BRING HIM TO ME

Australia, 2023, 96 minutes, Colour.

Barry Pepper, Jamie Costa, Sam Neill, Rachel Griffiths, Liam McIntyre, Marcus Johnson, Zach Garred.

Directed by Luke Sparke.

All here is a gangster thriller that looks and sounds American. However, it is an Australian production, filmed here. And it is the work of writer-director, Luke Spark (Red billabong, Occupation, Occupation: Rainfall). It features two American central figures played by Barry pepper and Jamie Koster – but the archvillain is played by Rachel Griffiths and Sam Neill has an opportunity to show something of his nasty side!.

There are two narratives intercut. First, there is a store robbery by two masked men, Sam Neill the owner of the shop, threatened with his son, violent confrontation and robbery. In the meantime, The cab driver, played by Barry Pepper, is waiting in the getaway car. Second, there is a transition where The Driver goes to pick up a passenger, farewelling his little daughter, summoned to meet the boss.

While there is action in the film – and a car Chase late in the development, quite a deal of the film is set in the car, conversation between the two characters, a long drive, a long night, phone calls to The cab driver warning him not to trust his passenger, demands being made on him to deliver the young man. Which means then this is also a character-driven drama, gradual revelations about each of the two in the car, but quite a lot of discussion about life, rights and wrongs, and The Driver having his conscience tested about the driver and the motivation for the drive.

And, into the descriptions, some dramatic incidents, an encounter with the police which turns out to have something of a happy ending and a handwritten phone number which will play its part the end of the film. Then there is a pursuit by two motorcyclists and a violent confrontation.

Altogether, there is an edgy tone about the film, becoming more edgy when we realise who the passenger is and why his being summoned, and then the introduction to the lady-boss, a relentless Rachel Griffiths, prone to violence with no big pardon.

In many ways, a standard crime thriller, but interesting to see the Australian villains and to listen to character-driven conversation.

1. Australian film? American gangster story?
2. The settings, the city, warehouses, shops, driving, the road at night? The musical score?
3. The two strands of the plot, the robbery and its execution, the getaway? The longer strand, the driver, picking up the young man, the drive and the destination, action along the way? The confrontation with the robbed man, the confrontation with the boss?
4. Action film? Character driven film?
5. The character of the driver, sitting in the car, impatient, the getaway, the gun, the photo of his son? The phone calls, the commission to pick up the young man, seeing him with his wife and daughter, the drive, the phone calls, urged not to trust the young man, the conversations, getting to know each other better, philosophising about life? His age, seriousness, his conscience and driving the young man possibly to his death? The issue with the police officer and his friendship with the young man? The cyclists, the revelation that it was the shop owner and his son, the fights, deaths? Finally coming to the destination, the guard company them, searched weapons, the confrontation with the boss, attitudes, the money and guiding it, missing money, accusations against the young man, his fears, his inhaler, hard breathing, his being shot? The response of the driver, getting away, the pursuit, stopping the car, his pretense and shooting the pursuer, taking the money, going to the young man’s house, leaving the money and toy? His future?
6. The initial robbery, the two men, masks, brutality, holding up the owner and his son, the shop owner and his confrontation, pulling the gun, the threat to his son, put his gun down, being bashed, the robbery? The effect on the father, saving his son? The pursuit of the bikes, the confrontation, the revelation that his son was in on the robbery, the fight, the young man killing the son with his hit, his regrets, the shop owner and his death?
7. The episode with the police officer, the touch of humour that he knew the young man will, wanting to keep in touch? His phone number – and the irony of the driver phoning it at the end to get the police onto the boss and her henchmen?
8. The boss, ruthless, the situation, the robbery, the money, dividing it, her henchmen and their smirks, her shooting one of them, killing the young man, attitude towards the driver?
9. The combination of character development and action in the context of crime?