david-sarkies One of the main reasons that I decided to see this movie is that it depicted the criminal underworld in Australia, and in a way is an Australian version of Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. Unfortunately is tries too hard to be like that movie, and it is far from being tight and well executed. Instead it stumbles around a bit and gets caught up in pointless romantics while deciding whether it is a funny or a serious movie, and really does not make up its mind.Two Hands is about a young lad, Jimmy, who works as a bouncer and is a very good fighter, and how he is given a chance by Pando, the crime boss. Jimmy is simply instructed to take ten grand to a woman at Bondi beach, but he unfortunately loses it. So Jimmy must get Pando's money back for him while avoiding Pando's men. He ends up doing this by robbing a bank.What I like about this movie is that it did depict Australian life quite well, which is not surprising because it was made in Australia. Pando roving around in his Ford Escort, his flunkies wearing t-shirts and footy shorts, and basically everybody knowing everybody else was very Australian. The thing about Two-Hands is that it shows you how in a country with such a small population, everybody generally knows everybody else, yet there is little connection between the cities. Pando controls Sydney, but has little influence with what goes on in Melbourne. Also, if somebody does something, then people generally know who did it.Even though there were some comical parts to the movie, it really clashed with the rest of it. The movie really wasn't sure if it was trying to be funny, fantastic, or serious. We had the revenant of Jimmy's brother, who had been killed by Pando, running around; we had bank robbery foul-ups where the robber trips over a counter and knocks himself out cold, and we had the more serious side to it. Though it wasn't so far out that it destroyed the movie, it was enough to make us jump and wonder what we were really watching.It was still quite a good little movie. The characters were done well, and the atmosphere had a sense of realism about it. I also realised why 10 Things I Hate About You was advertised so heavily in Australia, and that is because the star of this movie, Heath Ledger, was also the star of 10 Things.

tedg It may be that this works and I just cannot get at it because I'm not Australian, but I doubt it.Its rambling, often incoherent nature may be designed as part of the effect, but I doubt that too.Its really quite ambitious, a sort of Tarantino/Richie mix with a bit of coming of age and whole lot of Aussie peculiarity in it. There's a noir intervention by a dead guy.I watched it because it had Heath Ledger as the center, and I was a little curious what with his newly established sainthood. The River Phoenix effect. What we have is a teen goofoff who is asked by the local petty mafia to do something. It goes wrong and a chase ensues. There's a romance, natch. There's a moment where honor is established and justice comes home by an unexpected means. The charm in the thing comes not from the story or the hero, but from the abstract design of the thing. We know what to expect from the very beginning because the font that is used in the titles is that chrome Chevvie script from the late fifties. It might have been used in Australia by Holden. The movie is set in then contemporary time, but it references the fifties in the manner of the film itself and the hoods therein. Don't come to this if what you want is great work from Ledger.Ted's Evaluation -- 2 of 3: Has some interesting elements.

brianoh2 This Aussie flick filmed in 1999 does an OK job of portraying a bunch of small-time crooks in Kings Cross, Sydney. The plot focuses on the plight of a young would-be crim who's life is in danger after botching a job for his future boss. Very well acted by Heath Ledger and Bryan Brown. The plot is fairly believable with some very humorous moments in one scene which revolves around a bank heist. The setting-up of various themes central to the story is quite well done. Eg. When one crim is searching for bullets for his gun. I personally have a dislike for gratuitous violence in movies, and in this regard, the movie did not offend. It attempted and succeeded in showing us the human side of the baddies such as Bryan Brown. The rest of the cast did an OK job, without any real stand-outs that I remember. The direction was very good in succeeding in making a believable movie that provided good entertainment. The main overriding feature that makes this a good movie is the acting and direction of Heath Ledger and his successful portrayal of a naive young man who makes stupid mistakes for short-term gratification, thinking he is indestructible and not realizing that there are sinister people waiting to pounce on any mistake. The director, Gregor Jordan, deserves special mention. Rating in my book - 7 (of 10).

JOHNAMI "Two Hands" is an entertaining, funny story about Australian lowlifes. The screenplay contrasts the world of fast money and deadly acts with the inexplicability of fate and circumstance. In a subtle way we are asked to ponder the concept that major events in our lives are sometimes generated without our being fully aware of the root causes. The forces of fate and circumstance take Jimmy, the main character, into situations that bring about the realization of his shallow dreams and, ultimately, an understanding of a more personally promising world.The clueless Jimmy, portrayed with acumen by Heath Ledger, is a kid who grew up without opportunity. The high paying world of crime offers the greatest appeal to his blunted senses. The love and help of friends guides him to a higher plateau.The film is well-directed and well-acted. The band of criminals teeter between likable and despicable, keeping us interested in their crazy antics all through the film.