Australian director P.J. Hogan burst on the international scene in 1994 with the smash indie hit "Muriel's Wedding," which also launched actress Toni Collette's career. In the ensuing years he's directed the Julia Roberts vehicle, "My Best Friend's Wedding," the underseen "Unconditional Love," and 2009's "Confessions of a Shopaholic" starring Aussie actress Isla Fisher. For his latest feature-length effort, "Mental," Hogan reteams again with his "Muriel's Wedding" star.
The film centers on a a charismatic, crazy hothead who transforms a family's life when she becomes the nanny of five girls. The picture stars Collette along with Liev Schreiber and a huge cast that includes Anthony LaPaglia, Rebecca Gibney ("Packed to the Rafters"), Kerry Fox ("Cloudstreet," "Bright Star"), Caroline Goodall ("Dorian Gray"), Deborah Mailman ("Offspring," "Bran Nue Dae"), and Sam Clark ("Neighbours").
Here's the synopsis:
The Moochmore girls are certain they all suffer from some kind of undiagnosed mental illness – because if they’re not crazy then they’re just unpopular. Their mother Shirley – unable to cope with her demanding daughters and unsupported by her philandering politician husband, Barry – suffers a nervous breakdown. After Barry commits his wife to a mental hospital (telling his constituents that “she’s on holiday”) he finds himself alone with 5 teenage girls he barely knows. Desperate, he impulsively picks up a hitchhiker named Shaz and installs her in his home as nanny to his daughters.
We've got eleven first look images of the film that will make its international premiere at the Rome Film Festival this weekend (it's already been in theaters down under). A review will later today. No release date yet, but the film arrives in U.K. theaters on November 16th. Here's the trailer below as well.
