The Square
Seen it?2008 | 105 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (86% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had almost no lasting buzz and a lukewarm 6.1 out of 10 from audiences. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for crime-drama fans and anyone who likes to be kept guessing. If you loved The Town or The Killing, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Tense, dark and gritty.
- The pace
- Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated R: expect violence and drug use.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Ray, a construction worker trapped in an unhappy marriage, pursues an affair with his neighbor, Carla. Carla's husband, Greg, is a mobster who keeps large sums of drug money in their home. With this in mind, Carla comes up with a plan: She and Ray will steal Greg's money, burn down her house, convince Greg the money was lost in the fire and then run away together. Carla's scheme, however, doesn't go off as planned.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
86% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesBelow par
6.1 out of 10
- AwardsWeak
0 wins and 6 nominations from smaller awards and festivals
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$729K worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 17K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Contraband
Weeknight WatchAnother drug-world thriller, though it's more of a weeknight watch.
The Killing Friday Night FlickAnother critically acclaimed crime drama.
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Cast & crew
Directed by Nash Edgerton
- David RobertsRaymond Yale
- Claire van der BoomCarla Smith
- Joel EdgertonBilly
- Hanna Mangan LawrenceLily (as Hannah Mangan-Lawrence)
- Anthony HayesGreg 'Smithy' Smith
- Peter PhelpsJake
- Bill HunterGil Hubbard
- Kieran Darcy-SmithBarney
- Stephen WestonCharlie
- Lisa BaileyWendy