At the beginning of Chopper, there is a caption that reads “This is not a biography”. And after watching this sensationalised piece of Australian crime history, it is easy to see why such a statement was needed.

Based on the criminal exploits of notorious Melbourne hit man Mark Brandon “Chopper” Read, Chopper – much like many other biographies – merges fact with fiction. Some characters are amalgams, others did not exist at all, but the actions of its monstrous subject are very real. At least, that’s what he says.

There are many ways to describe Mark Brandon Read. Charismatic, brutally violent, extremely paranoid and possessing a strong yet twisted moral centre. But above all, he is a great storyteller who has created an almost mythical name for himself throughout the criminal underworld.

Chopper begins in 1978 with Read in prison for attempting to abduct a judge. Serving time in H Division at Melbourne’s Pentridge Prison, Read kills the leader of a rival gang which leads to a contract being placed on his head. Denied a move to a different division, Reed retaliates by cutting off the outer rims of his ears insuring him a transfer based on reason of insanity.

When he is released in 1986, Read decides to hand out his own brand of justice towards the criminals he once associated with, especially drug dealers. This angers the mob who place a hit on Read, which led to his killing of a would-be-assassin outside of a popular nightspot. Read is then placed back in jail ravishing in the notoriety his criminal escapades have earned him.

Writer/director Andrew Dominick has crafted which plunges the viewer into the depths Australian criminal underworld. It is a harsh, twisted world full of brutal violence, speed freaks and junkies who brandish firearms in front of their children. (The ear cutting scene in particular is not for the squeamish).

Through it all there is a disturbing, sadistic humour that comes from Read which repulses but also amuses.

Dominick uses a lot of different lighting and colour schemes throughout the film. The use of green, yellow, red and especially blue – as seen during the prison sequences – all create a great sense of atmosphere while not distracting the viewer from what is on screen.

In the title role, Eric Bana gives a funny, frightening, engaging and above all excellent performance. Widely known in Australia at the time through his sketch show work and stand up routines, Bana was a surprising choice who more than meets the challenge in portraying such a grandiose figure, most notably gorging on a month long fast food diet to obtain the bloated figure as seen in the characters days in the 1980’s. In short, it is one of the greatest dramatic turns by a comedian.

Simon Lyndon turns in a great supporting performance in the role of Jimmy Loughlan, as does Vince Colosimo as hounded drug dealer Neville Bartos.