Gettin' Square (2003) User Reviews

David Wenham needs a shower

[lynton · 7/10 · 11 April 2004]

A solid example of an Aussie crime/comedy caper - but more than that, it's a brilliant display by David Wenham, who deserves much applause (and a good shower) for his portrayal of Johnny 'Spit' Spiteri.

Many things come together to make this a great Aussie film. The cinematography is clever and fresh, the script is, and the acting is superb.

Sam Worthington is Barry, recently out of prison, who lands a job as a chef in a struggling restaurant, run by Darren (the wonderful Timothy Spall), an ex-con trying to stay straight. When Darren runs into trouble with a suspect $200,000, and Barry's friend Spit runs afoul of the local gangster (Gary Sweet), they team up for a double-cross - but it's much more complicated than that.

The script is smart and devilish, but while it twists and turns, it never approaches ridiculousness. Written by prominent criminal lawyer Chris Nyst, you wonder who much is fact and how much is fiction - something here seems plausible.

That might be just the superb acting. Worthington is solid and believable, but Wenham utterly steals the show as the hapless, mullet-wearing Spit. One scene where Spit goes before a court hearing is one of the highlights of Aussie cinema of the last decade. It's stunningly scripted, brilliantly acted - and very funny.

'Gettin Square' isn't as good as 'Two Hands' - it's uneven at times, slightly plodding early on, and takes 40 minutes to really get into the script - but it's still well worth the entry price.

An Aus comedy classic

[eddie_baggins · 8/10 · 21 September 2015]

Released to critical acclaim and audience appreciation in the Australian Spring of 2003, a singular and pitch perfect scene in Railway Man and underseen Australian gem Burning Man director Jonathan Teplitzky crime caper flick, etched Getting' Square into the classic Australian film books and it all revolved around a simple question of who was in fact paying for Johnny Francis Spitieri's bus fare home?

"Well excuse me, I am worried about it! I'm on medication, you know? Gotta pick up me methadone before five, otherwise I don't get nothing 'til the morning. 'Scuse me, your honor, do you know who's paying for my bus fare today?"

Just a mere sampling of David Wenham's character of Spit, an Australian comedy classic creation that these 12 years on still stands up as a high point of Wenham's career and a cinematic peak of flip flop wearing, screw driver wielding petty criminals that only harbor the wish of "getting square", forgoing a life of crime to enjoy the simple things is life and of course reach a point where they no longer have to worry about bus timetables. Spit and his frequent unlucky breaks truly are works of a leopard print jock wearing artist that create a film character for the ages.

Those who have viewed and remembered Getting' Square will understand why this scene has been singled out as a high point of the film and while it seems slightly exaggerating to say a single scene can elevate a movie to classic status in the case of Getting' Square its anything but. To say this is the only reason to watch this Coen Brothers/Guy Ritchie like film would be remiss however as there are many other reasons why Getting' Square is worth your time.

Filled with memorable characters like Timothy Spall's Texas Steak House restaurant owner Darren 'Dabba' Barrington and David Field's nasty cop Arnie DeViers and notable for an early lead entry in now Hollywood player Sam Worthington's career, Getting' Square's Queensland set locations brim with personality thanks to Teplitzky's assured direction and the script by lawyer Chris Nyst, who no doubt drew much inspiration from his real life dealings to create such a hilariously realistic bunch of human beings, I in particular like to believe there is a real life Johnny Spit out there somewhere, keeping the dream alive.

A smartly constructed and energetic bite of Australiana tinged with a sharply strewn crime story that despite having a few to many unnecessary sub plots remains to this day highly enjoyable. Getting' Square is one of those rare Australian comedies and Australian films in general that can be enjoyed by anyone both near and far on the lookout for a film their likely to have passed by in years past.

4 extra loud flip flops out of 5

It's Hip To Be Getting' Square

[walking_cliche · 8/10 · 28 December 2004]

'Gettin' Square' is one of my favourite movies of the last few years. It's copped a fair bit of flak from critics, but in my opinion it's one of the best Australian films going around today.

The Australian film industry unfortunately doesn't have the support of local audiences that it deserves, on top of this, Australian humour doesn't seem to be very funny at all to overseas audiences and 'Gettin' Square' will undoubtedly suffer the same fate as superb Aussie films like 'Swimming Upstream'.

In an era of Americanisation in the Aussie film industry (see 'Blurred' and the soon to come 'Deck Dogz') 'Gettin Square' has strong Aussie flavour with biting humour and a smart storyline. David Wenham's performance as 'Spit' was hilarious, as was Timothy Spall's performance as Darren Barrington. While Spall and Wenham provide the humour, Sam Worthington, David Field and Gary Sweet provide the stinging taste of Australia's underworld, rehabilitation system and police corruption.

