Henry Saw: The Square

When's the last time you saw a movie that you knew absolutely nothing about...?


When I walked into the theater to see The Square I realized that I had no idea what I was in for. I knew it was Australian, and was a crime movie in the vein of The Coen Brothers' Blood Simple, but that was it. It's a rare thing these days to go into a movie not being aware of anything about it. Because this film was Australian I did not know any of the actors, or the director, or any of the conventions of Australian cinema. In this regard it was similar to when I saw Let the Right One In, a Swedish movie, that I also had no preconceived notions about. Let the Right One In ended up being my favorite movie of 2008, and one of my favorite films of all time, and I know that the mystery of the film added to how much I enjoyed that first viewing.

The Square isn't as good as Let the Right One In, but it's pretty damn great, and I believe that the surprises of the film are a big part of what made it so enjoyable. So this review will not be heavy on plot description or spoilers...I just want to stress that this is definitely a movie worth seeing...and I can't wait for the DVD so I can show this movie to all my friends.

At the "screening" I went to at the Landmark Sunshine theater the show started with a short film called "Spider". At first I was very confused, I was there to see a movie called "The Square", and it wasn't until 3/4's into The Square (which followed "Spider") that I understood why the show started with a seemingly unrelated short film.

"Spider" is just about my favorite short film I've ever seen. I could describe it...but let's just go ahead and post it:



The tone established in "Spider" is important to carry over into The Square. There's an obvious grit and reality to the film...but you have to be able to laugh at how grim and ridiculous things get. The Square follows a married man named Ray (David Roberts) who is having an affair with a younger married woman. The woman, named Carla (played by the beautiful Claire van der Boom), finds out that her controlling husband Billy (Joel Edgerton) is hiding a large amount of cash from her. Carla tells Ray that this is their chance; she says they have to steal the money and run off together. What follows is a crime/noir/dark comedy where Ray and Carla make almost every mistake possible and we see what happens when two normal people try to pull off a series of perfect crimes. Here's a hint...it doesn't go that well.

That's all I'm going to say, I want to keep some of the film a surprise for you, but I can tell you that the plot is filled with twists that never felt cheap. The movie, in another echo of the Coen Brothers, was written and directed by brothers Nash and Joel Edgerton. It is their first feature film and it is an impressive and confident debut. Despite not having flashy camera work, or standout cinematography, The Square is clearly the work of a pair of auteurs.



The acting is strong, no standouts but solid throughout, and it is really the script that shines. It walks such a fine line of deadly seriousness, and classic dark humor, that you could call Joel Edgerton a cinematic wire walker. It's not the most original plot ever devised but it is the zigs the film takes, and the multiple layers that can be found in the movie's themes and characters, that make it a wholly original work.

Finally...the movie is just fun. No matter how stark and grimey the plot gets...it's just an incredibly enjoyable time at the cinema. It's been awhile since I felt like an entire audience was so invested in the movie. We all jumped, gasped, and guffawed at the same time. It was a great night at the movies.

Highly recommended. Even if you don't get a chance to catch The Square in theaters, seek it out on DVD, but try to watch it with someone. It's a movie you will want to experience, and then talk about, with someone. And remember...try not to take it too seriously.

Grade: A-

Best Scene: The second murder...when you realize just how bad a criminal Ray is...