''Gettin' Square'' is a 2003 crime caper movie set on Australia's Gold Coast and directed by Jonathan Teplitzky. The protagonists are ex-criminals trying to keep out of trouble. ''Gettin' Square'' won nominations at several Australian ceremonies including the AFI Awards, Inside Film Awards, Australian Comedy Awards, and Critics Circle Awards. Wenham's performance as Spitieri saw him win the Best Actor category in every major Australian film award through 2003. Chris Nyst has also written and directed another feature film, ''

Crooked Business ''Crooked Business'' is a feature film by Chris Nyst, a criminal lawyer. It is a comedy of errors set in Australia's Gold Coast. It opened in Australia on 15 October 2008. Plot The movie stars small-time hustler Elmo, and his best friend 'Stand- ...

'', which was released in 2008.

Cast

* Sam Worthington as Barry 'Wattsy' Wirth, a man recently paroled after serving time for a crime he did not commit. * David Wenham as Johnny Francis 'Spit' Spitieri, a small-time criminal and friend of Barry's. * Timothy Spall as Darren 'Dabba' Barrington * Freya Stafford as Annie Flynn * Gary Sweet as Chicka Martin *

David Roberts David or Dave Roberts may refer to: Arts and literature * David Roberts (painter) (1796–1864), Scottish painter * David Roberts (art collector), Scottish contemporary art collector * David Roberts (novelist), English editor and mystery writer ...

as Niall Toole * David Field as Arnie DeViers * Luke Pegler as Joey Wirth * Richard Carter as Craig 'Crusher' Knobes *

Mitchell Butel Mitchell Patrick Butel (born 10 February 1970) is an Australian actor, singer, director and writer. He is best known for his work in theatre, including musical and opera productions. He has been the artistic director of the State Theatre Compa ...

as Con Katsakis *

Helen Thomson Helen MacLeod Thomson is a former member of the Yolo County Board of Supervisors and a former Democratic assemblywoman from California's 8th Assembly district. Thomson was first elected to the assembly in 1996 and served three two-year terms. ...

as Marion Barrington

Plot

Barry Wirth ( Sam Worthington) is a retired small-time criminal who is released on parole following the death of his mother, so that he can care for his younger brother, Joey ( Luke Pegler). Wirth was falsely convicted for murder by corrupt police detective Arnie DeViers ( David Field (actor)), who is in the employ of criminal kingpin Chicka Martin ( Gary Sweet). Shortly after Wirth is released, a corrupt accountant is arrested and his records seized, causing difficulties for Wirth's new employer, Darren "Dabba" Barrington ( Timothy Spall), an ex criminal turned restaurateur whose money is seized along with that of Chicka. Wirth's friend Johnny "Spit" Spitieri ( David Wenham), a heroin addict and small-time criminal, is arrested while conducting a drug deal and finds himself owing twenty thousand dollars to Chicka. DeViers continues to harass and threaten Wirth, even as the latter finds success as a chef in Dabba's restaurant. Despite his best efforts to remain clean, Wirth finds himself under increasing pressure to return to his criminal ways in order to help both Dabba and Spit.

Production

Andrew Dominik was approached to direct. He decided not to but strongly recommended the script to Jonathan Teplitzky.

Box office

''Gettin' Square'' grossed $2,292,587 at the box office in Australia.

Home media

''Gettin' Square'' was first released on DVD by Columbia Tristar in 2003. The DVD is compatible with region 4 and includes special features such as deleted scenes, a

Popcorn Taxi Popcorn Taxi was an Australian independent non-competitive film festival that presented regular film screenings followed by a live Q&A with related 'talent' immediately afterward. The unique nature of each screening was that the events provide pat ...

Q&A, interviews with Jonathan Teplitzky, Chris Nyst, Timothy Spall, David Wenham, and audio commentary with Jonathan Teplitzky and Chris Nyst.It was re-released by Umbrella Entertainment in September 2011.

Awards/nominations

Australian Comedy Awards 2003

Won Outstanding Comic Performance in a Feature Film - David Wenham Nominated Outstanding Film Comedy - Squared Productions

Australian Film Institute 2003

Won Best Actor in a Leading Role - David Wenham Nominated Best Film -

Martin Fabinyi Martin Fabinyi is an Australian film and television producer and director, songwriter and music label owner and has written books on the local rock music scene. He was the chief executive officer of Mushroom Pictures from its formation in 1993 ...

, Timothy White,

Trish Lake Trish Lake is an Australian producer of feature films and documentaries and former ABC TV journalist. Among her works are ''Gettin' Square ''(2003)'', The Burning Season (2008 film), The Burning Season ''(2008) and ''Frackman'' (2015). She is the ...

Nominated Best Direction - Jonathan Teplitzky Nominated Best Actor in a Leading Role - Timothy Spall Nominated Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Helen Thomson Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role -

Nominated Best Actor in a Supporting Role - David Field Nominated Best Production Design - Nicholas McCallum Nominated Best Cinematography - Garry Phillips Won Best Original Music Score - Chit Chat von Loopin Stab and 3KShort Nominated Best Screenplay, Original -

Chris Nyst Chris Nyst (born November 1953) is an Australian solicitor and crime fiction writer. Legal career Nyst attended the University of Queensland and was awarded a Law Degree and in 1977 he was admitted as a solicitor in the Queensland Supreme C ...

Nominated Best Editing - Ken Sallows Nominated Best Sound - John Schiefelbein, Antony Gray, Ian McLoughlin Nominated Best Costume Design - Jackline Sassine

Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards 2003

Won Best Actor - Male - David Wenham Nominated Best Film Nominated Best Director - Jonathan Teplitzky Nominated Best Screenplay - Original -

Nominated Best Cinematography - Garry Phillips Nominated Best Editing - Ken Sallows

Hawaii International Film Festival 2004

Won Audience Award Best Narrative Feature - Jonathan Teplitzky

IF Awards 2003

Won Best Actor - David Wenham Won Best Script -

Won Best Editing - Ken Sallows Won Best Music Won Best Sound - John Schiefelbein, Antony Gray, Ian McLoughlin Nominated Best Feature Film Nominated Best Direction - Jonathan Teplitzky Nominated Best Cinematography - Garry Phillips

References

External links

Review at SMH.com.au
* *
Gettin' Square at the National Film and Sound Archive
{{Jonathan Teplitzky 2003 films 2000s crime comedy-drama films 2000s heist films Australian crime comedy-drama films Australian heist films Films set in Queensland Films shot in Brisbane 2003 drama films Films directed by Jonathan Teplitzky 2000s English-language films