MovieChat Forums > Gettin' Square (2003) Discussion > Come off it!

Come off it!

posted 20 years ago by sspzdiv_12
26 replies | jump to latest

This year, in my humble opinion, has not been a classic year for films. There have been some great films - Buffalo Soldiers, American Splendor, Kill Bill for example - all of which I have enjoyed tremendously. But to me, none has had the same resonance as Gettin' Square. This is a truly excellent film that deserves more than a frigging 5.9. It is occasionally uneven, but with so many wonderful elements - the cinematography, the acting (esp. Wenham's, as you're all aware no doubt), a cracker of a story - we should be encouragaing this kind of Australian filmmaking, not f**king slamming it on the imdb. And the worst part is, the overall 5.9 vote comes largely from Australian imdb users. I think it was Dick Johnson who said it best at Bathurst a few years back: "You're a pack of arseholes!". The imdb is a service which enables anyone in the world with even the faintest interest in movies to explore and learn more about the film industry. We should be promoting our own stuff to these people, guys - let them know that we are capable of more than just providing a home to the Matrix, or squeezing out turds like Ned Kelly which have a distintively American smell anyway.

[–] Fibo112358 20 years ago

A couple of things are skewing the numbers. The weighted average right now (with 85 votes) is 6.0, while the *raw* average is actually about 7.9. So, if you look at the raw average, it doesn't rate so bad after all. The trouble is most people will see the 6.0 and move on.

And if I remember correctly, only regular voters get their votes counted. I don't know if the non-regular voters' votes are included in the 85 - that may be part of the weighted average formula.

I have the opportunity of seeing it tomorrow night. Still haven't decided if I'll go, but what I've read here is edging me closer to going. Cheers.

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[–] sspzdiv_12 20 years ago

Ha. Thanks for pointing out the Bathurst discrepancy. And yeah, I know Gregor Jordan did both Buffalo Soldiers and Ned Kelly. Two totally different films - though both tried to depict outlaws in a rigid society (man this sounds like such bulls**t), only Buffalo Soldiers was as rebellious a film as it's subject matter. Read the book by the way.

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[–] Mr_Noir 20 years ago

www.ezydvd.com.au

dont expect it out for a couple of months tho

"Jules, you give that f*ckin nimrod $1500 and I'll shoot him on general principle"

[–] NickBee 20 years ago

Also, try http://www.fbo.com.au/ - they do pre-order discounts sometimes.

[–] jack_the_brat 20 years ago

this movie deserved far better than the shallow reviews it recieved. What a brilliant performance by David Wenham. It reflects how great Aussie movies are and how they need to be appreciated.

[–] totalfunk 20 years ago

I'm not prepared to wave the flag of nationalism just to make people watch a weak movie such as Gettin' Square. David Wenham was brilliant. That's it. Sam Worthington, Gary Sweet and Freya Stafford aren't made for movies and they didn't make any of it work. Oh yeah, Joe Bugner should have been in it more....

[–] HULK-SMASH 20 years ago

The only good thing about this movie is Joe Bugner wasn't in it more. Totally agree though...Australian Film is p*ss-poor, I'm sad to say. Yet we keep on blindly pretending we like mediocre (at best) film's like 'Bad Eggs', the okay 'Dirty Deeds' and the pathetic 'The Hard Word'. We're shooting ourselves in the foot accepting these lazy at-best efforts, as the same morons will keep getting the money to make more of the same crap if we don't demand better.

It's getting harder and harder to think of a decent recent aussie film. 'Idiot Box' and 'Chopper' come to mind: but that was a while ago.

......................
You know, for kids

[–] stevo19 18 years ago

So , have you yet changed your mind about Aussie Films. You have to admit that they are raw and true to Aussie Culture... not just plastic paranoia and computer graphics like half of the overdramatised crap that comes out of "Hollywood". Do you want to follow the footsteps of the Yanks forever, or would you rather get yourself a little bit of individual identity and reality ???

Aussie movies are for real , what you see is what you get !

[–] mrhysterium 20 years ago

I thought Sam Worthington was really good. I didn't care for Gary Sweet's performance.

I really enjoyed 'Gettin Square'. Although the aussie humor was a bit overplayed at times (Timothy Spall's wife), the jokes were still well timed and delivered. I loved the plot twists & the thinking that went behind the ending (double-crossing). David Wenham's character did have a brain after all.

Good flick.