As a whole, 'Gettin' Square' is an excellent film, superbly directed by Johnathon Teplitzky that mixes comedy, drama and crime/thriller flawlessly.

See this for: David Wenham's Johnny Spit, the Weight Watcher's jokes, the soundtrack, the clever plot, the twist at the end.

You don't know how lucky you are...

[isabelle1955 · 25 November 2005]

I bought this DVD second hand from Amazon when I realized that the DVD drive on my PC is slightly more promiscuous than the one on my TV, and can be teased into playing Region 4 DVDs, because for some reason I can't quite fathom, this movie isn't available in the Region 1 format of my adopted home (California.) I don't know if it ever got a cinema release here, but it's certainly not available on DVD or video. Possibly they thought it might need subtitles? But I'm glad I tracked it down because it definitely brightened up my week!

This is basically a classic Cockney Crime Caper, fairly old fashioned in concept but beautifully scripted and acted, and exported to Australia. Instead of the dull streets of east or south London, we are treated to the eye candy of Surfer's Paradise (and I freely admit I have no idea whether that's a real place or not) where the azure skies, blonde beaches and palm trees suggest a luxuriant, idyllic, sybaritic lifestyle. Which is a nice twist given the reality of the story-line of down on their luck ex-cons of varying intelligence levels, trying to escape their dodgy pasts. Other reviewers have outlined the story, so I won't repeat it here. It's a little clichéd in places (cute ex-con redeemed by love of a good woman, new found sense of responsibility for baby brother and amazing ability to cook lean cuisine, a skill he apparently picked up while chopping carrots in jail. I mean really?) but Getting' Square's heart's in the right place and it's entertaining and funny, and boasts a wonderful cast, including Sam Worthington, Timothy Spall, Freya Stafford and David Wenham.

David Wenham steals the show completely as Spit, the touchingly hopeless druggie. He is quite possibly the only actor around capable of making a drug addict appealing (cold sore and all) and as many others have said, the court scene is a classic, and the screwdriver and ski-mask robbery of the gas station totally cracked me up. Also not to be missed, the sight of Spit hot footing it down the street in ill-fitting briefs and flip flops. If only the junkies I've met were in such good shape! This is exactly the kind of entertaining, blackly comic movie which is not seen here in the USA, and which makes me nostalgic for British and Australian humour, which I think are pretty similar. I'm quite surprised to read some of the criticisms of this movie on IMDb. Given the standard of so much of the Hollywood dross that dominates cinema screens everywhere, you Aussies should be really glad you still have easy access to something as good as this!

Addendum: since writing this a friend has come back from Australia and informed me that Surfer's Paradise is not only a real place, but just like the movie. Perfect!

Aussie comedy crime caper

[juneebuggy · 6/10 · 21 October 2016]

This was a decent Aussie comedy-crime caper. Granted it takes a bit to get going but is worth watch for a young Sam Worthington and a knock out performance from David Wenham as 'Spit' the lovable, mullet spouting drug addict. Friends in prison, both men are paroled around the same time and determined to put the past behind them and stay straight.

Spit struggles with heroin, noisy flip-flops and a lack of pants while 'Barry' gets a job at the Texas Rose, a restaurant owned by another ex-con trying to go straight as a family man and lose some unwanted pounds -played by the excellent Timothy Spall.

All three men are being targeted by a local crime boss, a shifty accountant and a corrupt detective and get pulled into that one last heist. There's a bit of a love story between Worthington and his parole officer, lots of twists, some good laughs (mostly during the courtroom scene) and a fantastic soundtrack. 10/19/16

Wenham keeps this alive

[Shakamaker · 7/10 · 29 September 2003]

There's nothing special about the story; it's a predictable crime/drama about a lad trying to go straight, despite the attentions of the soily company he used to keep.

It's believability stretched in places, the movie is saved by the performance of David Wenham (Faramir, in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy) who plays a lovably tragic junkie crim, with a penchant for finding trouble, but a strong sense of mateship. Wenham steals the show, and is especially hilarious in a particular court room scene.

Predictable, but some good writing, and Wenham's brilliance, make it enjoyable.

Gettin' Square hits its mark

[strangie · 10/10 · 5 October 2003]

This is the second feature from director Jonathan Teplitzky (Better Than Sex) and his spunky, slightly off-beat direction doesn't disappoint.

Barry Wirth (Sam Worthington) has just been paroled and wants to get square (go straight) but finds that his shady ex-acquaintances and past are harder to lose than he thought. Barry and his mate Johnny "Spit" Spitieri (David Wenham) and new employer Darren Barrington (Timothy Spall) and find themselves pitted against the high-tech resources of the newly formed Crimes Investigation Commission (CIC) and old enemy Chicka Martin (Gary Sweet) and his cronies.

