The Efficiency Expert

1991

Action / Comedy / Drama

8
Rotten Tomatoes Critics - Rotten 50% · 6 reviews
Rotten Tomatoes Audience - Spilled 50% · 1K ratings
IMDb Rating 6.2/10 10 2486 2.5K

factory worker australia family relationships big business downsizing 1960s

Plot summary

Wallace is an efficiency expert, managing the high-profile downsizing of a major auto parts factory. But when he is hired to evaluate a small moccasin factory which seems from another era, Wallace has to reconsider the rapid modernization he advocates, as he is confronted by the human faces such plans hurt.

Director

Mark Joffe Photo
Mark Joffe

Top cast

Anthony Hopkins Photo
Anthony Hopkins as Errol Wallace
Russell Crowe Photo
Russell Crowe as Kim Barry
Jeff Truman Photo
Jeff Truman as Ron
Toni Collette Photo
Toni Collette as Wendy Robinson
720p.BluRay 720p.WEB 1080p.BluRay 1080p.WEB
888.46 MB
1280*690
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 36 min
Seeds 1
824.64 MB
1280*952
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 29 min
Seeds ...
1.78 GB
1920*1036
English 5.1
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 36 min
Seeds 7
1.49 GB
1440*1072
English 2.0
NR
Subtitles us  
23.976 fps
1 hr 29 min
Seeds ...

Movie Reviews

Reviewed by planktonrules 7 / 10

A bit slow but also quite nice.

The Welsh actor, Anthony Hopkins, stars in "Spotswood" ("The Efficiency Expert"), a film set in the suburbs of Melbourne. In addition, a couple Aussie actors in the film later went on to great fame in Hollywood (Toni Collette and Russell Crowe).A moccasin factory owner has engaged an efficiency expert, Errol Wallace (Hopkins), to evaluate his facility and make suggestions as to modernizing and making the place more productive. Errol is surprised to see LOTS of employees wasting time and an odd family-like atmosphere....and I don't mean 'family-like' in a good way. This is because everything is so lax and inefficient. However, before he can even release the results of his study, rumors of massive layoffs create a very tense atmosphere. What's next? See the story for yourself.This is a gentle, deliberately paced film. Now to some, you might read this as 'boring'...but it certainly isn't. Instead, it's a sweet little story...especially once Errol sees something he didn't see the first time he looked at the factory. Nice acting, nice story.
Reviewed by verna-a 7 / 10

Not sure businesses were ever quite like this!

I'd praise this film as one of the better efforts of the Australian film industry, if it wasn't abundantly clear that it depends on the subtle, low key acting of Anthony Hopkins to anchor it in anything like plausibility. Everyone else in it is a bit too broad in their character depictions, and generally speaking the smaller their part, the broader their acting. The burgeoning talent of Russell Crowe and Toni Collette is evident however, and these early roles are ones they never need to be ashamed of. The Australianness of the factory employees may be somewhat exaggerated, and their business conduct pretty disgraceful, but the film does succeed in depicting them as rather loveable. There is a tension between the need of businesses to make money to be sustainable, and the reality that they are a big part of people's lives. In the end the tension is unresolved. Does anyone really think it is feasible for Ball's to turn around and make a profit? It is and is likely to remain a sheltered workshop, while the money lasts. I enjoyed the film, particularly the 60s setting. I really don't think that there were long upright handlebar bikes like Carey's around then, though. Boys rode bikes with the handlebars spiraled downward.
Reviewed by lgalarno97 6 / 10

The Deficiency Expert

The Efficiency Expert is a very average film, and had much potential. However, it did not meet up to what it could have been. A feel good comedy, which stirs a warm feeling in the beginning, but rather boring as it progresses. Several well known actors star in this film, Anthony Hopkins, Russell Crowe, Ben Mendelson, and Toni Collette, which is possibly enough to stir an interest in this movie. But it can be assured, your attention may drift, and it would not be worth your time.It's not that difficult to understand because it is Australian, but just hard to keep your eyes open. Using several tropes and following two characters, it was easy to follow but rather a bore. The acting was good, the dialogue was fine. However, it was hard to take a liking to any of the main characters, Mr Wallace or Carey, the visual aesthetic was nothing special, and the plot was remarkably weak. The meaning of the film, is relevant in society, but it did not have impact. The tropes on love and decisions made the film predictable. The film had potential, but could have been a lot stronger. I would not recommend to anyone unless someone has some time and are okay with being bored a little, or is eager to see a average Aussie movie with some familiar names.
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