-Brando-

[–] jeffscsr 14 years ago

Sam Worthington, Gary Sweet and Freya Stafford aren't made for movies

lol pretty funny to see that worthington comment now
______________________
Eric C 4 Prez

[–] 1906 20 years ago

Just to be pedantic; Jim Richards actually said that the crowd was a "pack of assholes" because he had just won Bathurst in a RE32 (a Japanese car), booed by many pro-'australian' car devotees (if you can call Holden and Ford Australian)

ANYWAY, I just found it amusing that you invoke this little bit of trivia as a rallying call to the aid of the Australian Film industry, because I believe Jim actually said what he did in frustration that Australians were not able to look beyond our own shore, and were perhaps too nationalistic.

Like I said, just being pedantic.

[–] Beachhead 19 years ago

Being even more pedantic old son he said "pack of *beep* not *beep*
I never heard him refer to anyone as a "Donkey's bum"!

Cheers,
BEACH

[–] TheMagpie 19 years ago

I totally agree. The reason I loved Gettin' Square was that it was story told about Aussie characters in an Aussie way, rather than the generic crap that over 70% of Aussie films come out with these days.

The whole cast did a great job, and I would easily rate David Wenham's performance in the inquest scene one of the funniest scenes in all movies.

Aussie film makers should take a good look at films like this, Two Hands, Crocodile Dundee, Mad Max if they want to learn how to make a good Aussie movie.

BTW, it was Jim Richards who made the Bathurst comment, after he controversially beat Dick Johnson in the 1992 (I think) Bathurst 1000.

[–] gertbeefrobe 19 years ago

it was a good movie and aus should promote these honest movies instead of TAKE-AWAY and generic crap

[–] nireland 18 years ago

I'm with TheMagpie, David Wenham's performance in the court scene was the funniest thing I've seen in years. In one of the interviews on the DVD the director (I think), said not one word of the the script for this scene changed from writer Chris Nyst's original. Apparently Nyst based it on a similar real-life scene from his other life as a criminal lawyer.

This film was so true to character, even when it went a little over the top. I lived in Queensland for 30-odd years and knew (or knew of) people like those in the film. Having lived overseas for three years now, I got quite homesick, because it was so quintessentially Aussie.

I liked the film overall, but felt it didn't quite add up to the sum of its excellent parts.

[–] weir75 19 years ago

Aussie films at the moment may be struggling a bit, however it only takes a great Aussie film like Gettin' square to remind us that there is a bit of talent in this country when it comes to films.

This great aussie movie had a good plot, funny characters, and some good twists, i think the problem that most people have when it comes to judging Australian movies is that they compare them to America too much.

If people stopped worrying about how crap they think this movie is in comparison to overseas films, and instead stopped to appreciate the good talent that comes out of this country then i think we would have a much stronger film industry.

Gettin' square joins a few of my favourite Aussie films such as chopper & Crocodile Dundee, and is definatly worth seeing.

[–] StillThePrettiest 19 years ago

I'll add my two cents and say: I think this was a brilliant film; not without flaws, but they were so minor, and so eclipsed by all that was good about it... a good story, well told; great acting, and of course the star turn by David Wenham... I wish this had had a wider release; I saw it in the cinema while still living in Australia; after recently moving to London and trying to find a copy to show to friends do you think I can find it anywhere? not a chance... no one's ever heard of it, and it's frustrating, to say the least
at this point I think I will have to resort to an International Order from an Aussie DVD website, but it's pretty poor that no one in the whole UK seems able to get hold of a copy for me; perhaps it didn't even have a Region 2 release, which is even worse

I think Gettin' Square was MILES better than Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, to which it is often compared, and yet the latter is known the world over... spread the word, whether Aussie or not
this is a good film, and and enjoyable one
DEFINITELY worth a look, and a laugh
for the courtroom scene alone ;)

[–] stevo19 18 years ago

Like I said before....

Do you want to follow the footsteps of the Yanks forever, or would you rather get yourself a little bit of individual identity and reality ???

Aussie movies are for real , what you see is what you get !

If you don't like Aussie films , then get a nip, tuck, and a face lift , and join the rest of the fake plastic crowd over in Hollywood !

It really is as simple as that...

[–] ulysses10 18 years ago

Right on Stevo19!!!

Gettin' Square is one of THE best Aussie flicks here, best filmmaking, story line, its UNREAL!!! ........but the thing is, it is real!!

the writer is Chris Nyst (spelling..) he's Brendon THE POSTCARD BANDIT Abbot's lawyer n' he practis's on the Gold Coast, this film is stuff that he's encounterd through his work!!

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[–] ulysses10 18 years ago

[–] worst_trip 17 years ago

The film is freely available in the UK at the moment - just type

"Gettin' Square DVD"

into the search line on Ebay.

Hope this helps.