Gettin' Square
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| Gettin' Square | |
|---|---|
 Australian DVD cover | |
| Directed by | Jonathan Teplitzky |
| Written by | Chris Nyst |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Garry Phillips |
| Edited by | Ken Sallows |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Hoyts Distribution (Australia) |
Release dates |
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Running time | 100 minutes[1] |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | $7.9 million[2] |
| Box office | $2.1 million[3] |
Gettin' Square is a 2003 comedy crime thriller film directed by Jonathan Teplitzky and written by Chris Nyst. An international co-production between Australia and the United Kingdom, it stars Sam Worthington, David Wenham, Freya Stafford, Gary Sweet, and Timothy Spall. It follows an ex-con who vows to go straight and make an honest man of himself, but finding a job is difficult with a criminal record.
The film had its world premiere at the 12th Brisbane International Film Festival on 29 July 2003, and was theatrically released in Australia on 9 October 2003, by Hoyts Distribution. It was a box-office bomb, grossing only $2.1 million domestically against a $7.9 million budget. However, it received widespread critical acclaim, particularly for Wenham's performance, Teplitzky's direction, and Nyst's screenplay. At the 45th Australian Film Institute Awards, it earned a leading fourteen nominations, including Best Film, with Wenham winning Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film's sequel, SPIT, is in production.[4]
Cast[edit]
- 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 as Niall Toole
- David Field as Arnie DeViers
- Luke Pegler as Joey Wirth
- Richard Carter as Craig 'Crusher' Knobes
- Mitchell Butel as Con Katsakis
- Helen Thomson as Marion Barrington
- Steven Bishop as Gordon Frame "Slippery Gordon"
- Jonathan Biggins
Plot[edit]
 | This article needs an improved plot summary. (January 2016) |
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[edit]
Andrew Dominik was approached to direct. He decided not to but strongly recommended the script to Jonathan Teplitzky.[5]
Box office[edit]
Gettin' Square grossed $2,292,587 at the box office in Australia.[6]
Home media[edit]
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 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.[7]
Awards/nominations[edit]
Australian Comedy Awards 2003[edit]
Source:[8]
Won Outstanding Comic Performance in a Feature Film - David Wenham
Nominated Outstanding Film Comedy - Squared Productions
Australian Film Institute 2003[edit]
Source:[8]
Won Best Actor in a Leading Role - David Wenham
Nominated Best Film - Martin Fabinyi, Timothy White, Trish Lake
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 - Mitchell Butel
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
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[edit]
Source:[8]
Won Best Actor - Male - David Wenham
Nominated Best Film
Nominated Best Director - Jonathan Teplitzky
Nominated Best Screenplay - Original - Chris Nyst
Nominated Best Cinematography - Garry Phillips
Nominated Best Editing - Ken Sallows
Hawaii International Film Festival 2004[edit]
Won Audience Award Best Narrative Feature - Jonathan Teplitzky[8]
IF Awards 2003[edit]
Source:[8]
Won Best Actor - David Wenham
Won Best Script - Chris Nyst
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
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Gettin' Square (2003)". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 22 March 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Gettin' Square". Ozmovies - Australian Film and Television Database. Archived from the original on 11 November 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ "TOP 5 AUSTRALIAN FEATURE FILMS EACH YEAR: RANKED BY GROSS AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE EARNED THAT YEAR, 1988–2017". Screen Australia. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Frater, Patrick (4 April 2024). "David Wenham to Star in 'SPIT,' Sequel to Australian Hit Film 'Gettin' Square'". Variety. Archived from the original on 10 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
- ^ Andrew L Urban, "TEPLITZKY, JONATHAN – GETTIN' SQUARE", Urban Cinefile,16 October 2003 accessed 4 December 2012
- ^ "Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 July 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2010.
- ^ "Umbrella Entertainment". Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2013.
- ^ a b c d e "Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
