The Bet Review
by Drew Turney
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Described as almost a classic myth with the heir apparent,
the adventurer, the ladies in waiting and the court fool. Rising
stockbroker Will (Newton) makes a bet with suave but nasty banker Angus
(Young). Both will put up $100,000 and the one who makes the most money
for his firm in 90 days will take the lot.
The Bet starts off
slow, clichéd and slightly amateurish, looking every bit the cheap copy
of Wall Street you expect. Stick with it. It gets more compelling and
engaging as time passes until a shocking climatic act that will really
haunt you.
You expect a plain revenge story with a nasty
villain, heroic protagonist and a beautiful lady to keep the hero on
the straight and narrow. Almost every element is there, the whole thing
set up to be very expected but ending up anything but.
There are
still faults. The relationship between Will and Angus is never explored
enough and you never really know how they feel about or know each
other. It would also help to know all the jargon and parlance of high
finance, but even when you don’t know what’s going on in a detailed
sense, Lee and his actors convey the building sense of tension
brilliantly.
Despite needing stronger dramatic markers to tell
you what was going on, there’s an escalating sense of desperation and
despair and some great performances to carry it, particular the
always-wonderful Aden Young, who doesn’t get nearly enough screen time
as the smooth, lizard-like Angus.
Let’s hope it’s the first of many directorial efforts by the new and improved former actor and Gallipoli star Mark Lee. 3 out
of 5 The Bet
USA release: 13th September,
2007
Cast: Aiden Young, Sybilla Budd, Matthew Newton
Director: Mark Lee
Website: Click
here.
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