The Square.
The Square (2008) dir: Nash Edgerton
Reviewed by Willie
So I seem to only be watching and reviewing films of desperation lately. The Square is a stylish Aussie thriller that was released a few years ago and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
The story revolves around a middle aged married man who’s mistress finds a massive sum of cash stashed in a bag. Seeing an opportunity to leave their respective partners and start a new life together they hatch a plan to take the money and get the hell outta dodge. Did I mention she found the money stashed in the attic of her own home by her boyfriend? – Bitch steals her boyfriends money?! What the hell is this world coming to when a man can’t stash a bag of ill-gotten money in his own fucking attic without having his lying cheating g/f take the cash and run. Fuck. – Anyhow… We never know where the cash came from but what we do get to see is the havoc that is wrought by it over the course of this 105 minute thriller.
Relative unknowns David Roberts and Claire Van der Boom (Kick Ass last name BTW) play our protagonists Raymond Yale and Carla Smith. Both seem genuine in their roles, however Roberts’ Ray seems to have a doomed look in his eye throughout the whole flic, and as he becomes more and more desperate his middle-aged angst begins to rage.
The film was written by Joel Edgerton and directed by his brother Nash. The movie has got a bag of cash, a crime which sets off a series of cover-ups, 2 people on the run from a nasty bunch of lowlifes and a few cops thrown in to keep everyone on their toes This along with the skeleton crew of only plot driving characters gives this film a much recognized Cohen Brothers feel. I haven’t seen anything else these guys have done but I would be willing to give them another go if they keep making movies in this vein.
So, what started out as a simple plan (haven’t we learned in film, there’s no such thing?!)quickly goes awry, and cover up after cover up follow lie after lie and as the bodies start to pile up, what started out as a easy has fully gone tits up. The film culminates in a climatic – albeit a bit cheesy – 5 minute finale that will have most viewers jaws hanging, the slow low intake of breath whistling as they gasp and bemoan the fates of those who stray to far from the straight and narrow in the name of forbidden love. I say, it’s worth a rental.
Violence/Gore: 6/10
Plot: 6/10
Acting: 7.5/10
Overall: 6.75/10
- Willie
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