Gettin' Square - Under Review

An Australian comedy worthy of rediscovery.

Gettin’ Square (2003)
Like virtually all Aussie movies released in 2003, Gettin’ Square took a bath at the local box-office. But unlike most of those other movies, Jonathan Teplitzky’s film really deserved financial success. Indeed, in a just world, Gettin’ Square would have been a bit hit both at home and broad.

At a time when every other films seems to be a crime drama with a touch of comedy, Gettin’ Square stands out from the crowd the way Bob Marley might stand out at a Klan rally. This is largely thanks to lawyer Chris Nyst’s well-constructed screenplay. Freed from prison, Barry (Sam Worthington) walks into a world of shit. Already in trouble with Gold Coast gangster Chicka (Gary Sweet) and corrupt cop DeViers (David Keith), he further complicates matters by aligning with another local hood Dabba (Timothy Spall) and hooking up with a local policeman (Freya Stafford). Oh yes, and his best mage Johnny (David Wenham) is a smack addict in deep doo-doo.

Rather bland in his previous film outings, Worthington here makes for a charming, likeable leading man. He’s still not especially interesting but that’s not a problem since David Wenham - on career-best form - Sweet and Spall bring plenty of colour to the proceedings.

Jonathan Teplitzky also makes good use of the Gold Coast’s gaudy colour palette to fashion a land that oozes more style than a movie in which Timothy Spall wears a tight tracksuit has any right to.

Gettin’ Square’s flaws are few but frustrating. David Field, for so long an Aussie acting great, simply isn’t given enough to do. And since it’s clearly of product of Queensland, the picture would have benefitted from underselling its parochialism.

All of which said, if you’ve still to see Gettin’ Square, don’t be surprised if the boys in blue pop round to ask whether everything’s all right.