfully looking for steady work for the past 18 months. Nick, a good friend of Lewis? has told him about this job and Lewis believes he will be directing a variety show with some of the less dangerous patients.