SPOTSWOOD, which, in American release, is called THE EFFICIENCY EXPERT, is a rewarding movie for those who pay attention. I've watched it three times in the last three nights and liked it more each time. Briefly, Anthony Hopkins plays one of these guys who goes from company to company telling management how costs can be cut. It being Anthony Hopkins, you know he's going to look calm and cool while hating what he's doing. (Think of MEET JOE BLACK.) If you've seen the Ealing comedies from the 50s you'll see that SPOTSWOOD is much in the mode of those. The best part of this movie is its focus on the factory Hopkins visits. The characters are droll, but relatively realistic, and, of course, you don't want Hopkins to cause them the misfortune he seems poised to introduce into their lives. The movie is a bit weak in relating the story of Carey (Ben Mendelsohn), a young machinist who worships the boss's daughter from afar. Given that this is a comedy about workers versus big money, the love triangle almost derails the satire (enter Toni Collete as the saintly factory girl Ben Mendelsohn keeps ignoring.) In any case, even in its weak spots it's so well-acted (dig Russell Crowe as an up-and-coming shark) that it holds your interest. There is a really great scene of pure cinema. This is a slot-car race, filled with suspense and laughter. I have yet to see an Australian movie that didn't have at least one almost impossible-to-film moment. The land that gave us 90-some minutes of almost-impossible-to-film moments (that's THE ROAD WARRIOR, of course) offers a marvelous mini-moment in this scene. There is at least one great sight gag ("Don't turn the key until I tell you...") and some very moving moments led by Alwyn Kurts as the owner of the targeted factory. This is a very well-made, amusing motion picture. Also, check out Hopkins in one scene in close-up, when he's laying down his cynical law to Alwyn Kurts. He's got the back of his hand just under his own jaw-bone, and he's moving it in a sawing action. It reminded me of Brando in APOCALYPSE NOW.

I saw this film in 1992 at the Cinema Arts in Huntington , New York. I have it on video. I viewed it last night for the first time in 4 years. It is a nice simple story of change. How change effects people. How simple things could be deceiving. I love Anthony Hopkins in this. I originally saw it because Russell Crowe is in it. He was excellent in "Proof" directed by Joclyn Moorehouse. He was excellent in that as he was in this. I loved the character of the father . How he states that his children are the most important thing to him. There are some real gems here. Well worth the look some 12 years later. Each of the performances are excellent. I realize this is not the film for everyone. It is not flashy, there is no explosions. The appeal is in th simple story .

This movie, Spotswood (aka The Efficiency Expert) is a good movie. I can't say less or more on that one. I could say this gave a "boost" for one or more actors and actresses in this film. Russell Crowe (Gladiator, LA Confidential) played a quite different role as a snobbish two-faced brat, Kim Barry. Hopkins portrayed Mr. Wallace, and doesn't have quite the dialogue of Silence of the Lambs, but more facial expressions than words.You will not regret watching this movie! Believe me. This happens to have a very excellent story line. I do believe though, that if this were a book, it would have been a bit better, since there was so much in the film that could have been described more accurately than in the movie.Please take the time to sit down and watch this film. You never know- you could enjoy it!

As an American who lived in Australia for about 3 years, I found that this film captured a lot of "Australianisms" that are hard to pinpoint, but are definitely from the Australian culture and different than the US culture. Probably the most noticeable to me was the worker vs management mentality that is so much more exaggerated in Oz. One of the most ironic things I found about their culture was how much they protested that, unlike England, there was no class system down under. But, to me as an outsider it seemed very class driven but instead of upper and lower classes they were blue collar and white collar.Overall a touching film which I always wonder how much is going right over the heads of Americans.