“The estimable John Clarke”

Telemovie adaptations of Shane Maloney’s novels Stiff and The Brush Off by NZ comic John Clarke were a critical and ratings success in Australia, the former netting more than 1.3 million viewers on its one-off screening. Age: “Both films exhibit an infectious sense of the absurd and are graced by the especially tasty flavour of Clarke’s distinctive writing. Not only does it spice both films but much of the time [David] Wenham even appears to be channelling Clarke in his performance (in much the same way that Kenneth Branagh does Woody Allen in Celebrity).” Clarke scripted both films and directed Stiff; fellow Kiwi Sam Neill directed The Brush Off.