Two Hands (1999)

67% of critics liked it
(6 reviews)
79% of users liked it
(7,113 ratings)

Action and comedy are served in equal portions in this Australian crime thriller. Jimmy (Heath Ledger) is a 19-year-old living in Sydney who is somehow asked to run an errand for local underworld kingpin Pando (Bryan Brown). Before Jimmy knows what's happened, he owes Pando $10,000, and finds the… More Action and comedy are served in equal portions in this Australian crime thriller. Jimmy (Heath Ledger) is a 19-year-old living in Sydney who is somehow asked to run an errand for local underworld kingpin Pando (Bryan Brown). Before Jimmy knows what's happened, he owes Pando $10,000, and finds the gangster's muscle men are out for his blood. Jimmy attempts to stage a bank robbery to recover the loot, with disastrous results; when he has a spare moment, he tries to win the heart of Alex (Rose Byrne), a pretty girl from the country. This slam-bang entertainment was an uncharacteristic entry in the 1999 Sundance Film Festival, where it received its U.S. premiere. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 44 min.
Directed By: Gregor Jordan
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 22, 1999 Wide
On DVD: Dec 6, 2005

Critic Reviews

Scott Weinberg, DVDTalk.com
Boasts Jordan's slick and efficient filmmaking, two excellent performances by Ledger and Brown, and that always-welcome air of offbeat Aussie attitude.
Joel Meares, Filmcritic.com
Jordan, here in his firecracker of a debut, has created a fast moving, and ultimately genuinely moving film.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
From the film's first moments on, blind luck, fortuitous flukes, and a ton of irony add up to a dark comedy of violent proportions.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
It may be routine, but it is never dull.
Michael Szymanski, International Press Academy
It's worth watching to see Heath before his super-fame, but be prepared for unbridled brutality.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
I'll give the film its props for having a lot of pep and for being quirky.

Read all 6 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Craig S

Directed by: Gregor Jordan. Starring: Heath Ledger, Rose Byrne, Bryan Brown, David Field. << "Something that's good can still have a little bit of bad in it, and something… More
Directed by: Gregor Jordan. Starring: Heath Ledger, Rose Byrne, Bryan Brown, David Field. << "Something that's good can still have a little bit of bad in it, and something that's bad still has a little bit of good." >> The story follows a young australian who wants to do anything that involves using his hands, he just doesn't know what yet. He soon meets a young girl and falls for her, but not before he takes a job for a local gangster and ends up messing it up by losing the money. Of course the main reason I wanted to finally get this out was because of Heath Ledger. Watching him grow after every performance and following The Dark Knight everywhere it has gone in production, I was shattered to see Heath pass so suddenly and made sure I saw every film he has made...and this one is certainly his step away from the teenage genre. It is reasonably by the numbers, no doubt about that, man gets into the wrong business, messes up and is on the run from this crowd, all while trying to fix what he has done...but why try and be original when Two Hands has everything else going for it? Gregor Jordan really came out of nowhere with this film. Highly influenced by many gritty crime classics, he has crafted a fast paced, brilliantly quirky and witty thriller that is never bogged down by its formulaic plot, he directs with too much flair to allow that. Alongside Gregors tight writing and sharp direction is a pair of brilliant performances. Heath started out before this with such teen 'classics' as 10 Things I Hate About You and minor roles on Aussie television, he really stepped out of his pretty boy persona with this role that really showed his star quality...I think intentionally he was wooden for the first 1/3, but the final hour really showed his dedication and control. Bryan Brown is the other who delivers a gritty and quirky performance as the 'gangster', a performance reminisint of Vinnie Jones or Jason Statham in Lock Stock...and I'll be fair and mention Rose Byrne. A brilliant actress now, her performance here is acceptable and shows potential, but is just a tad to weak and over the top. Two Hands really impressed me. As much as it is the same plot as so many other crime classics, it blasts through with a fast pace, brilliant direction that is both quirky and gritty and some top notch performances. A load of fun...just don't expect a masterpiece.
Aaron N

Pando: Give em' ya fucking keys. Acko: He's not taking my fucking car! Pando: It's only gonna take twenty minutes, he needs a car, so give em ya fucking keys. Acko: I just got the gearbox fixed. Pando: Good, that means it works, now give em ya fucking keys. Heath… More
Pando: Give em' ya fucking keys. Acko: He's not taking my fucking car! Pando: It's only gonna take twenty minutes, he needs a car, so give em ya fucking keys. Acko: I just got the gearbox fixed. Pando: Good, that means it works, now give em ya fucking keys. Heath Ledger stars in this low budget Australian crime comedy thriller involving some bad sequences of events for a young man seeking something to do with himself. Ledger is Jimmy, a strip club bouncer in Sydney who tries to get involved with a local big time drug dealer, only to lose the money he was supposed to deliver and forced to delve into the criminal underworld to get it back. It's a very simple story, that has been clearly influenced by films like Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. That doesn't mean its not good though. Ledger and Brown, the drug dealer, are very good in their roles. It is Ledger that has to hold this film together, and he does a great job at it, combing his charm, good looks, and good senses to his character. Its very briskly paced, with some inventive scenes, as well as some subtext involving fate that make this a fun flick. Pando: You loaded your gun with old fucking bullets you put through the fucking wash?
Dean M

Great stylish, plot-twisting crime caper, it was the major breakthrough for Heath Ledger.
Cameron J

It has its out-of-the-ordinary moments, but is predominantly onbeat. Nevertheless, the film is engaging and shines with some good dialogue, a good soundtrack, strong characters (except for those kids, I hated those kids) and excellent acting, especially from Ledger. Ultimately,… More
It has its out-of-the-ordinary moments, but is predominantly onbeat. Nevertheless, the film is engaging and shines with some good dialogue, a good soundtrack, strong characters (except for those kids, I hated those kids) and excellent acting, especially from Ledger. Ultimately, "Two Hands" isn't the most original, but remains entertaining and engaging, as well as a solid leading man debut for the late, great Heath Ledger.
Naughtia N

In this movie you get to see Heath Ledger in his early career, he starred in this movie right after big breakthrough in '10 Things I Hate About You'. This movie is, just as Heath himself, Australian and it's very good to see a movie where he speaks with an accent,… More
In this movie you get to see Heath Ledger in his early career, he starred in this movie right after big breakthrough in '10 Things I Hate About You'. This movie is, just as Heath himself, Australian and it's very good to see a movie where he speaks with an accent, I've never actually heard him speak with such a strong Australian accent before. Heath Ledger stars as this 19 year old guy who is in debt to a local gangster. The movie was good and had a bit more violence than I had expected. I liked Heath Ledger's part in this movie and I thought he played it very well. Its so sad to think that this talented actor has passed away.
Robert F

Ranging from the cast's diverse appeal to the film's bright cinematography, Two Hands is a breath of fresh air for the Australian film industry.