Movie review: "The Tender Hook" (2008)

The gist: In 1920s Sydney, McHeath (Hugo Weaving) is an underworld boss whose cultured exterior hides a vicious and vindictive nature, Iris (Rose Byrne) is his savvy, faithful-when-it-suits-her moll and Art Walker (Matthew Le Nevez) is an aspiring boxer who shouldn't have got mixed up with either of them.

Selling points: Captures the era through a clever use of fashion and file footage. Some quirky details such as the old pearler with his fortune sewn under his skin. Shows the dark side of boxing at the time, where Art is promoted ahead of a superior Aboriginal fighter because crowds wanna see a white champ.

It's kinda like: To me, it felt like any number of Aussie TV miniseries – though the cinematography here is well above average. We've seen HW play a villain before (eg. in the "Matrix" trilogy), but not one who croons jazz choons. Pia Miranda also surprises as flesh-flashing party girl Daisy.

Final word: Could be a contender.

[Australian cinema release date: September 18]