Gettin' Square

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.

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 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
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.

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 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.

Box office
According to the Motion Picture Distributors Association of Australia, Gettin' Square grossed $2,137,749, becoming the fifth highest-grossing film of 2003 in Australia. The Film Victoria reported that it made $2,292,587.

Critical response
David Stratton of Variety described the film as "a cleverly scripted, very Australian crime comedy" and "a feel-good combination of suspense and laughs distinguished by superb performances." Stratton also wrote, "Although the situations in the script are not new, Chris Nyst's characters and salty dialogue add freshness and energy."

Frank Hatherley of Screen Daily stated, "Teplitzky keeps the action flowing, jolting his audience with odd angles and never-still camera movements." Hatherley also noted, "The cast are excellent, revelling in Nyst's free-flowing comic dialogue, modern Aussie slang effortlessly raised to a street smart poetry. But it's David Wenham who makes the biggest impression," and called his performance "brilliant, career-enhancing."

Paul Byrnes of The Sydney Morning Herald commented, "The script works best when it's ruled by character, probably because Nyst knows the people he's writing about. When plot becomes more important, the film becomes just another crime movie."

The critic from The Age gave Gettin' Square 2.5 out of 5 stars and opined, "The film becomes overwhelmed by the narrative web of who is doing what to whom, the focus being on plot rather than pace. And while Worthington's character Barry is meant to be the lead, the film lacks sufficient focus on a central character arc."

Luke Buckmaster of The Guardian highlighted Wenham's "unmissable performance," writing that "Gettin' Square marks a rare comedic turn from Wenham and a performance so good it generated a loyal band of appreciators for whom his character's name, Johnny "Spit" Spitieri, will be forever synonymous with gales of laughter and highly quotable lines."

Accolades
Source:
 * Australian Comedy Awards 2003

Won Outstanding Comic Performance in a Feature Film - David Wenham

Nominated Outstanding Film Comedy - Squared Productions

Source:
 * Australian Film Institute 2003

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

Source:
 * 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 - Chris Nyst

Nominated Best Cinematography - Garry Phillips

Nominated Best Editing - Ken Sallows

Won Audience Award Best Narrative Feature - Jonathan Teplitzky
 * Hawaii International Film Festival 2004

Source:
 * IF Awards 2003

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