The Square (2010)

i know i wasted 90 mins of my life.

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

I tend to have a problem with films that, in lieu of a third act, opt for a shootout to resolve things. That's exactly what happens in THE SQUARE. The film overall is very well made, with some solid performances (I was especially fond of Claire van der Boom, although I must confess that that probably has more to do with the fact that she's really, really easy on the eyes), but the aforementioned "resolution" leaves a bad aftertaste. And whatever happened to Yale's wife? She's quite literally a background fixture who simply fades away at some point, never to be seen or heard from again. One would think that THAT would've been an integral part of the big picture. (WHY did Yale have an affair? Was his wife a shrew? Did she make him feel like a necrophiliac?) There are just too many unanswered questions that linger in the air once this one's done.

If you like them Gritty and devoid of Fluff and a sneering sensibility, this one from Down Under is a definitive Neo-Noir worth watching. It is a no Frills Film that takes its darkly drenched sensibility from some well known Auteurs like the Coens and Literary Icons like Caine and Chandler. Not Bad Role Models. The appeal here is a World spiraling out of control. A World set in motion by those most directly affected by its New Orbit. What can go wrong will go wrong would be something for those aspiring to get away and get away with it, both the Crime and the Money.The Anti-Heros are setting Themselves up for a whole lot of hurt and it brings down just about Everyone in Their path. There is an attraction here that is presented as very unattractive. Nothing is Pretty. The People, the Places, or the Ending that is a relief, although not a pleasant one, to finally find out how it all, and who all will be around to tell the Tale. This is a humorless Homage to the Genre. Even a couple of Canines who find a mutual Attraction find out that it is a Cold Cruel World, especially if you stray outside your Little, Safe, Square.

When the dog got killed I laughed, soft-hearted dog lover that I am, because the Dog was standing in for the Square. (And what a dog! Able to race through neighborhoods, swim a river and then run through yet another neighborhood to find his cutie!) Come to think of it, the two owners of the dogs, in the opening sequence, while hooking up, had both dogs in the same car. Maybe the director's cut will open on the two dogs having a go of it and then pan over to Ray and Carla getting it on. But seriously..... By not showing a compelling reason, other than sex, in even one scene, I had increasing difficulty over Ray's willingness to dump everything for the sake of his sex mate. And jumping to the end of the movie, after a badly staged scene of Carla getting killed.....and the camera-on-a-crane showing a disconsolate and bloody Ray walking down the street away from the carnage, one is supposed to say 'tsk-tsk' poor guy. But I didn't have any sympathy for either Carla or Ray at that point. How do you sympathize with characters who have little character and who you don't like?Other more technical annoyances were a couple of impenetrable accents and also poor casting choices which made it confusing to know who was who.Why did Lenny steal the generator? And what did he have on Ray?It also wasn't enough to kill, in a road accident, the suspicious foreman but the writers had to also place an infant in the vehicle.After a break in, wouldn't the obvious thing to happen, with all the materials lying around, be the hiring of a security guard?And pray tell how did the boss-of-bosses and the law know about the blackmailing? More important, how were they going to resolve the serious breach of the law that they were involved in?There really were more silly things gathering along the way but you get the idea.....

It helps to know absolutely nothing about "The Square" before watching it, just so that it can hit you harder. Nash Edgerton's film depicts an affair between construction foreman Ray (David Roberts) and housewife Carla (Claire van der Boom) which leads to disastrous events. The mud created by the rain in some scenes is nothing compared to what is happening as part of the plot. Many of the shots are not lit entirely, adding to the unpleasant feeling.Without a doubt, the movie portrays a much grittier side of Australia than we often see in movies. The land down under is often associated with Crocodile Dundee or Aboriginal culture. What "The Square" depicts is closer to what we see in Guy Ritchie's movies, except that the events here are no laughing matter. This is as gut-busting as can be, especially with what happens at the end. But don't get me wrong, it's definitely worth seeing...unless you have a weak stomach.Also starring Joel Edgerton, Anthony Hayes, Peter Phelps and Bill Hunter.