In Sydney’s high stakes world of finance, Will (Matthew Newton), a fledgling, ambitious stockbroker, enters into a risky wager with Angus (Aden Young), a suave and wealthy investment banker. The winner of a $100,000 prize will be the man who can accrue the most wealth in ninety days. Now part of an exclusive, influential club, Will is prepared do anything – including resorting to illegal trading activity – to succeed and stay there, in the process risking a budding relationship with Tory (Sibylla Budd) and jeopardising the happiness of his father (Roy Billing).
On paper, the premise of a high stakes bet in this first directorial effort from Mark Lee (best known for starring opposite a young Mel Gibson in Gallipoli) seems like a bland one, but The Bet successfully brings to life the allure, hedonism and power of wealth in Sydney’s business world, and the cockiness of the male players who inhabit it. But if you’re a novice to the trade, the talk of takeovers, stock prices and insider trading weighs the pace of the story down. In addition, perhaps because it shares familiar themes with Robert Connolly’s The Bank, it feels like we’ve seen The Bet’s scenario before.
The film’s biggest drawcard is its performances: Newton is strong as the charismatic, cocky Will, while Young is icily smooth as his friend and competitor. That said, the dialogue feels too stagy and contrived, and there’s nothing inherently cinematic about The Bet – it could just as easily work as a high end television production. Ultimately, The Bet leaves you with an empty feeling. Put simply, it’s hard to feel any sympathy for a greedy stockbroker.
Filmink 2/5
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