User reviews

It's worth mentioning to start that this is a Christian movie. Now, I'm a Christian - I have no problem with Christian movies. Some I like, some I don't - but Christians have a right to make movies that promote Christian faith and spiritual transformation. But I was a bit taken aback to discover that this was a Christian movie - because there's nothing in its description that would make you think it's a Christian movie. Actually, you have to pretty much wait for the closing credits to discover that one organization that appears to have been highly involved in putting this together was a church (whose name I just can't remember) that appears to be an Australian evangelical church. Which, again, is perfectly fair. I just wish it had been stated outright. The story - based apparently on an actual case - that is described sounds interesting. A young man (played by an Australian actor named Nathan Wilson) is falsely accused and convicted of rape and has to find a way to survive in prison while awaiting his appeal. That actually sounds pretty interesting - and it's not at all a bad movie - but once you get into it you discover that it's much more a movie about Christian conversion than surviving prison (not that the two aren't related in this case.) At times, the religious element comes across as a bit forced and unnatural - and there's a weird scene of what seemed to be a kind of forced baptism of another inmate that somehow magically converts him! (If it were that simple we Christians should just go out on the streets with buckets of water and splash unsuspecting people on the head!) So, while I'm all in favour of Christian movies and evangelism, I was just a bit put off by how it was all handled.

The story itself seemed a little bit choppy. It starts very abruptly. We learn that Will (Wilson) is a nurse - a pretty good one apparently - who hooks up with a girl at a bar, has sex with her and then has her accuse him of rape. It apparently had something to do with her wanting to get her boyfriend jealous or something. I didn't think the incident was well portrayed or sufficiently explained. But we do know that Will gets convicted and sent to prison. The prison story to me remained choppy and poorly put together. It gave us a taste of what life must be like inside a prison in Australia (and, presumably, most Western countries) but it was only a taste. Will develops relationships with several prisoners who guide him through the experience. To be honest, although he clearly wanted out, it didn't seem as if he had that hard a time on the inside. There was a good performance (maybe the best in the movie) from Martin Sacks as Jimmy Cove - a tough, veteran inmate who befriends Will. Otherwise, the performances were OK, but not spectacular in my opinion.

Most of the movie, basically, is the tension of waiting to find out if Will's appeal is going to be successful and he's going to be released. I have to say that this doesn't present a particularly flattering portrayal of the Australian justice system. If the movie is accurate, the evidence against Will was flimsy at best, there was a lot of reason for reasonable doubt and yet still the Crown also appeals the verdict to get his sentence INCREASED. Which means that, knowing that he's innocent, you feel a lot of sympathy for Will, and you want him to get out. So, for that reason alone, the movie does hold your attention. (5/10)

If you're in the mood for a sentimental, feel-good prison movie, then this fits the bill. Engaging acting and professional production make this a watchable movie.

Not bad for a film certainly could use more drama and characters for a better script

I went into this movie pretty much as I do with all the movies I view, and that is knowing nothing about them, I do this so as not to have any preconceived ideas of what to expect, I find this the best method for viewing as I am not at all influenced by other peoples opinions.

Initially I didn't think I would last the entire movie, the actors were not of a high caliber, with the exception of Martin Sacks, and to be honest I didn't recognize him at first, but I immediately wanted to watch the entire movie once his presence was made, it took me a little while before I realized who he was, it was he, or rather his character that I was interested in and not that of the movies focus, he truly is a great actor that has somehow managed to go unnoticed by the big wigs.

Anyway on with the movie, as mentioned, all the actors with the exception of Sacks are well and truly out of their league in a feature film and in my opinion would be more suited to soaps.

The direction seems hurried and definitely does not make a convincing case when it come to character building, there are affinities built on seemingly very little to nothing, rushing this vital part of any movie is wrong, but even this cannot detract you from the character Jimmy Cove (Sacks).

The poor acting is not restricted to the main character (Nathan Wilson) but pretty much every single actor in this movie. To make matters worse the court scenes are just dreadful, not a lick like real life, very hashed and uninvolved, and that pretty much sums it up for this movie, hashed and uninvolved, but I must mention that I did watch the movie until the end credits, I wanted to see if Jimmy and Will got to meet up outside of the prison walls...I wont mention if they did or not, but regardless of how the movie was put together, there is a feeling of friendship and sincerity between these two characters.

In summary, I felt this could have been a great movie, had it had a decent director and decent actors I feel it could have made a far more compelling movie.

Martin Sacks carried this movie and if not for him, it would in no way be worth viewing.

Great work Martin.

5/10 and four of those stars go to Martin.

A well-made biographical that focuses on what men go through in prison and how faith can become the anchor that brings them a sense of redemption and hope. While this is one innocent man's journey, it's also about another man who decides to change the course of his life through the symbiotic relationship the two men share.

And no doubt, many others can identify with being given a new understanding on life, relationships, and faith despite - or maybe because of - being captive and Christianity being available to prisoner's.

