kursart-1 This is an excellent Aussie movie that is not as well known as it should be. Like anyone who's seen it, I believe David Wenham stole the show and the role shows what a versatile actor he is. An unforgettable comedy performance. The courtroom scene is just brilliant Aussie comedy and superbly done by Wenham. His appearance complete with an Aussie bogan mullet, tight jeans, flannel shirt & of course the scene-stealing double plugger's is classic,It never have the potential to be a worldwide success because of the pure Aussie characteristics, language & references. That's what makes it even more likable. Excellent Aussie music too. It's a great ocker portrayal without being over the top & embaressing.It wasn't as predictable as some people seem to over-emphasise here I believe. Some predictability, yeah sure but totally predictable, no it isn't that bad. Although I quite enjoyed Crackerjack too, watch that for a predictable & somewhat corny ending. It somehow beat Getting' Straight for best comedy movie in the AFI's that year.Watch this soon if you haven't seen it before!

Yeah Me Getting' Square is just another crime movie. Filmed in Brisbane, this Australian film has extra yobbo comedy which contrasts its complex plot. This film was directed by Jonathan Teplitzky (Two Hands and Dirty Deeds) and written by Chris Nyst who was a criminal lawyer for many years. Getting' square is about two very different middle aged guys who get out of jail on parole wanting to 'get square'. The yobbo comedy, and fantastic camera and editing techniques is let down by the complicated storyline.Getting' Square wasn't the best Australian film however there were some funny bits. Comedy is probably the only interesting aspect in this movie. This movie itself isn't very funny, however saved by Johnny Spiteri who adds a contrasting dash of humor. His stupidity and lack of common sense enhances the interest level of the film. Most of the characters were serious because of their roles' as lawyers, accountants and criminals. Johnny Spiteri is a typical male yobbo. It seems that he has no clue about what is going on around him but most of the time he really does not care. He runs around in tight pants (which are too small for him) and thongs. In most of the funny Spiteri doesn't mean to be funny however the fact that her doesn't know and understand what is happening makes it funny. Especially in the court scene where the lawyers ask him questions and he doesn't quite understand their language. There is a distinct class difference which adds to the humor.David Wenham has actually been named one of Australia's sexiest men. This is difficult believe after seeing him run around in thongs with a greasy mullet.The movie was visually appealing and would have been difficult to tell apart from an American movie if it wasn't for the Australian flavour, humor and accents. This was because of the films' high quality visuals. This film had all the essentials for an excellent production (except plot). The lighting and visuals were very professional unlike some other Australian movies (Hating Alison Ashley). The editing too was outstanding. Each and every shot was composed very well.This complex crime movie was written by criminal lawyer Chris Nyst. It would have been an excellent movie if it wasn't for the complicating story line. Most audiences watch comedies like this to relax and have a laugh; however they find themselves concentrating to try and keep with the plot and having to read between the lines. Comedies are usually light hearted and not serious. This may be a stereotype and there is a need to experiment with different genres and types but a serious, complex plot clashes with this comedy. This film is also has a similar genre to 'Lock Stock' and 'Two Smoking Barrels'. The comedy matched the film and worked well together but it wasn't very pleasing. It also can be said that men will appreciate this move more than some ladies.Barry Wirth is fresh out of prison after being in there for eight years because of a murder he did not commit. He and Johnny Spiteri are released on parole determined to 'get square' but find it harder than they thought. Barry's mother has died and is out to look after his younger brother Joey.At first it is difficult for Barry to get a job as a cook because of his past in jail, but later is offered one at the Texas Rose in the Gold Coast, which isn't doing very well. It is owned by English man "Dabba" Darren Barrington who is also trying to go straight and lose weight. Soon Texas Rose is swarming with people, thanks to Barry's skill and ability to cook. His best friend Johnny Spitieri is still hooked on drugs and is caught trafficking Heroin. On the outside there are old scores and old enemies, as well as a few new ones, like the newly formed Criminal Investigation Commission. With the CIC breathing down their necks and pressure from criminal world boss Chicka Martin (Gary Sweet) and corrupt cop, Arnie DeViers (David Field), it takes Barry, Spit and Dabba all their street smarts and rat cunning to stay one step ahead and become square-heads.It was disappointing to see that a movie that had potential to be very good was let down by its overwhelming plot. There were too many ideas at the same time. It was like hitting two birds with one stone. The storyline is one of the most important elements in a movie. When the storyline is dull or too much it ruins the whole movie.Comedies and complex plots should not mix.

