Call to arms

Actor Sam Neill, one of the stars of New Zealand/British film Dean Spanley, has told Prime Minister John Key at the premier of the film that: “George Bush declared war on an emotion, a war on terror. I think it’s time we opened up a new front, a war on panic and a second front, the war on anxiety.” Initially, Neill thought Key should send all the “pundits, financial experts, the business page gurus” to lunch for six months, which would boost the hospitality industry, the economy and the morale of nations that wouldn’t have to listen to stories of doom and gloom. “Secondly, we need more films like Dean Spanley that make you feel better about life in general. And the third thing, obviously, is red wine, which is always a morale-lifter.” Neill said one of the reasons he jumped on to the film, beyond the urging of his friend and co-star Bryan Brown, was its distance from “these pretty dark times right now”. The film opens in Australia this week.