Christians have worked hard to ensure services are available in prisons, reaching the sinners just as Jesus did. But is it a Christian film? No. It's a film about overcoming which involves a series of events and entities including a faith in God.

The acting was worse than awful by absolutely everyone. the timing of each actors deliver was late, almost as if someone was shouting their lines across at them. Their expressions were often contrary to the situation and their forced expressions were in fact painful to watch. The tracks used to supplement the movie were reminiscent of the tackiest 80's b rate movies. Considering it was based on a true story it is disappointing that all concerned could not do it more justice. Talking of justice, the court scenes at the end are probably the worst acting I have ever seen. It seemed as if all the actors had literally been picked up off the street that day and asked to read some lines to camera. All in all a teenager with an iphone could produce better. Don't waste your time.

I took my wife to see this movie and we were both moved by it. The possibility of humans to redeem themselves is really what the movie is about and it does this admirably well. Other comments have mentioned it has a religious aspect but I hardly noticed because it doesn't push it. It is a heartwarming piece of good Australian film making and worth a look.

Martin Sacks was excellent and he did carry the film but it was a great effort by many unknown Australian actors including the lead, Nathan Wilson. I believe it was Mack Lindon's first directorial role and he did a great job. I look forward to seeing future films from him.

Badly written and poor acting accentuated by terrible continuity and not so subtle religious undertones. This movie looked like it was done by a talentless group of first year cinematography students on a very restrictive budget. The plot was completely unbelievable which was surprising considering it was suppose to be based on a true story. The characters expressions didn't seem to match the words that where coming out of there mouths or the situations most of the time. I couldn't stomach more than half of this dribble and had to walk out of the theater fast before my anger at having spent money to watch this amateurish attempt at film making got the better of me and I demand a refund from the pimpled face kid behind the ticket desk. Save your hard earned money and time. Steer clear. You have been warned.

Based on an amazing true story, the film Rise does not disappoint. Iloved this movie and left the cinema with an extraordinary feeling of hope and peace.

A film that will make any Aussie proud to claim it.

A young man is living life in all the wrong ways and finds himself in a precarious situation. The film is his story of renewal and redemption.

A thought provoking movie for teenagers and adults alike. I have recommended it to all my friends and family.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Spare a thought for the man and his family in the story. It was a long hard journey to live the story then make the film.

I watched this movie with high hopes and anticipation - based solely on reviews garnered here at IMDb.

But these folks reviewing (esp from Melb) have a far LOWER tolerance for what I rate as a great movie. The TRUTH is - this low budget, poorly cast and cheesy scripted attempt is nothing more than BELOW AVERAGE at best.

Apart from Martin Sacks - who carries this movie on his own - and puts together a total believable performance - there is NOTHING really to like (for me anyway).

One of my pet hates in movies, is when the UNDERLYING story has absolutely nothing to do with the actual movie. Just like in this case, masquerading as an evangelical convert to GOD movie. So maybe I can't be 100% impartial here - will you forgive me ?

If the scriptwriters focused more on the dialog and character building aspects of a PRISON MOVIE.......and had actually cast BELIEVABLE characters, then maybe this movie could have been more enjoyable (for me).

So in the end, I found this more than disappointing on so many levels. Cast, acting, dialog and character development.

I was insulted about the religious message - cause if I wanted that in a movie, I would have watched Jesus of Nazareth instead.

Is this the WORST MOVIE EVER ? No it is not. It's just very very average and typical of Australian low budget trash that is not uncommon here in Australia.

will you forgive me also ? Cause I forgive the film makers, after all - IT IS the Christian thing to do.

PS - look out for Marty Rhone - some Aussies will remember his 1970's countdown performances like "Mean Pair of Jeans" - I guarantee you won't recognise him in Rise.....I never did like his music - at that time, the Aussie bands that occupied my speakers were Acca Dacca. Radiators & The Angels

Sounds like primary school kids reading it off a piece of paper.

It disgusts me that an Aussie movie like this, such a serious subject, based on a true, emotive story, was butchered by terrible, unbelievable acting.

Would have made a great book - As for the movie? FAIL.

The best Aussie film I have seen in a long time and one of my favorite movies.its been a long time since I have seen an Australian movie this good.I have seen it countless times.A super talented Aussie cast who portrayed their characters perfectly,a brilliant crew behind the scenes and a soundtrack that showcased some terrific Australian musical talent.I laughed,I cried,I absolutely love this movie.It's a definite must see movie.It definitely pulls at the heartstrings.A very moving true story.Fantastic work Mack and everyone else involved.To those who haven't seen it yet,do yourself a favor and watch it,you won't be sorry.

