BALMAIN BOYS

Australia, 2003, 95 minutes, Colour.
Paul Gleeson, Jeremy Sims, Fiona Press, Jeff Truman, Mark Furze, William Zappa, Natasha Novak.
Directed by Ray Quint.

Balmain Boys is an enjoyable drama made for television. It capitalises on the reputation of Balmain in Sydney, something of an isolated community in itself, old style, an area for criminals, and support for local football clubs.

The film focuses on Legend (Paul Gleeson), a champion footballer who played in the World Cup and who has been a police officer and detective for ten years. Injured in a chase with thieves, he is interrogated by Internal Affairs because of the loss of his gun. The interrogator seems jealous of the footballer. Legend is helped by his school friend, Andy (Jeremy Sims in a cocky performance), who is an ambitious lawyer with standover tactics as well as some personal charm.

The film then moves to Andy’s problems, his relationship with a criminal’s wife and protecting his money until his release, the complexities of his rather timid partner in embezzling funds and seeming to take the criminal’s money. Legend is able to bring his police skills to the solving of the problems. This also involves a young boy who had helped Legend when he was injured but had taken his gun. He works as a thief at the airport for an adult who controls him. This leads to some drama, especially with the boy and his future.

There is an entertaining maneuvre at the Airport to recover the money, likened to a football tactic which adds to the enjoyment - which leads to a satisfactory conclusion for everyone, after some heartburn.

1. A Sydney film? The focus on Balmain? Local interest and colour?

2. The detail of the Balmain locations, streets, pubs, law office, homes? The scenes of the airport? Jail? Musical score and songs?

3. The tone of the title? Ordinary, criminals and law, football teams, legends? A Sydney enclave?

4. The Legend, his story, as a policeman, the initial chase, his partner, his partner stealing, the pursuit of the thieves, the fight, his injury, his leg, the boy helping him, the ambulance? The consequences? Internal Affairs, the interrogator and his envy and cutting down the tall poppy? The visit in hospital, his mother, Andy? Return home? The interrogations? The partner confessing and his being in the clear? Handing in his resignation? His girlfriend and the past, working in the pub?

5. Andy, past school friend, ambitions, always helping Legend? Andy and his standover tactics, dominating the opposition, his confidence? Sheena and her work, the fling, her reaction? His arrogance and consequences? Visiting Ray in prison, the issue of the cache, visiting Caterina, the sexual encounter, holding the money until Ray’s release? Frank as his partner, stuffy, transferring the account, the stealing of the bag, blaming him, finding him, threats?

6. Frank, the quiet partner, the transfer of the funds, the bag, going to the airport, his envy of Andy, allegedly visiting his mother? going to the toilet, the boy’s stealing the bag, going back to his want, the red herring about the cash and the bag? The boy having the key, returning to the office, his being caught, at Frank’s home, Andy and Legend posing as security offices? The boy, his going into the pool? Taking him home? Legend following him, the fight in the pool room, his injury? Going to the airport, following the boy, the fights with the thief, his arrest?

7. The boy, seeing Legend injured, tying up his wounded leg, the ambulance, taking his gun? His return to the office? Admitting the truth, in Legend’s, the model plane, taking it, the mother and her caring for him, his taking the watch?

8. Ray, criminal, prison, jealous of Caterina, suspicious, wanting Andy to check out, take the money and hide it, his trust? Getting out, the phone call, coming to the office, the delay, Caterina and the money, and his trusting her? Getting Sheena to look after the house?

9. Andy and Caterina, finding the cash, the sexual encounter, the shower, the transferring the money? Sheena and the episode with the bag, her motivation, hiding it in the roof? Making Andy desperate? His trying to get loans? The plot against Caterina, the sexual encounter, his charm, the girlfriend taking the photos, the blackmail, the changing of the bag, their return to the office, Caterina’s arrival, taking it, giving it to Ray, everything all right?

10. Sheena, her work, her being hurt, the sexual relationship, wanting some affirmation from Andy, hiding the bag, the job at the house?

11. Legend’s mother, strong woman, the pub, supporting him, her looking after the boy? Pressure at the end for his new job?

12. The girlfriends, working for money, to backpack, in the pub, her phone calls to Derek, taking the photos for the scam? Staying?

13. Legend as a private investigator, cowboy, partner with Andy, the office? Their reflections on dreams and reality?