When I was contacted about reviewing The Square, I did what I always did when asked to review a film I hadn’t heard of; I googled the film to check out the trailer.  While I enjoyed the trailer, I have to admit it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me. It seemed like the same film, which had been done many times before. Man cheats on wife, man intends to leave wife with his mistress after a heist, and heist goes exceedingly wrong.

That’s the world we live in today, with film trailers. We are constantly inundated with the best parts of the film, before we even buy a ticket. As a personal rule, I really don’t like to watch trailers for films that I intend on seeing, or are looking forward to. I might check out a teaser, but anything over 2 minutes, which could possible give up too much of the story is off limits.

But here is where The Square is different. The trailer in my opinion doesn’t even get close to scratching the surface of what a great films this is.  While it does layout the basics of the plot and story, it leaves out the heart and soul of The Square; which is the style and writing of the film. I feel these two things are what really set this film apart, and seriously make it worth checking out.

In a rather unique bit of marketing, the film opens with a short by the same director Nash Edgerton called Spider. I challenge you to watch that instead of the trailer, and make your decision based on that. When I watched the short I was hooked. It was so dark, and for such a short film really resonated with me, and left a lasting impression. I will be embedding that short at the end of the review, please be aware it is pretty violent, and a bit disturbing as well. So check the cubicle next to you before hitting play.
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I am a huge fan of moral tales, and The Square is a very well written and stylish one in the tradition of Tales from the Crypt. The Square is an Australian film written by Joel Edgerton and directed by his director, and sometimes stuntman brother Nash.  Fun fact; Nash was not only Ewan Mcgregor’s stunt double on Episodes 2 and 3, but also worked stunts on the all the Matrix films as well.

The Story of The Square focuses on Raymond Yale, a crooked construction foreman who is not only cheating on his wife, with the much younger, and very troubled hairdresser Carla; but also taking kickbacks at the job as well. Carla lives across the river from Ray, and just so happens to be married one of the town’s main low-level mobsters. Carla like Ray, is unhappy with her marriage. But while Ray is happy with hotel meetings in the middle of the day, Carla wants a real relationship, and is obsessed with running away with Ray and starting their lives over.

One day after coming home from the salon early, Carla happens to come upon her husband, who is suspiciously hiding a bag in their ceiling. When Carla investigates the bag, she finds it full of obviously ill-gotten funds. Carla then tells Ray about the money, and convinces him to steal the money, and arrange to burn the house down to cover their tracks. This way the husband thinks the money went up with the house.

The epic plan’s first snag is Carla’s Mother-In-Law just so happens to be asleep in house, when the guy they hired to set it on fire does so. She is burned to death, and the plan, and the lives around those that hatched it begin to slowly unravel into a web of murder, greed and betrayal. The writing here begins to really shine because quite honestly I couldn’t guess what would happen next, not only that I found characters making choices that were not so stereotypical of their character’s traditional path in a film. I found the characters much more multidimensional than one would expect from a film that centers on adultery.

The acting in this film is rock solid. I do think the fact that it is an Australian film, and we wouldn’t recognize most of the stars in this really adds a bit of realism to it. Because I personally always find it easier to get into a story when I am not complete focused on the Actor’s performance in this role, as compared to what they did in their last role.  David Robert’s performance as Raymond Yale is the shoulders where the film rests, and he does it without breaking a sweat. David some how takes a character that we should have no sympathy for, and not only makes him sympathetic but makes him the tragic hero we are waiting to watch fall.

The cinematography and the film’s look deeply mirrors the writing, dark, gritty and well done. While this could easily be over done, they balance it exceedingly well between the darker nighttime scenes and the well lit day. The film is very well shot, and one thing I have to say is the Aussies know how to shoot a car chase. For some reason ever since Mad Max, they just shoot a really compelling car chase. They seem to know the perfect angles to give the chase that visceral feel. The action scenes are very well done was well, they are shot just at the proper angle to bring you into the action.

Overall I really enjoyed The Square, I thought for a film about an adulterous affair it was downright flawless. I really thought it was just a very well written, well shot film altogether. I think the acting was just spot on the entire film and I can’t suggest this film enough. It’s different going into a film knowing its going to be good, but I really enjoy the films that are surprises and The Square is a very pleasant one. Overall I have to give it four and a half stars. THE SQUARE will be included in the

Philadelphia Film Festival’s Spring Preview on April 9th followed by a q and a with Director Noel Edgerton. The film is set to open in Philadelphia on April 23rd,.