The Hard Word (2002)
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40% of critics liked it
(82 reviews) -
42% of users liked it
(2,029 ratings)
Three brothers who would argue that crime does pay have a hard time getting their fair share of the proceeds in this witty action thriller from Australia. Dale Twentyman (Guy Pearce) and his brothers, Mal (Damien Richardson) and Shane (Joel Edgerton), are serving time together in prison for robbery.… More Three brothers who would argue that crime does pay have a hard time getting their fair share of the proceeds in this witty action thriller from Australia. Dale Twentyman (Guy Pearce) and his brothers, Mal (Damien Richardson) and Shane (Joel Edgerton), are serving time together in prison for robbery. Dale is the brains and the cool head of the group, Mal is the eager-to-please nice guy, and Shane is something of a loose cannon. Dale and his siblings are eager to get out of jail, and their lawyer, Frank Malone (Robert Taylor), has pulled a deal that could pare some time off their sentences, though the arrangement is strictly off the books. Mick Kelly (Vince Colosimo) and Jack O'Riordan (Paul Sonkkila) are a pair of crooked police detectives who have arranged with Malone to give the Twentyman brothers day passes from jail in order to pull bank robberies, with the siblings' share held in escrow until they're released. Dale thinks something a bit off in this operation, and his suspicions are confirmed when Malone tells the brothers after they're granted their early release that they won't get their money until they pull one last job -- an ambitious robbery at a Melbourne race track on the day of the nation's biggest horse race. Dale is convinced he smells a rat -- especially since he has good reason to suspect that Malone is having an affair with his wife, Carol (Rachel Griffiths). The Hard Word marked the directorial debut for writer/director Scott Roberts. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Directed By
- Scott Roberts, Scott Roberts (II)
- Written By
- Scott Roberts
- Genres
- Drama, Action & Adventure, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy
R,
- In Theaters
- Jun 13, 2003 Wide
- Studio
- Lions Gate Distribution
Critic Reviews
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Bill Muller, Arizona Republic
It is at most a middling effort.
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Michael Booth, Denver Post
The movie-jaded will dismiss The Hard Word as just another slick heist flick with a band of burglar buddies. Too bad for their cynical souls. They'll be missing a grand (theft) time.
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Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
Roberts stuffs the film with clever twists that keep us one step behind the plot, which is where you want to be in a heist picture.
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Tom Maurstad, Dallas Morning News
Just when you think you've got it all figured out, there's another disorienting jolt.
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Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune
'Amiable' is an odd way to describe a crime drama that contains wall-spattering amounts of bloodshed, but it fits The Hard Word.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Guy Pearce
as Dale Twentyman
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Rachel Griffiths
as Carol Twentyman
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Robert Taylor
as Frank Malone
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Joel Edgerton
as Shane Twentyman
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Damien Richardson
as Mal Twentyman
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Rhondda Findleton
as Jane Moore
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Kate Atkinson
as Pamela
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Vince Colosimo
as Det. Mick Kelly
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Paul Sonkkila
as Det. Jack O'Riordan
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Kim Gyngell
as Paul
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Dorian Nkono
as Tarzan
- Dorian Nikona
- Kym Gyngell
- Stephen Whittaker
