If you want proof of the interconnectedness of life, then go see Nash and Joel Edgerton's "The Square," an Australian romantic thriller with enough tension built into it, you'll feel inexplicably exhausted afterward.
Directed by Nash Edgerton and written by his brother, Joel, "The Square" stands on the squirrelly foundation of Sir Walter Scott's most famous quote: Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!
As an objective and distant observer, the clarity by which one can see the kind of blundering decisions made while under the spell of carnal passion, is startling. In "The Square" we have Ray (Dave Roberts), an otherwise sensible contractor who is so far into an affair with is neighbor, Carla (Claire van der Boom), that he entertains the most far-fetched notions to keep the relationship going. And from there, the collateral damage from such ideas (which gives credence to the theory of the interconnectedness of the human race) rise exponentially.
And meanwhile, Carla, has stumbled upon a secret that compounds her existing situation which makes her a nervous wreck. Her boyfriend, Smithy, brilliantly played by Anthony Hayes, doesn't notice so much because he has schemes of his own. What he does notice is one of his poker buddies eying Carla. And the seeds of distrust are thus placed in the dirt that covers this movie.
The affair begins to affect Ray's work, too. His boss, Gil Hubbard, played by Australian acting legend, Bill Hunter, insists that the commercial development project doesn't get bungled. But for reasons only Ray knows, a square in the middle of the site, becomes the focal point of the project. The cement subcontractor is ready to fill the square but the rains are unrelenting and the delays are costly to the project, employees, and Ray's piece of mind.
Nash Edgerton does a great job of capturing and building tension by using close ups of Ray and Carla in dramatic situations, but especially with Smithy who is the embodiment of danger.
Each showing of "The Square" comes with the Edgerton brothers' "Spider" a brilliant short film about a young couple trying to reconcile. "Spider" has twists and unexpected turns that will leave your stomach gnarled.
"The Square" opens April 23 at Landmark's Varsity theater in the University District.
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