The Tender Hook

The Tender Hook
Directed by Jonathan Ogilvie
Produced by Michelle Harrison
John Brousek
Written by Jonathan Ogilvie
Starring Hugo Weaving
Rose Byrne
Matthew Le Nevez
Pia Miranda
Music by Chris Abrahams
Cinematography Geoffrey Simpson
Edited by Ken Sallows
Distributed by Dendy Films (Australia)
Screen Media Films (United States)
Release dates
  • 30 May 2008 (2008-05-30) (Dungog Film Festival)
Country Australia
Language English
Budget A$7 million[1]

The Tender Hook is a 2008 Australian film noir starring Hugo Weaving, Rose Byrne and Matthew Le Nevez. The film was retitled The Boxer and the Bombshell for its North American DVD release.

Plot synopsis

The film tells the story of a love triangle set in a stylised version of Sydney’s criminal/boxing underworld in the 1920s. The story is about Iris’ rise to the apex of a love/power triangle that includes her English con man, lover, McHeath, and Art an honest, young boxer. Within the flawed moral landscape each character struggles to establish their sovereignty.

Cast

Actor Role
Hugo Weaving McHeath
Rose Byrne Iris
Matthew Le Nevez Art
John Batchelor Ronnie
Tyler Coppin Donnie
Pia Miranda Daisy
Luke Carroll Alby 'Othello' O'Shea

Production

The Tender Hook is the second feature by writer/ director Jonathan Ogilvie (Emulsion, Despondent Divorcee, This Film Is a Dog), and stars Hugo Weaving (Little Fish, The Lord of the Rings, The Matrix), Rose Byrne (Marie Antoinette, Casanova, Troy) and Matthew Le Nevez (Emulsion, Peaches).

Producers are Michelle Harrison and John Brousek (Hating Alison Ashley, Sensitive New Age Killer, The Wog Boy).

The crew includes: director of photography, Geoffery Simpson (Romulus, My Father, Under The Tuscan Sun); editor, Ken Sallows (Getting Square, Crackerjack); production designer, Peter Baxter (Lucky Miles, Beneath Clouds); costume designer, Cappi Irreland (Home Songs Stories) and composition of the score by Chris Abrahams from The Necks (The Boys).

The film was financed by the Film Finance Corporation Australia, and Parkland Pictures (UK), with support from Film Victoria. Parkland Pictures (UK) handled International sales, with Icon Films distributing in Australasia.

Reception

The film was not a box-office success, earning only $64,232[2] against its $7 million budget.[1]

Critics gave the film negative to average reviews. David Stratton and Margaret Pomeranz both gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, with Stratton explaining the film has "some very strong elements... [but] never really works as a thriller or as a romance".[3]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Kent, Melissa (10 May 2009). "Back in the frame". The Age. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  2. Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office
  3. "The Tender Hook". At the Movies. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 20 September 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2010.

External links

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