The cast (and a couple of excellent cameo appearances by Ugly Dave Gray and Gretel Killeen) is virtually flawless and David Wenham is hilarious (his court appearance for the CIC is likely to go down as one of the most hilarious misadventures in court, ever). Slick writing, excellent direction make this a very easy film to watch and thoroughly enjoy!

Gettin' Old

[Lupercali · 6/10 · 14 April 2004]

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.

Top Aussie caper movie

[hexa-2 · 10/10 · 17 October 2003]

David Wenham steals the show as the spaced out junkie "Spit". His performance in the tribunal scene is one of the greatest comedy scenes I've ever seen in a movie. This performance took it from just another caper movie to a really good movie. Freya Stafford was wasted as the juvenile love interest, she can handle meatier roles than this. Gary Sweet as good as ever and the rest of the cast was world class. Don't miss this one!

David Wenham helps Aussie heist flick pay off!

[the amorphousmachine · 7/10 · 9 February 2005]

(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 *****!

Its got some classic humour

[likebike85 · 5/10 · 11 January 2004]

The marketing killed this one because it was a great film with brilliant performances but it seemed like another bad comedy. However it was really entertain and David Wenham was brilliant as Spit. The courtroom scene is classic stuff.the ending is a bit weak and sentimental but still a good film.

A very funny, entertaining movie with a classic comedy performance by David Wenham

[rich-697 · 9/10 · 27 April 2006]

I've now watched this movie twice and enjoyed it immensely on both viewings. It has an excellent script with great humour and is very hilarious in parts... particularly when David Wenham's character "Johnny Spitieri" is on the screen. David should have won an Oscar along with his AFI, FCCA & IF Best Actor awards for this role. Absolutely excellent! The rest of the cast also give very good performances and are well cast. Timothy Spall is particularly good as the crim who's trying hard to be a legitimate businessman. It's a good tale with enough twists and turns to hold your interest to the very end. Watch it for David's performance if nothing else!

David Wenham's performance makes this worthwhile

[NickBee · 7/10 · 5 October 2003]

Heavily "influenced" by Guy Ritchie movies, the style is not very original. However, it does at least have an ending, which is refreshing these days of high concept and no story.

Tim Spall's part as an `ex-dodgy' pommie businessman doesn't quite wash, especially when he's coming out with so many corny Aussie slang terms.

David Wenham, playing Johnny Spitieri, does appear to start off being very annoying, but bear with him, cos he ends up rescuing the film.

What on earth went wrong? This film fails at everything!!

[thirteenthfloorelevator · 1/10 · 24 February 2006]

For starters, it is completely unoriginal, attempting to borrow from such movie as Get Shorty, Lock Stock and two smoking barrels and so forth. Even though it blatantly steals ideas and concepts from them, it still fails because the plot is so incoherent with no leading character. It is an ensemble cast, and no single character gets enough screen time for the audience to feel emotionally attached to a particular person. The plot makes no sense at all, but the writer seems to be revelling in his self-proclaimed brilliance through the inclusion of many in jokes that the cast seem to find funny, injokes that just leave the audience confused and bored. The 90 minutes plus running time seems like hours for this dull crime comedy that fails at everything it attempts to do.

David Wenham's Faramir is unrecognizable in this film.

[LynChamas · 13 October 2003]

David Wenham as the nobel Faramir, hero of Gondor, is totally unrecognizable as the greasy-haired, twitching, whining drug addict John "Spit" Spitieri of "Gettin' Square". The film is great - it moves fast, never lets you lose interest and gives you a real emotional connection to the main characters - Barry, Dabba and Spit, all trying desperately to go straight but threatened with derailment by the plans of less-respectable acquaintances from their past. The story is great, the directing tight, the performances - especially Wenham's - top notch. His courtroom scene alone is worth the ticket price for the film.

Engliah Movie Review

[blah_blah_blah76 · 7/10 · 17 May 2005]

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.

Coming from Down Under

[kosmasp · 7/10 · 16 August 2020]

This was pre fame for Sam Worthington (though I reckon some would claim, he isn't that famous anymore - which also might change once Avatar 2, 3, 4, 5 - to infinity come out - actually there are only 4 sequels announced at the moment). Now this is a little down and dirty thriller. And the down I mentioned is not a pun because of Australia. Although I don't mind if you see it like that, if you're not offended.

Now some things may need explanation, some twists may be so easy to spot that it only means you've seen movies like this. Still the easy going nature of it all (still full of violence mind you) and especially the actors make this thriller really shine through. You can and should have fun with this

it is the real Gold Coast

[fernandezanibal · 10/10 · 14 January 2007]

I work in the area the film is based. I drive past where most of the scenes were filmed daily and also encounter people exactly like those in the film.

