Unfair and Square

It's difficult to pull off good film noir and, nowadays, most don't even attempt it. But Aussie Nash Edgerton has taken a stab at it, and he has succeeded in his quest. "The Square" contains all of the required elements of the genre. It is a stylish crime drama that features sex as a motivator and cynicism everywhere.

It's Christmas, and a construction site for a future honeymoon resort serves as the center of the action. Ray (David Roberts) is the site supervisor and he is the one that sets all of the problems in motion. The other half of the equation is Carla (Claire Van Der Boom).

They are cheating on their respective spouses with one another. Carla's guy is Smithy (Anthony Hayes). Smithy is a petty criminal and not the brightest star in this solar system, but he's got some hidden ill-gotten cash. It's not hard to figure out what happens next. Their master plan of thievery and running off goes horribly awry.  Could it have turned out any other way?

The only piece missing is the searing passion between Ray and Carla. Instead of being driven by blinding lust, the feeling is that it's boredom and circumstance that is driving them toward their fateful end. It's a minor complaint because Edgerton keeps the action tight and all of the performances are played beautifully. If you enjoy good noir, "The Square" is definitely worth your time.

As a bonus, "The Spider", a short by Edgerton, will reportedly be shown before the feature. Clocking in at nine minutes in length, it alone is worth the price of admission.