the amorphousmachine (SOME SPOILERS) Jonathan Teplitzky's follow-up to 'Better Than Sex' (2000) tackles the caper/heist genre in 'Gettin' Square', and for the most part, it's fairly entertaining to watch. One story revolves around Barry Wirth (Sam Worthington), a wrongly convicted ex-criminal who has just been released to look after his younger brother, Joey (Luke Pegler). Barry plans to stay on the straight and narrow (i.e. get square), and is assisted by the sexy parole officer in Annie Flynn (Freya Stafford), but is dogged by dodgy Detective DeViers (David Field), and his old criminal buddy in Chicka Martin (Gary Sweet) who wants to recruit him again. The other story revolves around Darren Barrington (Timothy Spall), a struggling English restaurant owner in the Gold Coast. He, too, is on the straight and narrow after being in the criminal business, but his past catches up with him when the Police start investigating his previous finances.Then enter Johnny "Spit" Spitieri (David Wenham), a daggy not-so-intelligent flip-flop wearing ex-con, who also wants to "get square", but unfortunately his heroin addiction is holding him back. He ties the two stories together as he is key evidence to Darren's financial woes, and Barry wants to help get onto his feet. Spit gets Barry a job in Darren's restaurant, where he shines with his cooking skills. Unfortunately for Spit, the investigators and the criminal underworld catch up with him and it's up to Barry and Darren to maybe take a risk to help them, and ultimately themselves from the people that dog them- by doing one last job.All in all, this is an entertaining romp. As others have said, David Wenham is the best thing in the movie, which is weird, cause he was the worst thing in 'Van Helsing' (2004). Wenham's scenes in 'Gettin' Square' are not only the funniest, but his character is just so typically clueless and endearing. I'm sure many Aussies can relate to his sort. Spall is a welcome addition in this movie, and so is Gary Sweet. Worthington conveys the right persona for the distant morally right ex-con, but he has no real comic ability, and his character never seems too cornered, or conveys the sense of urgency that the story implies! Overall, the film is fairly predictable, but I liked its style and a few scenes are quite memorable- especially the courtroom scene with Spit, and the heist itself. Some of the jokes don't work, but others do sufficiently enough. It's has a nicely timed script with decent dialogue, and the editing is smooth! Worth checking out if you liked 'Two Hands' and 'Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels', and thankfully, it does borrow too heavily from those two. It stands on its own as a film about ex-cons trying their best too stay straight, but when push comes to shove…! Anyway, you get the idea! Check out this fun Aussie flick! ***½ out of *****!

Lupercali Look, this is a pretty decent film, but isn't the working class comedy-heist thing getting a bit old?.Additionally, if you're trying to do an Ozzie 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels' type film, you could perhaps be a little less obvious than to stick an English actor like Timothy Spall in a leading role, good though he is. The film seems to have some bizarre sort of cultural cringe to English heist movies, and having it set in Surfers Paradise, which is more like California than California, doesn't help ground it.That being said, even if the writing is nothing special, the acting is uniformly good. It's been said before and will no doubt be said again, but David Wenham is magnificent as 'Spit', the almost impossibly clueless junkie. His courtroom scene might just be the funniest five minutes of Australian cinema in years, and he absolutely steals every scene he's in. Honestly, it's worth watching the thing just for him.In other respects it's above average, but not by a lot.A strong 6.0 out of 10.