"Chopper" is his nickname, given to him by others out of a morbid notoriety, but the true origin of the moniker is still up for debate: Is it because he chops off his victims' toes, or because he chopped off his own ears? Either way, Mark "Chopper" Read is pretty much loco in the cabeza. He is also Australia's most notorious criminal--and that's saying a lot in a country that started out as a penal colony.

Chopper spackles together moments from Read's life into a cold, straightforward narrative as brutal as its subject matter. Directed by Andrew Dominik, the film avoids the usual trappings of standard Hollywood crazyguykillspeople! fare, offering no glimpses into Read's mind, attempting no explanations for his actions. Instead, the audience witnesses Read's brutality, recreated with actors and filmed with a complete lack of flair. Dominik, an Aussie, apparently has no interest in what makes Read tick, but what does interest him is why his fellow countrymen find this wacko interesting. Why Read has become such popular tabloid fodder--so much so that he borders on becoming a folk hero--is the question at hand in Chopper, and if the film never offers a truly satisfying answer, it's probably because there isn't one.

Still, for all its skill, Chopper would be close to unwatchable if not for pitch-perfect casting. After all, even the life story of Himmler would be worth watching (and maybe even enjoyable) with the right lead. As "Chopper," Eric Bana carries the film with a Russell Crowe-like swagger, inhabiting a nutcase baffled by his fame but enjoying it immensely. Bana, an Australian comedian, is onscreen in nearly every frame, single-handedly lifting Chopper off the tabloid pages and turning it into one of the most honest, brutal, and affecting films of the year. Chopper may not be for everyone, but Bana's performance alone makes it a film everyone should see.