Director Greg McLean (Wolf Creek) helms all four episodes of the final Jack Irish series, Hell Bent (check out our look at the previous here), as series writers Matt Cameron, Andrew Knight, Andrew Anastasios, and Alli Parker bring the franchise full circle in a touching farewell.
The opening “Previously on” utilizes clips from the entire series before an off-duty cop shooting at the burger drive-thru unnerves the police department and the internal affairs squad. Sinners wanting to make peace with God and come clean begat testy behind closed doors confrontations and cryptic voicemails as Hell Bent takes its time with our character updates, recent deaths, and personal regrets via Jack Irish‘s usual charm. Jack’s off the books stakeout leads to phone arguments, gunpoint drives, and heart attacks. Disgraced cops fear which one of them is next thanks to car accidents and apparent suicides while Hell Bent‘s tackling of police corruption itself reveals connections to the series’ opening murder of Isabel Irish. Well done flashes from the first Jack Irish television movie remind us of this pain that has haunted entire series. Past drug stings, unknown affairs, and a boat bill of sale lead to more dead bodies, shootouts, gas masks, and missing loot. The action is dimly lit at times with contemporary digital grading, and the anonymous ominous villainous siblings shouldn’t be seen until we find out why.
Fortunately, the interwoven ensemble moments we know and love are superior to the slightly American-styled edgy crime. Racetrack perils cause a parent’s worst nightmare amid funerals, bagpipes, and well paced tension. Jack’s reputation for cracking big cases precedes him, and one on ones dissecting CCTV footage and witnesses who aren’t what they seem cause a chain reaction of mistakes, flirtations, and grief. Parallels of bad fathers and sons who turn out just like them accent superb solitary moments with each character before more drunken nightmares, dalliances, and pain. Dreams of what could have been are muddled with duplicity and consequences while out for ice cream pleasantries have guns aimed under the picnic table and children who can identify the killer. Major elements come to a head with suspicious mail, ransacked homes, and explosions. Chilling neon parking lot encounters lead to reflection, absolution, lies, cemetery drops, gunshots, and goodbyes. Jack is next and the culprit wants him to know who it is.
He’s gray haired and still wearing the same suit and cardigan, but Jack Irish is a father to a young son now so his drinking alone listening to records and risky stakeout days should be behind him. He refuses to get a car younger than he is as that would make him feel old but he doesn’t have a car seat either. Jack’s not really catholic he just likes the guilt, yet scooping leaves out of the pool is surprisingly therapeutic. His woodworking materials are still in his courtyard, but Jack is too set in his ways to learn how to talk to his little boy. It’s not babysitting if you’re the dad, yet Jack’s over his head when asked about the picture of his famed Bill Irish father.
When he has a lead on the case, Jack can’t leave son at the bar but he rushes off rather than discussing things properly with, well, anyone. He still falls asleep drunk on his messy couch, and everyone is over his crap – especially his son’s mother when she finds out he took a five year old to the horse races. Jack’s welcome to visit them, but his lifestyle is too scary and unsafe. One by one, Jack ends up alone. Was Jack a bad lawyer who didn’t do enough in the original case and thus set everything in motion? He thinks it’s his fault his wife Isabel is dead, and he still keeps a picture of her and Charlie’s granddaughter Gus. Jack’s reason for being his woodworking apprentice is finally destroyed, and Jack doesn’t know what he did right or wrong anymore, wondering if he’s as bad as the people he’s chasing. Bringing justice to light eats him up inside, so Jack finally decides to move on and make everything right.
Talk show appearances mean Linda Hillier doesn’t have time to drop everything and help her former lover Jack. Her new book is not doing so well, and she’s angry Jack embarrasses her in front of the publisher. Orton calls Jack a loose cannon whose law firm is in a pub cupboard, yet Orton recognizes Jack’s criminal instincts. Jack counters that Orton went from Pulitzer Prizes to running a food truck, but he loves Orton’s cooking and discusses the case with Linda while they eat. Dirty cops also snoop around the food truck, so Linda follows the money trail and elbows her way in at the cop bar before publishing an article that has immediate ramifications. Jack and Linda couldn’t commit to each other because of their individual crusades yet now both have placed those they love in danger. Orton blames Jack as the third wheel between them, but Linda zings that he used to be a war correspondent and now Orton lives for his perogies. She swears their argument isn’t about Jack – it’s her struggling to be a good wife, mother, and journalist and she can’t do it all. Linda admits she is wrong, sobbing that she can’t take it anymore. However, there’s a different passion for Linda with Jack. He never gave up anything for her but Orton has and that’s just not enough for Linda.
