Two Hands
1999
In his wonderfully inventive and decidedly Australian debut feature, Gregor Jordan returns to Sundance (his short, Swinger, played in 1996) with a film that is fresh, funny, and an unqualified delight. With its sophisticated meshing of gangster, horror, and deadpan comedy genres (in the director's words, "like Goodfellas in .. Read more
| Starring | Bryan Brown, Heath Ledger, Rose Byrne, Susie Porter |
|---|---|
| Director | Gregor Jordan |
| Genres | Drama |
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Two Hands
In his wonderfully inventive and decidedly Australian debut feature, Gregor Jordan returns to Sundance (his short, Swinger, played in 1996) with a film that is fresh, funny, and an unqualified delight. With its sophisticated meshing of gangster, horror, and deadpan comedy genres (in the director's words, "like Goodfellas in shorts and thongs"), Two Hands is giddy with invention, style, and brazen raw talent. Guided by its supernatural narrator, acting as part Greek chorus, part guardian angel, Two Hands unravels the high-speed misadventures of Jimmy, its dim-witted but good-natured protagonist. Staving off homelessness in Sydney's seedy inner city, Jimmy, in the same day, meets two people who will forever change his life: Alex, the poster girl for perfect love; and Pando, a local drug kingpin, who is as content to watch origami videos with his six-year-old as he is to snuff a life at the faintest whiff of betrayal. Looking to trade his bottom-of-the-barrel career as a strip-club bouncer for more lucrative and exciting prospects, Jimmy jumps when Pando offers him an entry-level position as a courier. But what seems to be the simplest of jobs turns perilously awry when Jimmy takes a postheist breather at the beach and allows his overrevved, adolescent libido to bury reason--and ten thousand dollars in cash--in the sand. With star turns from Jordan's young and seasoned cast members (especially newcomer Heath Ledger and the venerable Bryan Brown) and an immensely talented production team, Two Hands is accomplished filmmaking and effervescent entertainment.
| Starring | Bryan Brown, Heath Ledger, Rose Byrne, Susie Porter, Tom Long, Tony Forrow |
|---|---|
| Director | Gregor Jordan |
| Studio | CINEMA CLUB |
| Run time | DVD: 1 hr 39 mins |
| Certificate | |
| Genres | Drama |
| Language | DVD: English |
| Released | DVD: 20 Mar 2004 Production year: 1999 |
| Format | DVD |
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Critics' reviews (2)
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This stylish, slyly scripted urban crime caper marked director Gregor Jordan's feature debut. Heath Ledger and Bryan Brown star, and there's a neat twist that helps make amends for some failed gambits. The decision to have the proceedings narrated by Ledger's dead brother is unfortunate, as is a contrivance involving a street urchin. Moreover, the storyline, in which a routine courier job on behalf of Mob boss Brown goes wrong, is doggedly predictable. Yet, the bank raid sequence has a pleasing knockabout quality and Ledger's attempt to seduce country girl Rose Byrne is winningly awkward.
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Would-be goofy crime thriller pastiche which sets up young-blood Ledger (the wild-haired hunk in 10 Things I Hate About... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful member's review
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22 out of 25 people found this review helpful
rent it buy it as it will one day be a classic!
'You won't ding his car will you Jimmy?'
Ledger shines though Brown has to have star billing through seniority! Balmain lad!
Heath before he got too big! Sydney at it's grittiest ! Mum ~ where's your child going to for gap year?! -
Most recent members' review
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6 out of 8 people found this review helpful
Good or Bad?
Two Hands is about the criminal underworld - but not as you are used to seeing it portrayed. Nothing is black and white - and even the shades of grey are hard to tell apart. The inextricable mix of good and bad in each of the characters, and the prosaic picture of their day to day lives, makes for engrossing and often hilarious viewing. Health Ledger proves he can be charismatic on screen, and Bryan Brown is one of the best bad guys ever! I would recommend this movie highly!
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News and features
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First Ledger scholarship awarded
- 23 Feb 2009
The inaugural scholarship established in late actor Heath Ledger's name has been awarded to Australian performer Oliver Ackland. The £7,000 fund, established by Ledger's ex-fiancee Michelle Williams and friends following his death last year (08), was given to Ackland at a party for Australian Oscar nominees at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont Hotel on Friday (20Feb09). Ackland was hand-picked from a pool of 150 applicants by The Dark Knight star's pals and colleagues, including actress Rachel... Read more
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Two Hands
In his wonderfully inventive and decidedly Australian debut feature, Gregor Jordan returns to Sundance (his short, Swinger, played in 1996) with a film that is fresh, funny, and an unqualified delight. With its sophisticated meshing of gangster, horror, and deadpan comedy genres (in the director's ...
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