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The Hard Word | ![]() |
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![]() Scott Roberts ![]() Guy Pearce, Rachel Griffiths, Robert Taylor, Joel Edgerton, Damien Richardson ![]() 2002 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
As if to show the world that Yanks and Brits have nothing on Aussies when it comes to comically violent crime flicks, writer/director Scott Roberts gives us "The Hard Word" from the land down under. Sorry, mate. It's a dull, convoluted take on the underworld upheaval in the movies of American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino ("Reservoir Dogs") or his UK equivalent, Guy Ritchie ("Snatch"). Making matters worse, "The Hard Word" misuses a pair of well-regarded Australian actors known for their U.S. film and TV work: Guy Pearce ("Memento") and Rachel Griffiths (HBO's "Six Feet Under"). They don't lack spirit, just a script that isn't shot through with plot holes and webbed over with dangling story lines. Dale (Pearce) and his two brothers (Damien Richardson, Joel Edgerton) — no family resemblance, by the way — are cartoonish, fairly honorable robbers stuck behind bars. They're assailed by fellow inmates, abused by prison officials and double-crossed by criminal lawyer Frank Malone (Robert Taylor) who has the hots for Dale's conniving, brassy blonde wife Carol (Griffiths). Out on bail, the brothers plan one last big job, a race track theft, with the cops and Frank on their tail. It goes on and on, ad nauseam. | |||
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