Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line


Midnight Oil: The Hardest Line is a 2024 Australian documentary written and directed by Paul Clarke. It explores the career of the rock band Midnight Oil.

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 100% based on 7 reviews.
Stephen Romei of the Australian gave it 3 stars and wrote "At times this authorised documentary, in which all the band members are interviewed, tips towards hagiography." The Sydney Morning Herald's Sandra Hall gave it 4 stars. The Herald Sun's Leigh Paatsch gave it 4 stars. He finishes "Overall, The Hardest Line crafts a fitting tribute to one of the great Australian cultural warriors of all-time, a bloody-minded bunch who stood their ground, made their noise and made a difference." John McDonald of the Australian Financial Review notes "Clarke’s documentary is largely a celebration of the Oils. It reveals a few rocky patches, but never ventures a word of criticism." The Canberra Times' Glen Humphries says it is "a really impressive documentary that manages to compress the band's 40-odd year career into 100 minutes."

Awards