Barry has good intentions when he is released after 8 years in prison, but finding a job is difficult with a prison record, and he can't keep his kid brother or his friend out of crime.Barry has good intentions when he is released after 8 years in prison, but finding a job is difficult with a prison record, and he can't keep his kid brother or his friend out of crime.Barry has good intentions when he is released after 8 years in prison, but finding a job is difficult with a prison record, and he can't keep his kid brother or his friend out of crime.
- Awards
- 9 wins & 22 nominations
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe henchman with heaps of tattoos is well-known Gold Coast figure Tim Ward, the owner of several Surfers Paradise nightclubs.
- GoofsBarry's collar when talking to the policeman in the prison kitchen goes from up to down.
- Quotes
Richard Dent QC: Your full name is John Frances Spitieri?
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: So?
Richard Dent QC: Beg your pardon?
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: What?
Richard Dent QC: Your name is John Frances Spitieri?
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: Yeah.
Richard Dent QC: Thank you. And you reside...
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: Never said it wasn't.
Richard Dent QC: Sorry?
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: I never!
Richard Dent QC: Never what, Mr. Spitieri?
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: I never said it wasn't!
Richard Dent QC: Wasn't your name?
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: Oh, that's crap, it is my name!
Richard Dent QC: I didn't say it wasn't.
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: Yes you did, you said it then.
Richard Dent QC: No.
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: Yes you did.
Richard Dent QC: Look, I think we might be at cross purposes.
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: What do you mean cross? I'm not the one getting cross.
Richard Dent QC: That's all right.
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: Yous are the ones that're arking up. Going around accusing everyone of everything.
Richard Dent QC: No one has accused you of anything, Mr. Spitieri.
Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri: Yeah, well what am I doing here then, mate?
- ConnectionsFeatured in Gettin' Square: Popcorn Taxi Q&A (2004)
This is basically a classic Cockney Crime Caper, fairly old fashioned in concept but beautifully scripted and acted, and exported to Australia. Instead of the dull streets of east or south London, we are treated to the eye candy of Surfer's Paradise (and I freely admit I have no idea whether that's a real place or not) where the azure skies, blonde beaches and palm trees suggest a luxuriant, idyllic, sybaritic lifestyle. Which is a nice twist given the reality of the story-line of down on their luck ex-cons of varying intelligence levels, trying to escape their dodgy pasts. Other reviewers have outlined the story, so I won't repeat it here. It's a little clichéd in places (cute ex-con redeemed by love of a good woman, new found sense of responsibility for baby brother and amazing ability to cook lean cuisine, a skill he apparently picked up while chopping carrots in jail. I mean really?) but Getting' Square's heart's in the right place and it's entertaining and funny, and boasts a wonderful cast, including Sam Worthington, Timothy Spall, Freya Stafford and David Wenham.
David Wenham steals the show completely as Spit, the touchingly hopeless druggie. He is quite possibly the only actor around capable of making a drug addict appealing (cold sore and all) and as many others have said, the court scene is a classic, and the screwdriver and ski-mask robbery of the gas station totally cracked me up. Also not to be missed, the sight of Spit hot footing it down the street in ill-fitting briefs and flip flops. If only the junkies I've met were in such good shape! This is exactly the kind of entertaining, blackly comic movie which is not seen here in the USA, and which makes me nostalgic for British and Australian humour, which I think are pretty similar. I'm quite surprised to read some of the criticisms of this movie on IMDb. Given the standard of so much of the Hollywood dross that dominates cinema screens everywhere, you Aussies should be really glad you still have easy access to something as good as this!
Addendum: since writing this a friend has come back from Australia and informed me that Surfer's Paradise is not only a real place, but just like the movie. Perfect!
- isabelle1955
- Nov 25, 2005
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Details
Box office
- Gross worldwide
- $1,422,008
- Runtime1 hour 40 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix