Swerve

A Duo Art production. (Worldwide sales: Moviehouse Entertainment, London.) Created by Helen Leake, Kent Cruz, Craig Lahiff. Executive producers, Mark Vennis, Gary Phillips, Bryce Menzies.With: Jason Clarke, Emma Booth, David Lyons, Travis McMahon, Vince Colosimo, Robert Mammone, Chris Haywood, Roy Billing, Greg Stone.Staple pulp crime elements -- a woman, a gun, a stranger, a crooked cop along with a suitcase filled with hot cash -- are nicely moved around a dusty outback town within the juicy Aussie thriller "Swerve." Scripter-helmer Craig Lahiff's first feature since his 2002 social drama "Black and Whitened," pic packs enough pace, suspense and quality thesping to beat some minor plot wobbles. Amazingly, yet to get a local distributor, "Swerve" has niche claims in selected areas, and really should score strong ancillary action nearly everywhere. Greatly within the tradition of the Jim Thompson potboiler, pic opens with two large bangs in the center of nowhere. Speeding along a highway after detonating a explosive device in the contact's vehicle, an unknown drug dealer meets a spectacularly staged demise while swerving to prevent a mind-on collision with distressed blonde driver Jina (Emma Booth). Preventing to assist the sexy dish is Colin (David Lyons), a great-searching guy having a pressing appointment within the mining capital of scotland - Damaged Hill. Determining to complete the best factor, Colin hands within the cash-filled suitcase he finds in the crash site to Frank (Jason Clarke), police boss and large guy out and about within the outpost of Neverest. Finding Colin also offers a military background, Frank demands he stay the evening with him and the wife, who naturally works out to become Jina. It isn't lengthy before Jina, whose jealous husband likes kinky sex play, begins making bed room eyes at Colin. With shifty local businessman Mike (Vince Colosimo) and cold-eyed villain Charlie (Travis McMahon) hiding about the sidelines, narrative slips and 35mm slides nicely when the suitcase is taken away in the police station and begins altering hands. Though credibility is sort of strained by ale some figures to outlive sequences within an abandoned mine shaft as well as on a speeding train, the execution is really confident and aesthetically exciting most auds will gladly simply roll together with things. A lot of the movie's punch comes from the elusive character of Jina and Colin's relationship. Booth's fine-updated perf keeps auds speculating whether the suffering wife is playing the angles on every guy round her, and Lyons adroitly shows the excellent guy who apparently really wants to help Jina although not mattress her. Clarke ramps some misconception remarkably as control freak Frank manages to lose his grip when past misdemeanors return to haunt him. Shot round the rocky, warmth-baked Flinders Ranges in South Australia, pic sports classy widescreen imagery by lenser David Foreman. Score by Paul Grabowsky is really a mixed bag. Jazzy, up-tempo early pieces don't always mesh using the gritty drama, but his moody string plans later in proceedings are directly on the cash. The relaxation from the technical jobs are professional. Directed, compiled by Craig Lahiff. Camera (color, widescreen, HD-to-35mm), David Foreman editor, Sean Lahiff music, Paul Grabowsky production designer, Tony Cronin art director, Chris Jobson costume designer, Ruth P La Lande seem (Dolby Digital), Pete Cruz, Martyn Zub stunt planners, Glen Boswell, Bernie Ledger assistant director, Andy Energy casting, Angela Heesom. Examined at Melbourne Film Festival (Australian Showcase), August. 3, 2011. Running time: 85 MIN. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com