🔴 Condition - Very Good 🔴

Barry Wirth (Sam Worthington) has spent eight years in prison for murder, a crime he didn't commit. His main aim in life now is to get parole, keep his nose clean and get square, a term meaning to go straight as opposed to getting even with someone. His best friend Johnny Spiteri (David Wenham) has also just been paroled and has the same intention as Barry, but due to a demanding drug habit, he is finding it much tougher. The man responsible for Barry's imprisonment, Chicka Martin (Gary Sweet), is keen to thank Barry for taking the blame but Barry is not interested. They were close before the crime that saw Barry committed but Barry has seen the evil ways of Chicka and he is now happy to keep his distance.
Barry spent his time in jail as a cook so now sees that as an opportunity to find a decent job. Interviews for jobs go well until they discover he has spent the last eight years in jail, but then one day he happens upon Darren Barrington (Timothy Spall), an ex-con himself trying to get square. He offers Barry a job in his themed restaurant and Barry can finally see a way of avoiding a life of crime and earning an honest dollar. There are a couple of minor problems. however. Barry's young brother has become involved with Chicka, seeing him. as Barry had many years earlier, as someone to look up to. Barry's best friend Johnny is also getting himself into trouble, this time it is with the new Criminal Investigation Commission who seem hell bent on not only putting Johnny behind bars but also Barry. Barry is also having trouble from the bent cop that sent him to prison. So many things happening to poor old Barry, perhaps a life of crime is the only option?
Classed as Australia's own Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, the screenplay of criminal lawyer Chris Nyst has been skilfully brought to life by director Jonathon Teplitsky. Teplitsky first came to prominence with his film Better Than Sex of which he was also the writer. For this project he has again teamed up with David Wenham, who really steals the spotlight and won an AFI Award for his performance as the bumbling drug dependant, thong wearing and mullet sporting criminal Johnny Spiteri. Teplitsky is a talented director who delivers this story of the criminal world of the Gold Coast with terrific humour and class.
The cast are all well suited with many recognisable faces such as English actor Timothy Spall (Auf Wiedersehen Pet, Vanilla Sky, The Last Samurai), Aussie icon Gary Sweet (Alexandra's Project, Stingers) along with Aussie Joe Bugner and comedian Ugly Dave Gray. Sam Worthington Bootmen, Dirty Deeds) is well cast in the lead role, but it is David Wenham (The Lord of the Rings, Better Than Sex) who steals the show here. He is so convincing in his role that many will think he is just some guy that the producers have picked up from a local methadone clinic. Not bad for a guy that began his acting career on Sons and Daughters.
The highlight of this film is the humour. Sure there are jokes, but the more humorous moments come from the natural behaviour of some of the characters, especially Johnny in his courtroom appearance where he seems more worried about getting his bus money for appearing than the possibility that he could be sent to jail. This is a truly hysterical scene and along with other scenes such as several characters facing the parole board, this film is well worth seeing. Many may argue that it is just another Aussie film in the criminal comedy genre and that this genre has been done to death in recent years in Australian cinema but Gettin' Square offers more than enough to make it worth seeing. If you like this genre and in particular films with a truly Australian feel, then give this one a go.