An Icon Film, Film Finance Corp. Australia, Mandala Films presentation of a Parkland Pictures production. (International sales: Icon, Sydney.) Produced by Michelle Harrison, John Brousek. Executive producers, John Cairns, Bjorg Veland, Mike Klein. Directed, written by Jonathan Ogilvie.
With: Hugo Weaving, Rose Byrne, Matt Le Nevez, Pia Miranda, Tyler Coppin, John Batchelor.
Dangerous affections and stylistic affectations spar endlessly, with
hardly a solid punch scored, in the dull neo-noir Oz boxing pic | The Tender Hook - Variety (2008) |
 |
 |
 |
|
Russel Doyle
"The Tender Hook." High-profile Antipodean thesps Rose Byrne ("Troy," "28 Weeks Later") and Hugo Weaving ("The Matrix"),
plus splendid lensing re-creating '20s Sydney, are wasted on a
lackluster script by helmer Jonathan Ogilvie. Big rollout Sept. 18 is
likely to reap less-than-K.O. local B.O., though ancillary viewers may
fall for the name-cast sucker punch.
Gangster's moll Iris (Byrne) enjoys the trappings of consorting with razor-wielding hoodlum McHeath (Weaving), but nevertheless casts an amorous eye on his pugilist protege, Art (Matt Le Nevez). Romantic dillydallying is supposed to be fraught with danger, but the results are limp and predictable. Hog-tied by flat, deliberately anachronistic dialogue and weak humor, actors give weak performances -- especially the elfin Pia Miranda ("Travelling Light," "Three Blind Mice"). D.p. Geoffrey Simpson's earthy tones, augmented by digital manipulation of archival footage of Jazz Age Sydney, are especially appealing. Quality score by Chris Abrahams is applied with all the finesse of a heavyweight champ knitting a sweater with gloves on.
More than one option
More than one option
|
