Two Hands (1999)

Director:

Gregor Jordan

Writer:

Gregor Jordan (writer)

Release Date:

29 July 1999 (Australia)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

It seemed simple. Just deliver the cash.

Plot:

A 19 year old (Heath Ledger) finds himself in debt to a local gangster (Bryan Brown) when some gang loot disappears and sets him on the run from thugs...

Plot Keywords:

Gangster | Shopping Spree | Heavy Rain | Kicked In The Crotch | Swimming

Awards:

15 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Heath Ledger	...	Jimmy
Bryan Brown	...	Pando
David Field	...	Acko
Tom Long	...	Wally
Tony Forrow	...	Eddie
Steven Vidler	...	The Man (as Steve Vidler)
Dale Kalnins	...	Kiwi Bob
Kiri Paramore	...	Les / Origami Presenter
William Drury	...	Jesus Freak
David Moeaki	...	Louise
Mathew Wilkinson	...	Rocket
Rose Byrne	...	Alex
Mary Acres	...	Mrs. Jones
Evan Sheaves	...	Pete
Jarrah Darling	...	Aaron

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and pervasive language.

Runtime:

103 min | Germany:89 min (DVD version) (25 fps)

Country:

Australia

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

Finland:K-15 (video rating) | Iceland:16 | Australia:MA | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R16 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Bondi Beach, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Company:

CML Films

Trivia:

There's a shot of the front yard of a house full of Holden cars. The camera pans to the letterbox showing the house number to be 186, the classic Holden engine size.

Quotes:

Alex: Laughing
Jimmy: What? What are you smiling about?
Alex: Did you think you cold pay with bananas or something?
Jimmy: Well I don't know do I? I've never been on a plane before.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "A Current Affair: Heath Ledger Special" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Down in Splendour

Quirky Aussie Gem

"Two Hands" is a good addition to the Australian Film Catalogue.

It is that curious mix of real life, surreal life, comedy, tragedy and love the Australians have developed on their own.

Heath Ledger is basically a good if naive guy. Wanting to get on he falls in with a local "Big" Man Pando (Bryan Brown). But at the very moment he sets a first toe on the dark path to crime he meets Alex (Rose Byrne). Here is the cause of the error to change his life in ways unexpected. After getting on the wrong side of Pando accidentally, things get very bad very quickly and if not for a little otherworldly help this would have been a short sad film. Yes, Jimmy learns a few lessons in life and no one escapes uninjured in one way or another but at the end of it has a feel good feel to it. Although there is a lawless theme through the story, it is not glorified and helps to show how destructive crime can be on normal lives.

Heath Ledger is excellent as Jimmy, innocent and savvy at the same time, Rose is hypnotic as Alex and Bryan is marvellous as usual. This is a small ensemble of characters are believable and I found myself caring about the good guys and disliking the baddies.

This DVD is usually in the cheap aisle so I would recommend adding it too your DVD collection, it would be money well spent.

8 out of 10