THE BANK
Australia, 2001, 100 minutes, Colour.
David Wenham, Anthony La Paglia, Sybilla Budd, Steve Rodgers, Mandy Mc Elhinney, Greg Stone, Inchil Butel.
Directed by Robert Connelly.
The Bank is an interesting conspiracy thriller. It has the appeal to those who love maths, finance and computers. David Wenham appears as a mathematical and computer whiz. He is employed by a ruthless principal of an increasingly powerful Melbourne bank. The entrepreneur is played by Anthony La Paglia, a monster of greed and ruthlessness. Together, the two are able to predict futures and control the market - especially when a downturn is predicted and the bank is able to survive, capitalising on the downfall of other banks, to gain millions.
However, the plot is even more complicated. The complications lead from a subplot with an average family who are being foreclosed on by the bank, whose little boy kills himself to save his parents when the writ is served on them. They take their case to the courts - where the encounter with the big bank takes place.
Robert Connelly has made a number of shorts, acted as producer for such films for The Boys and the Monkey's Mask. This is his very assured feature film debut as director.
1. An entertaining film: conspiracy thriller, themes of justice for the underdog?
2. The Melbourne locations, the cityscapes, the buildings, fashionable homes, Stock Exchange? Authenticity and credibility of the background? The musical score?
3. The title - and the advertising referring to Public Enemy No. 1, the bank? Audience antipathy towards banks and their methods? Victimising? Justice for the little people?
4. The prologue: outback New South Wales, the teacher, the visitor, the explanation about interest, Paul and compound interest?
5. Jim and his studies, work, Japanese friend? Computer skills? His theories and their verification? Vincent impressed by them and asking Simon to listen?
6. Simon and his being criticised by the board, his personal ruthlessness, sacking employees, closing branches? Given the information about Jim, flying him to Melbourne, the interview? Jim and his reaction, being challenged to believe in it, the explanations, deciding to employ him?
7. Jim and his awkwardness at the meeting, trying to explain the theories, the futures market, corrections, trying to find all the factors for predictions? The greed motivation? Employment, at work, office, limousine, apartment? The skills of his team?
8. Seeing Michelle, the cigarette, the meeting at the bar? Their rapport, the beginning of the affair? Audiences' suspicions of her - as were Jim's? His watching her?
9. The test runs, risking $10,000,000 to see if Jim was right? Gaining almost a million? The other dry runs and their failures? The continued work and research? The bond with Vincent and his support with all the work, Simon and his expectations, treading on him, forcing him to greater success?
10. The information about possible recessions, Simon presenting this to the board, appealing to their greed? His signing away his own wealth as guarantee? The board member and his criticisms, offering his resignation? The issues of ethics and morality?
11. The subplot of the couple and their son? Losing their business, on the lake, the young boy, the situation for the summons, trying to avoid it, his overhearing his parents, his being served with the writ? Drowning himself? The grief of the parents? The police discovering the writ? Their going to lawyers and being rejected? The lawyer who listened to them, being prepared to help? His research, legislation, the bank and its counter-measures, its public face, its callous remarks by lawyers about the couple? The court hearings, Jim and his going in as the expert witness as a guarantee to Simon of good faith? His record, his lies in the box, Michelle's being present, Vincent and his being disgusted? The case won by the bank? The TV interviews? The impact on the father, getting his gun, going to Simon's house, confronting him? Simon wanting to make the phone call - the father not killing him but shooting out the phone so that he could not gain the money?
12. Michelle, the big party, the clash with Simon, her wanting to go away, Jim following her, into the water, her going back for him?
13. The build-up to the recession: Vincent, his disgust, his working with Jim, having persuaded him to ignore sentiment? The realisation that Jim had tricked them - and trying to close down the deals?
14. Michelle, her enquiries at the school, with past papers, remembering the name of Paul Jackson? Discovering the true story of his father hanging himself and the role of the bank? Simon's spy letting him know that Michelle had found the truth? His telling the truth about Jim?
15. The downfall of the bank, Vincent trying to save it? The board members being arrested, Simon on his plane escaping?
16. Jim meeting Michelle at the airport, the farewell, his hoping she would follow? The hold-up on the passport - and its lapsing soon, the irony of the officials warning him about getting back into Australia?
17. Themes of world finance, mercilessness of banks, computer possibilities and predictions, the role of greed? Human suffering - and the feelings for revenge?