Cam Delray returns to Harry Strang’s employ after the death of his father and the passing of Harry’s wife. They agree a day at the races will heal them both, but Jack and Cam laugh that Harry only expresses his feelings for them through horses, otherwise he wouldn’t express anything at all. Cam still rides shotgun with Jack, too, never judging but understanding Jack’s determination. Jack’s also doing Harry’s will in hopes that Harry will make Cam his beneficiary. However, Jack can’t always make it to the track when he has to pick up his son, leaving Harry to pout that he used to have a lawyer who looked just like Jack when he does see him. Harry thinks the races are the perfect place for father-son bonding time, and he’s distraught when his well bred colt doesn’t sell – sentimental about the sire that reminds him of his late wife.
Fortunately, Brendan O’Grady offers to hurt someone for Harry, having become his driver and cooking gourmet meals. Brendan took a cooking class in prison and likes the jaguar so much he’s may even get his driver’s license, and it’s cute that he’s essential replaced Jack to complete the gambling trio. Brendan’s a better chef than Harry’s wife ever was, but Harry secretly burns the leftovers just like she used to do. He says his heart skips a beat on race day and Brendan inquires if Harry’s taken his medication, but he also moonlights for Jack protecting a woman. Unfortunately, he also stinks up her bathroom, as amenities are a requirement of every workplace. When beaten, Brendan admires the culprit, realizing it’s time to leave the muscle business, but he also leaves the hospital early – driving the jaguar with his IV drip hanging beside him.
Although Barry Tregear inquires about the burgers, he’s rattled by the police shooting – especially when higher ups warn him to drop it. He says he’s put his neck out for all Jack’s messes now Jack owns him a favor in doing some off the books tailing. Of course, Jack is second in Barry’s phone after his wife and his ringtone is the Fitzroy fight song, and after an angry call with Jack, Barry has a heart attack. He admits he’s made mistakes in his work and marriage, burying secrets that may come back to haunt him. In the hospital, Barry loves the morphine but hates all the positivity, yet he’s determined to walk out by himself, refusing to use any wheelchair. Now bearded and reading Ulysses, Drew Greer has left the law behind for life in the country, but Jack’s baffled why anyone would leave Fitzroy for fresh air.
Jack presses Drew for the old files on Isabel’s case, but Drew is angry at Jack for having tech guru turned beekeeper Kate Atkinson as love of his life Simone hack information on the dark web. He asks Jack not to ask her again, for Simone has renounced I.T. and speaks at a normal slower speed as a result. Initially, she’s not happy to see Jack because he doesn’t care about her honey and only shows up when he wants something. However, Jack likes her belittling him and Simone admits she misses him. Drew tells Jack he’s seen enough death and should focus on living for a change, and Simone is happy to receive one final picture from Jack.
The Prince of Prussia is a popping in Hell Bent with hip music and youthful crowds, and Stan is rushed off his feet alongside Ivy Mak as his wife Cherry Blossom. Barry liked the pub the way it was and Jack’s usual beer is replaced with a terrible new artisan pale ale, but Stan didn’t like the debt before this success and he writes down the lit, slay, vibes words he wants to learn. Stan’s happy to see Linda – the pub’s new fancy dining room is reminiscent of Jack and Linda’s first dinner together and she really likes the new menu. However, Cherry tells Jack he needs to vacate his supply room office, for Stan accepts a multi million dollar offer to sell. Stan must also call Jack to pick up Wilbur, who often leaves his retirement home and fellow Fitzroy Youth Club roommate Eric, to return to the now confusing, noisy pub. Jack says Wilbur can’t keep running away, and he prefers visiting them for jazz and football trivia.
Wilbur and Eric regale Evie (Nicole Nabout) – their nurse and mother of Jack’s son – with stories about the greatest baller ever Bill Irish, but also tell her the truth that he was a mean drunk who wasn’t close to Jack. Jack takes the pub’s Fitzroy memorabilia and creates a bar stool display for Wilbur and Eric at the home – complete with a picture of Norm. Classic cars come and go and places change, but despite being a shorter pandemic production, Hell Bent takes time for great character moments and touching goodbyes for everyone. After having to wait for the North American DVD releases to see Jack Irish, I was excited to catch up with the Hell Bent finale after it first aired. Although I try not to re-watch Jack Irish very often so I can forget some elements, shrewd surprises always have me “Leo snapping his fingers meme” at the careful attention to detail.
Upon finishing Hell Bent, I sobbed, wishing I could go back and see the entire series over again for the first time. Jack Irish is a refreshing viewing experience thanks to its emotional core and heartfelt storytelling that sticks with you long after the viewing ends.
still courtesy of Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
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Kristin Battestella writes articles, editorials, and reviews for several websites, magazines, and print publications including I Think, Therefore I Review and Search Magazine. Previously a traditionally published author of speculative fiction and the Fate and Fangs vampire novels, Kristin’s DIY Halloween how-tos and Kbatz Krafts articles have been featured at http://HorrorAddicts.net and in two Horror Addicts Guide to Life anthologies. In addition to sewing and @KbatzReviews Youtube vlogs; Kristin can be heard on the Women InSession podcast at http://InSessionFilm.com alongside her written classic film discourse. Kristin is also active in the local author community, having chaired writing events and conferences with the South Jersey Women Authors.