| | | All It Takes Is A Little Persuasion
Features: DVD
Three prisoners are about to be released on bail--Dale (Guy Pearce), Mal (Damien Richardson) and Shane (Joel Edergton). Meet the Twentyman brothers. Hard experience and an unspoken bond of family have made them masters of their craft--armed robbery. It's a job and they do it because they're good at it. Their only rule is, no one gets hurt.
"...tense and compelling, with the added charm of a mischievous spirit. " Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle
"...handled with precise accuracy and confident conviction." Clint Morris, Moviehole
Editor's Note
In this action-comedy directed by Scott Roberts, a trio of Melbourne prison rats works with a crime boss on the outside, trying to pull off one last scheme to satisfy the man so he'll spring them from the lockup. The Twentyman brothers consist of leader Dale (Guy Pearce), ex-butcher Mal (Damien Richardson), and shadowy Shane (Joel Edgerton). Shane is the baby of the bunch, and the star of the show, who keeps every moment real with his utterly candid way of telling it like it is--providing for a string of priceless one-liners. On the outside, sleazy lawyer Frank (Robert Taylor) wheels and deals, all the while using his considerable financial charms to win over Dale's wife, Carol (Rachel Griffiths as the prototypical tart). A botched bank robbery organized by Frank sets the brothers off on a crooked course, and when they realize that they've been set up, they scramble to claim their promised freedom at any cost. Some hilarious revenge sequences involve a grosser-than-gross food poisoning gimmick, and the entire film is punctuated by wonderful cat-and-mouse chase games with Frank. Though THE HARD WORD is a tough, rigorous crime caper flick, underlying its action is clear comedic intent, albeit a dark and mischievous brand of humor. In his directorial debut, Roberts has crafted a fast-moving and highly entertaining film with its strengths lying in character development and a uniquely quirky script.This film screened in the SXSW 2003 film festival in Austin, Texas.
| Features | Cast & Crew Information | | "Meatierology" A Glossary Of Butcher Speak | | Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Isolated Music Track | | Music Video "Opening Theme" | | Storyboard To Screen | | Widescreen Version Enhanced For 16x9 TVs | | Audio Commentary | | Behind-The-Scenes |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Lions Gate |
| Release Date: 5/25/2004 |
| Running Time: 103 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 2003 | | Catalog ID: 1011-D | | UPC: 00031398101123 | | Number of Discs: 1 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English | | Available Subtitles: English, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | 2.35:1 |
| Cast & Crew
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| | Professional Reviews | New York Times
"...Amusingly gamy....It enjoys the asset of a grimy, slightly mildewy atmosphere....It also offers a few tart rip-off scenes and a performance of back-alley bravura by Guy Pearce in the lead..." 06/13/2003 p.E15Box Office
"...With actors as commanding as the extraordinary Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths leading the cast, this Australian import's emphasis on strong, affectionately drawn characters gives it an emotional pull rare for the genre..." 07/01/2003 p.43 USA Today
"...THE HARD WORD finds something new in the prison and heist genres....Writer/director Scott Roberts spices the mix by tossing in two extraordinarily compelling women..." 06/20/2003 p.5E Los Angeles Times
"...THE HARD WORD interests us in ways we don't expect. It has a mordant sense of humor and gift for character and incident that has attracted two of Australia's best actors -- Guy Pearce and Rachel Griffiths..." 06/20/2003 p.C10 Total Film
"[The film] stands out thanks to Guy Pearce's presence." 04/01/2004 p.122 Sight and Sound
"Roberts' macho heist thriller is strikingly shot..." 09/01/2004 p.96 Uncut
"Pearce and Griffiths are in top hear....Bitter, tough and funny." 09/01/2004 p.135 San Francisco Examiner 8 of 10
With three characters who know each other very well, most of their communication may go unspoken, and hence it becomes more interesting for the viewer. In one scene, the three sit down to a meal before their next job. They each order different, specific things and Shane makes a big deal about the shape of his fries and the whole Coke vs. Pepsi thing. Dale and Mal laugh to themselves and we know this kind of thing has gone on forever. We feel we know them without being overtly introduced to them. - Jeffrey M. Anderson
Chicago Sun-Times 6 of 10
The Hard Word feels like it should be more or less over after the Melbourne Cup heist, but it's barely getting started, as writer-director Scott Roberts supplies twists and double-crosses and startling developments and surprise revelations and unexpected appearances and disappearances, until finally we give up. This movie could obviously go on fooling us forever, but we are good sports only up to a point, and then our attention drifts. Shame, since there's so much good stuff in it, like how effortlessly Rachel Griffiths keeps two tough guys completely at her mercy. - Roger Ebert
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