Will (Nathan Wilson) is a young nurse imprisoned for rape after a drunken one night stand. Protesting his innocence, he must adapt to the harsh realities of prison life while his barristers try to organise an appeal. Fortunately, he falls in with Jimmy (Martin Sacks) who, after a bit of hostility, becomes his pal and protector. He also discovers God, or the Christian faith at any rate, whilst incarcerated and we watch his personality and maturity develop over the next 1¾ hours. Somehow it doesn't quite work, though. It is oddly sterile. Why do the pair bond? The religious undertones are so subtle as to be almost irrelevant and though it does deal with serious issues - bullying, mental health and suicide, it does so with an almost soap-style of storytelling. The acting is fine, the drama is fine, the writing is fine - but that's about the height of it, really as it builds predictably to an ending that is hardly a ringing endorsement of the Australian justice system. It's a decent debut effort from director Mack Lindon, but in itself, nothing very remarkable.

My partner and I have watched 'Rise' close to a dozen times since it's Australian cinema release. One of those earthy Australian timeless classics that you can watch over and over again. A film that pulls on the heart strings of even a hardened man like myself each time I watch it. The film is grounded, real and was written and directed by Mack Lindon, who the film is based on. So it's void of over dramatisation that we see in too many films today. That's what makes 'Rise' so comfortable to watch, even though the basis of the story is so far from it. This debut film from first time director Mack Lindon also looks into the human side of finding hope as strongly as the process and challenges of finding justice. Watching characters Will (Nathan Wilson), Jimmy (Martin Sacks) and Fung (Marty Rhone) was an absolute pleasure. The interactions were powerful and a stand out. Also some genuine performances by some relatively new faces to the screen reiterate that realism to the film and a credit to the casting. As a package, 'Rise' is one film everyone should see. A story of hope that we can all relate too. It may even inspire you to do something that brings hope to others.

There are many bigger budgeted, special effects, famous actor movies out there. I find myself fast forwarding quite a bit because they all have the same woke content & are predictable. I liked this movie because the characters were authentic. It won me over & kept my attention. The story is original & fresh. I search for more movies like this. I can't watch the stereotyped, boring movies for the mass followers anymore. Hollywood is so over.

This movie is extremely touching. I've never left a cinema feeling more rewarded! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching RISE to anybody needing to be uplifted. A few laughs, tears and a sense of walking out taller than when you walked in. With a budget this small, I'm blown away that not only was there quality talent but the music choice was perfectly placed to compliment the emotions for each scene. Well done to Nathan Wilson (Will McIntyre) and Martin Sacks (Jimmy Cove) Nathan Wilson - an up and comer set to reach some height in the entertainment industry. Congratulations! On another note, it makes you remember that not everyone who goes to jail is guilty. So often it appears people are 'guilty until proved innocent' rather than the other way round. My hope is that people in all walks of life will be positively impacted by this story. The world needs more uplifting films like RISE and I'm not surprised that this film has ruffled the feathers of people who would prefer to watch films that promote hopelessness, death and zombies.

What an absolutely brilliant and powerful film! Its a must see for those who like inspiring and raw, new Aussie films! Great work from all involved, especially with the limited budget. The director/producer has really put a different spin on the life of being incarcerated in an Aussie prison. Also really interesting yet horrifying to see the view point from the wrongly accused. Nathan Wilson was amazing, I was with him at every emotional twist and turn, and how good to see Marty as the tough guy. Its so great to see new Aussie film-makers taking risks and getting their films out there. Cannot wait for the next one from these guys!

Rise is a movie with all the drama, the hope and hopelessness that only a story based on fact can inspire. A tense and dramatic look at what it means to be incarcerated, and made even more heart wrenching when the person is innocent. mack Lindons story, his screenplay, his directing and even a cameo role have created a movie of great intensity. For most of us who hopefully will never know what it is like to spend any time locked in a cell with a diverse set of characters, and to have only the faintest glint of hope of turning over there appeal of innocence, this is a glaringly dramatic and incredible well made and acted movie. i applaud all who were involved in bringing out the truth J Regan

Through laughter and tears this true story is incredibly impacting. Step into the cinema with a box of tissues and an appetite for the raw edge of life. You will come out more enlightened to the other side of the story and have a deeper desire for justice. It embraces passion, victory, courage and truth. The depth of a mans heart is exposed and what is revealed is staggering and unexpected considering his circumstances. Choice of leading roles Martin Sacks (Jimmy Cove) and Nathan Wilson (Will McIntyre), were excellent. Its incredible to see our Actors on the big screen, what a great Australian film. Well done to director Mack Lindon in his great venture bringing this story to life. Don't miss this film!

This movie had me interested the whole way through. Loved the lead, Nathan Wilson, and the main supporting actor, Martin Sacks. Nathan playing the role of an innocent, but convicted rapist serving his time and Martin a hard core life-long criminal, form an incredibly close relationship.

If you don't want any mention of God in your movies, skip this one. It's not the underlying theme of the movie, but it does play a role in the personalities of some of the characters.

All the girls will love Nathan. But it's Martin I'd like to see more of in the future. Great character actor, I could see him in a variety of roles.

Rise keeps a steady pace throughout. Based on a true story, this drama is definitely worth a look.