SLIFF 2010 Review: THE TENDER HOOK

Review by Dana Jung

The masterful Hugo Weaving is the main reason to see the Australian noir film THE TENDER HOOK. Whether he’s cast in villainous roles such as Neo’s nemesis in the MATRIX movies, or as the eloquent political insurgent in V FOR VENDETTA, Weaving is always interesting to watch. THE TENDER HOOK is no different, with Weaving’s portrayal of the rather sadistic ring promoter McHeath.

Set in 1930’s Australia, Weaving’s performance drives the movie toward its rather predictable conclusion. McHeath is a man who seems to enjoy flaunting his power over everyone, both male and female. However, there are layers to this mobster: he enjoys Shakespeare, has genuine feelings for his woman, and, in a few all-too-brief scenes, he sings with a band! Enter a promising young boxer (hence the double meaning of the title), trouble is brewing. One rule of noir films that’s set in stone is: never fall for the boss’ wife/girlfriend/significant other. It can only end badly for somebody.

Director Jonathan Ogilvie has populated the film with veteran Australian character actors who all give uniformly fine performances, creating quirky and funny moments. Acting kudos also go to Rose Byrne, here able to give a performance using her native Aussie accent, for a change. Familiar to American audiences in both big productions like GET HIM TO THE GREEK and the TV series DAMAGES, and in smaller independent fare such as ADAM, Byrne’s femme fatale is both sad with the knowledge of her own guilt, and somehow sweetly vulnerable in her compulsion to get what she wants.

Ogilive has an eye for artistic detail, as when a drop of sweat falls from a man’s forehead and slowly trickles down the bare back of the woman he’s dancing with. But for all the complex interplay and hidden motivations of the characters, the film is nearly devoid of any sense of danger, let alone action. Slow-moving, with sometimes dense Australian accents, THE TENDER HOOK may be a tough sell for an audience who likes their noir tougher, grittier, and more violent.

TENDER HOOK  will play during the 19th Annual Stella Artois St. Louis International Film Festival on Tuesday, November 16th at 2:15 pm and Wednesday, November 17th at 9:15 pm at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema.