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| Square, The |
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  (6/10)
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Runtime: 105 |
| Public Rating: 9.67 (3 votes) |
Director: Nash Edgerton |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: action, crime, drama |
Year: 2008 |
| Writer(s): Joel Edgerton & Matthew Dabner, from a story by Joel Edgerton |
| Distributor: Pathé Pictures International, Roadshow Films [au] |
| Reviewed by: Avril Carruthers |
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Produced by Louise Smith
Cast: David Roberts, Claire van der Boom, Joel Edgerton, Anthony Hayes, Peter
Phelps, Kieran Darcy-Smith, Brendan Donoghue, Damon Herriman, Hanna Mangan-
Lawrence, Lucy Bell and Bill Hunter.
Modelling themselves on the Coen brothers, writer and actor Joel Edgerton and his director brother Nash, in his feature film debut, flesh out a low-budget noir crime drama with a way to go before they can approach the deft skill and range of the Coens. Nevertheless The Square is not bad, with a fast paced realism and some swift plot turns that fit well within the genre, including characters you should not expect to like who meet well-deserved ends.
Anti-hero Raymond Yale (David Roberts) is having an affair with Carla (Claire van der Boom). Unknown to his boss, ruthless builder Gil Hubbard (Bill Hunter), Ray’s also taking kick-backs from a supplier on the construction site. Procrastinating leaving his wife for unclear reasons, Ray’s put on the spot when Carla presents him with a large amount of cash and their chance for an immediate getaway. The cash is ill-gotten gains from a nefarious crime perpetrated by a nasty piece of work, Carla’s husband Smithy (Anthony Hayes). Under pressure Ray agrees to hire Billy (Joel Edgerton) to burn down Smithy’s house, after Carla has removed the cash, and everything starts to go horribly wrong.
If you’re getting confused – and I’ve simplified - it’s one of the faults of the film. There are too many similar, lank-haired, bearded and tattooed secondary characters and while this allows the final denouement and plot twist, it’s easy to get lost in trying to work out who’s who in this world of low-life corruption and violent reactions. Or maybe it's that I don't care enough for the characters to remember who they are. Some minor elements of irony are satisfying, though you may not enjoy the final outcome in the parallel plotline of Ray and Carla’s two dogs.
David Roberts does a creditable job in the main role of a man on a slippery slope with no hope of redemption. Joel Edgerton as the arsonist Billy and Anthony Hayes as Smithy are also worth a mention. The title refers to a landscaping feature which is a pivotal plot point, but could conceivably also refer to Ray, who is not a criminal, but rather a man who gets sucked into the consequences of his questionable actions.
© Avril Carruthers 12th July 2008
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