neumu [ cinematronic ]




	The Hard Word
	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.