Cagey, raging film noir from down under
Carla (Claire Van der Boom) and Ray (David Roberts) enter into a dangerous affair. (Apparition)
The Square
Running time: 101 minutes
MPAA rating: R (harsh profanity, violence, adult situations)
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Judging solely by the slithering film noir of "The Square," it would be fair to wonder if director Nash Edgerton is a long lost Australian Coen brother.
That's not the case, of course. But "The Square" does wrangle some of the chilling twists and sudden impact of "Blood Simple" and other early Coen Bros. thrillers.
First-time feature filmmaker Nash Edgerton is the brother of "The Square" co-writer Joel Edgerton, who came up with this wild tale of lust, deceit and blackmail he co-wrote with Matthew Dabner (also a newcomer). Joel even gets into the act of this Australian import as a professional arsonist.
When a script calls for an arsonist, or say a cleaner (Harvey Keitel in "Pulp Fiction" or "Point of No Return"), be prepared for some volatile down-and-dirty thriller elements.
"The Square" is well-rounded with dastardly deeds. The affair construction contractor Raymond (David Roberts) is having with Carla, a troubled neighbor portrayed by (Claire Van der Boom), is heated, to say the least. It would also rate as nothing special until Carla, looking for a way out of her marriage, turns over a stash of cash to boyfriend Ray that her criminal husband has recently stashed in the attic.
Enter Billy, the arsonist played by Joel Edgerton, and "The Square" erupts into a deadly downward spiral of intrigue and confrontations.
The Edgertons certainly don't have the rep or the impact of the Coens at this early stage of their careers. For newcomers, though, this duo of former stuntmen, actors and music video and short film makers delivers impressive grist for the thriller mill.
The actors are primarily familiar faces in Australia, although not yet well known in the States. Roberts, who plays Ray, and Van der Boom, his partner in crime and steamed-up car windows, are the exceptions.
Roberts has landed Hollywood roles in "Ghost Rider," "Fool's Gold" and other productions. Van der Boom is on the small screen in this country in the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg series "The Pacific."
Both get the job done in "The Square," a thriller bubbling over with nuance, eerie twists and flash fires of film-making promise.
Oh, and a word to the wise: Don't arrive late. Nash Edgerton's short film "Spider" hits the screen before "The Square" unspools. Featuring the director and actress Mirrah Foulkes, "Spider" sets the table very well for the edge-of-your-seat unease that follows.
That's not the case, of course. But "The Square" does wrangle some of the chilling twists and sudden impact of "Blood Simple" and other early Coen Bros. thrillers.
First-time feature filmmaker Nash Edgerton is the brother of "The Square" co-writer Joel Edgerton, who came up with this wild tale of lust, deceit and blackmail he co-wrote with Matthew Dabner (also a newcomer). Joel even gets into the act of this Australian import as a professional arsonist.
When a script calls for an arsonist, or say a cleaner (Harvey Keitel in "Pulp Fiction" or "Point of No Return"), be prepared for some volatile down-and-dirty thriller elements.
"The Square" is well-rounded with dastardly deeds. The affair construction contractor Raymond (David Roberts) is having with Carla, a troubled neighbor portrayed by (Claire Van der Boom), is heated, to say the least. It would also rate as nothing special until Carla, looking for a way out of her marriage, turns over a stash of cash to boyfriend Ray that her criminal husband has recently stashed in the attic.
Enter Billy, the arsonist played by Joel Edgerton, and "The Square" erupts into a deadly downward spiral of intrigue and confrontations.
The Edgertons certainly don't have the rep or the impact of the Coens at this early stage of their careers. For newcomers, though, this duo of former stuntmen, actors and music video and short film makers delivers impressive grist for the thriller mill.
The actors are primarily familiar faces in Australia, although not yet well known in the States. Roberts, who plays Ray, and Van der Boom, his partner in crime and steamed-up car windows, are the exceptions.
Roberts has landed Hollywood roles in "Ghost Rider," "Fool's Gold" and other productions. Van der Boom is on the small screen in this country in the Tom Hanks/Steven Spielberg series "The Pacific."
Both get the job done in "The Square," a thriller bubbling over with nuance, eerie twists and flash fires of film-making promise.
Oh, and a word to the wise: Don't arrive late. Nash Edgerton's short film "Spider" hits the screen before "The Square" unspools. Featuring the director and actress Mirrah Foulkes, "Spider" sets the table very well for the edge-of-your-seat unease that follows.
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