collected writings

The Hard Word

"The Hard Word" is an edgy, slang filled heist thriller, full of double and triple crosses that keep the audience on its toes for the duration of the film. At least, that is what writer and director Scott Roberts sees in his film.

In his mind, the film joins the tradition of Quentin Tarantino and others, complete with obscure and arcane terminology - taking much from Guy Richie's "Snatch" and "Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels."

In this case, a trio of crook brothers speak in backwards butcher talk - Rehctub Klat or something like that. The brothers Dale, Shane, and Mal Twentyman, played by Guy Pearce, Joel Edgerton, and Damien Richardson respectively, are an entertaining band of misfits, portrayed with real heart that does make up for the very stereotypical situations they find themselves fighting through.

The Twentyman brothers, jailbirds all, are periodically released from prison to engage in well-planned larceny. No one gets hurt and everyone makes a tidy profit... and the brothers have the perfect alibi: they could hardly be committing crimes locked securely away behind bars.

A scheme to rob a racetrack goes wrong, and the brothers find themselves on the run, fleeing with a large amount of money from their double-crossing lawyer that might be engaged in an affair with Dale's wife.

Entertaining, with out a doubt, except the lawyer, played woodenly by Robert Taylor, reveals very early on that he plans on killing the brothers after the heist, and making off with the money. Gone is the suspense and drama... when the double-cross comes we fully expect it and know that the Twentyman brothers fully expect it as well.

Likewise, much of the movie is very cut and dry, elements that we would expect in a heist movie (such as the elaborate planning of the heist, coming up with a unique and devious plan) are abruptly truncated, explained away by the lawyer as help from a "very good inside man."

Watching "The Hard Word" is like watching a Movie. You will be entertained enough by moments of humor and mindless violence to not notice the time passing, however, once you leave the theatre doors everything about this film will be completely forgotten, taking nothing with you. Which, for many in the right mood, is fine.

The lead performances are enjoyable, especially Richardson as the lovable middle son and aspiring butcher, and make the movie worthwhile. When in the same scene, the brothers act like brothers, pleasant enough.

"The Hard Word" will keep die-hard fans of the heist genre happy, and provides an interesting viewpoint on quality Australian actors and how they work within the Australian "studio" system.