If you think the Australianism was put on or too strong, it's only because you don't spend enough time in Surfers Paradise or your from Melbourne or Sydney. The film was even daring enough to have a well known Gold Coast Underworld figure play a "heavy", and the fact is they may even played it down a bit, cause anyone who spends enough time in Surfers has seen him drive around in his Lamoborghini or Ferrari with the plates Shark on there.

The united States has Goodfellas, we have Getting Square

"Spit" Fire!

[elf_arwen · 9/10 · 20 December 2004]

Getting' Square is one of the zaniest movies I've seen all year. What really makes the movie is actor is David Wenham as Johnny "SPIT" Spitieri who plays a very dumb junkie. Some of you may know him as Faramir in Lord Of The Rings. Nobody could have played his junkie role better. I saw this movie at the Honolulu Film Festival and David Wenham was there.

Getting' Square is about three criminals who are trying to set their lives straight. Spitieri is just out of jail and trying to get himself off drugs. Barry Wirth (Sam Worthington) met Spitieri in jail, and he is released towards the start of the movie, and is also trying to clean himself up.

The Australian accents were a bit hard for me to understand at times, but that didn't much matter because the actors did such a great job. The court room scene that David Wenham did was acting at it's best. Nobody else could have played Johnny Spitieri better.

Intelligent, funny, fast paced with likable characters.

[britishvo · 10/10 · 11 November 2005]

Hate to compare it but best described as Australia's 'Lock Stock and 2 smoking Barrels' set in Queensland.

When you are convinced by roles being played you forget they are actors in a movie unlike so many 'Wallyhood' celebs who play limited angles of themselves. All the characters are brilliantly played with David Wenham (as the pitiful John Spiteri) deserving of acclaim as is Timothy Spall (Dabber); a great compliment to the superb Australian cast who's 'ocka' accents and amusing slang build the appeal. It's a punchy, funny, cool film with fast cut directing depicting the humour and anguish of characters and their predicaments succinctly and with style. The sound track is sexy and suitably complimentary.

Favourite movie of all time.

[jaredt77 · 10/10 · 24 April 2007]

This movie showcases how simple Aussie production teams can make a world class movie with a budget one hundredth of big block buster Hollywood films. Characters are real and easy to relate to and there is no hint of pretentiousness by any actors throughout the film. Although this is an Australian based film this movie can cross international borders with ease , small time crime is universal . I would put this movie in a bracket with films like lock stock and snatch in the sense even though you know these people are breaking the laws they're the underdog you want to see get up . I would probably rate this as my favourite movie and find myself watching it at least once a week . With a cast of mainly relatively unknowns with the exception of people like sam worthington , gary sweet , David wenham and tim spall I feel it is one of the best low budget films released from Australia

A film that adds to those uniquely Australian classics

[leighjack · 9/10 · 17 March 2006]

If you don't like the film, I would venture to say that you have missed the point of trying to capture the Oz psyche. This flick did, and I loved it.

From the choice of Nick Cave singing whilst Barry resigns himself to a corrupt flogging, to Spit's thongs (flip flops for out-of-towners) and acid wash jeans, this film is one of those "essence" films. When done well, capturing the essence of Australia, that is rapidly fading into history (and we can all identify or know many of the characters) just makes you laugh.

The treat is how an good tale has been woven around the lead characters, ususally its the opposite. In particular, I am totally amazed how Mr Wenham, like he did in Cosi (my favourite Oz movie), manifests a character so utterly different from the man himself. He truly is the business when it comes to his craft.

Spit's a hit!

[kursart-1 · 9/10 · 5 October 2008]

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!

Australian Comedy meets new highs

[daniel-390 · 9/10 · 22 November 2003]

it would be sad if such a good film passed through the cinemas without being noticed. Please do yourself and the Australian Film Industry a favour by going out and seeing it. It is a character driven film with a great plot and very clever writing. The first 20 mins do run slow but it is essential to set up the many characters who will push forward the plot. It really is one of the best Australian Films of 2003.

Over-the-top parody of the criminal justice system - Queensland Style

[Genevieve_X · 9/10 · 29 November 2003]

Went to see this on a whim, the film we intended to see was booked out. However, I am extremely glad this was the case, as Gettin' Square gave me one of the best laughs I've had in ages! As I am a drug and alcohol worker, the Johnny Spit character really appealed. Whilst he is obviously an extremely exaggerated parody of your 'crim/scammer junkie' type, David Whenham's performance gave us an over-the-top version of many people who I know (although, in defence of people who use drugs, this type of character is certainly in the minority). Sam Worthington's character presented a sense of identification and humility. There is no anti-crime message in this film, indeed the baddies are the police (played with snearing nastiness by David Field) and the slimy crime boss (Gary Sweet). The heroes are low-level criminals trying to 'get straight', but who end up committing an armed robbery and getting away with it. All of the characters in this film are appealing, and you will be rolling around in laughter at Whenham's court room scene. Best crime caper since Two Hands.