The Hard Word (2003) Movie Review

The Hard Word (2003) Movie Credits:

bettyjotucker's score:
3.5 out of 5

Average Score

based on 0 ratings

No-one wants to see this movie.

Report bad or inappropriate content

The Hard Word (2003) U.S. Cinema Release Date:

27^th Jun 2003

The Hard Word (2003) U.K. Cinema Release Date:

12^th Sep 2003

Visit our Movie Information Page for The Hard Word (2003)!

Add a review for this movie:

This Week's US Cinema Releases:

This Week's UK Cinema Releases:

The Hard Word (2003) Synopsis:

Three prisoners are about to be released on bail--Dale, Mal and Shane--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. Keeping the wheels of crime turning is their long-time criminal lawyer, Frank Malone, who combines flashy arrogance with a complete disregard for the proper process of the law. Frank's network of contacts enables him to play the brothers and the system to perfection. But success has clearly gone to his head when he starts screwing Dale's wife, Carol. Dazzled by her physical attractiveness, Frank has severely underestimated the brain beneath the blonde hair. Carol is one of life's greatest operators and she is determined to get what's hers. The brothers are out on bail, only long enough to do one job before they are back behind bars because of a problem with the "paperwork." Of course Frank will get them out of jail, but there's a catch. They must do a really big job--if it is to be their last. Dale's festering suspicion about Frank's motives, and a severe bout with food poisoning, create an impossible situation leading up to a multi-million dollar heist. The job is to take place in Melbourne. To the displeasure of the three brothers, Frank has lined-up some local criminals to work with them. Up against the wall and with no way out, the guys proceed with the ambitious robbery, despite some dark misgivings. When it all goes wrong, the brothers discover the full extent of Frank's treachery as they make a desperate escape from the surrounding havoc. Breaking free of Melbourne in a hijacked car, the brothers have plenty of time to think as they drive the long road back to Sydney. Although they have the money, they know Frank will not be far behind. And he isn't--and neither is Carol.

The Hard Word (2003) Review:

Who doesn�t enjoy a good �heist-gone-bad� flick? That�s why there are so many of them. �The Hard Word� represents Australia�s take on this genre -- with a bit of The Three Stooges thrown in for good measure. It�s about the Twentymen gang, robbers who don�t have to worry about shooting straight -- the guns they carry aren�t loaded. �No one gets hurt,� is their guiding principle.

Dale (Guy Pearce), the leader of the gang, can�t help worrying about how much they should trust Frank (Robert Taylor), their slick, well-dressed lawyer. He�s the one who sets up the gang�s action, then manages to bail the guys out so they can pull off more of his gigs. And he just might be having an affair with Dale�s sexy wife (Rachel Griffiths). Shane (Joel Edgerton) works out compulsively and wants to be called �Muscles.� Mal (Damien Richardson) knows his stuff when it comes to being a butcher, but he�s a real klutz as a robber.

When Frank involves the Twentymen in a job involving a daring heist from big-time race-track bookies, everything goes wrong. People get killed in a bloody shoot-out; the gang goes on the run; betrayals are discovered. Can the Twentymen still live happily ever after? Not if Frank has his way.

Although quirky enough to hold my interest throughout, �The Hard Word� disturbed me during its light-hearted treatment of cannibalism. (Watch out for those sausages!) I also thought Pearce�s changed appearance seemed unnecessary. Like Nicole Kidman in �The Hours,� Pearce sports a prosthethic nose that completely altered his looks. Come to think of it, this actor frequently displays his chameleonic ability. When I interviewed him concerning �L.A. Confidential,� Pearce looked nothing like the uptight detective he played in that movie. His spiked hair and leather jacket gave off rock star, not movie star, vibes. And in �The Count of Monte Cristo,� Pearce morphed into a physically dissipated villain. Obviously, this superb actor needs no prosthetic devices to undergo dramatic changes.

On the other hand, Griffiths (�The Rookie�) is also almost unrecognizable in �The Hard Word,� and that didn�t bother me. This time out, she�s a sensual blonde �femme fatale� with a few surprises for everyone. And she�s terrific, as usual. Her smoldering eye-contact, suggestive costumes, and torchy vocal inflections create a character whose roots lie in those wonderful old film noirs like �Double Indemnity.�

Although not as well-made as similar heist movies like �The Score,� �The Hard Word� features enough originality and excellent performances to merit a look-see, especially from fans of this particular genre.