The Square
The Square follows in the well-worn footsteps of classic noir, and, like its predecessors Blood Simple and Shallow Grave, it knows the giddy thrill of throwing forbidden love and easy money at men until they destroy themselves.
Even though it's a first feature, The Square is an assured enough debut to avoid beating the audience silly with explanations. Despite an intrusive soundtrack and some theatreish performances, the film settles into a long groove of slow-burn tension with fast, violent punctuation. It certainly doesn't need its occasional (and particularly jarring) dream sequences for extra punch. Most effective is its take on the ‘Australian Dream': building sites, suburban parties, ever-laconic tough guys, and surreal 30-degree-plus Christmas days, all perfectly played.
You do something wrong, and cover it up by doing something worse; and again; and again; until you've fallen so far that there's no way back to the life you once had. The Square lets you watch each domino fall. You won't feel any paradigms shift, but it's exactly the kind of solidly engaging film our industry needs.
Format: Cinema
Mood: Make a therapy appointment now
Keywords: Noir, Australian
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