Director: Mark Lee
Screenplay: Caroline Gerard
Cast: Matthew Newton, Sibylla Bud and Aden Young
Genre: Drama
Release Date: Out now on DVD through Madman
Running Time: 92 minutes

Rating: 2/5

As an exercise in male egotism, The Bet achieves little more than showcasing an underwhelming script, some lack luster performances and a story that could be described as obnoxious at best. It saddens me to think of the wasted resources and talent that could have been channeled toward a number of infinitely better projects than The Bet, especially at a time when we see so few Australian productions each year reach completion.

The premise of the film is as follows; Will (Newton), a young stockbroker makes a bet with his insufferable ‘friend’ Angus (Young), a cold hearted and very well to do investment banker. At the end of 90 days whoever can make the most profit from $50 000 will be declared the victor – winning money, adulation and eternal life – just kidding (although maybe this would have made for a kooky twist)! The contest between the two becomes increasingly bitter, compromising relationships and ethics not to mention legal business practice. The film strives for suspense and fails. The final twist comes out of nowhere and is oddly out of place with the rest of narrative.

Sibylla Bud as Will’s girlfriend Tory delivers a tempered performance which is pretty useless given that the film is so obsessed with celebrating a gratuitously destructive masculinity. The glorious shots of Sydney harbor are probably the most appealing aspect of The Bet. The flashy apartments, clinically chic restaurants and sleazy bars add little appeal to a film that flounders through a (thankfully) brief run time. Particularly disturbing was the revelation that Australians play polo – who knew?

As far as extras go there is a 40 minute ‘Making of’ which, if like me you found the film’s 92 minute running time a drag you’ll be well advised to steer  clear of unless a resoundingly dull self congratulations by cast and crew is your kind of thing.  My advice for Matthew Newton in future? Stick to what you do best and continue to bask in ever fading glory of your family name.