In Australia, Mark "Chopper" Read is a legend. To this day he remains one of the country's best-selling authors. He's what is commonly referred to as a "larger than life" figure. Truth is always stranger than fiction, although in this case the truth has been stretched and altered a bit. No matter, the story of Read is a fiendishly funny and fascinating one.

Newcomer Eric Bana (who is mesmerizing) stars as the title character in the movie of the same name. It's based on books that the man himself wrote while he was in prison, even though, as he puts it, he can hardly spell.

At the beginning of the film, Chopper is a resident of the H Division inside the maximum-security section of Melbourne's Pentridge Prison. He's serving 16 and a half years for trying to kidnap a judge. It's there that he's reunited with his best friend, Jimmy Loughnan (Simon Lyndon).

One afternoon Chopper begins exchanging words with a prisoner named Keithy George (David Field). After they trade insults, Jimmy asks Chopper why he hates George so much. Chopper explains that he doesn't hate anyone, which prompts Jimmy to inquire as to why he's always fighting with George. Chopper has no idea.

Later, in a stunning act of violence, one of many in the film, Chopper attacks George, ferociously stabbing him in the neck. While George lays on the ground bleeding to death, covering the wounds in his neck, Chopper leans over him, apologizes and offers the man a cigarette.

The brutal murder of George leaves him a marked man. He knows that someone is going to try and kill him, he just doesn't know whom.

When that someone turns out to be Jimmy, it turns into a scene that is sickly humorous and gut-wrenchingly violent. As Jimmy continuously stabs Chopper, he stares him down with a look of dismay and heartbreak. But the won't go down. He stands there, bleeds and glares at Jimmy. "Chopper" is one tough movie, and Chopper is one tough man.

Chopper is alternately in and out of prison. When he's out, the movie covers his relationship with his mean-spirited father, his prostitute girlfriend and his misadventures as a criminal. His life is definitely not short on action and excitement, though it's hard to know for certain what is true and what isn't since the movie admits to being a dramatization.

Whatever the case, "Chopper" is grisly fun. The violence is hard to stomach, but it's a part of the man's life. It's a life made for the movies, and writer/director Andrew Dominik has crafted an arresting examination of a compelling figure. Chopper does awful things and is not a good person, but you won't be able to resist going along for the ride.

At a mere 90 minutes, this is the rare case of a movie that is too short. More background on Chopper would have served the movie well and you leave the theater not really knowing what makes the man tick or how he became so violent. But as it stands, "Chopper" is, like the man himself, morbidly irresistible.

Grade: A-

"Chopper" opens Fri., May 25 at the Oriental Theater.