''Solo'' is a 2006 Australian film directed by

Morgan O'Neill Morgan O'Neill (born 19 April 1973 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian showrunner, executive producer, writer, director and professional musician. Having earned a degree in literature from the University of Sydney, he graduated from the Natio ...

and starring

Colin Friels Colin Friels (born 25 September 1952) is an Australian actor of theatre, TV, film and presenter. Early life Friels was born in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland.Interview with Colin Friels, ''George Negus Tonight'' (ABC Television), 26 August 200 ...

Plot

The film is set in modern-day (2005) Sydney, Australia. Barrett (Colin Friels) is a loner who works for a group of illegitimate businessman called "The Gentlemen" as a contractor, specializing in assassinations and disposing of bodies. But he has had enough and wants to retire to a quiet life of fishing in a coastal town far away. "The Gentlemen", (top man Arkan, his associates Louis and Nguyen and Barrett's "handler", boxing promoter Reno) have no wish to lose his services, but offer him his freedom if he will murder a university student who has been over-enthusiastically delving into their part in the

Sydney Sydney is the capital city of the States and territories of Australia, state of New South Wales and the List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city in Australia. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Syd ...

crime scene, the subject of her thesis. Barrett, who has befriended her, instead fakes her murder and the two take off for distant parts. That evening, after a heavy drinking session during which he confesses to her of his criminal past, she kills him. She answers a phone call from Reno, who is surprised that she has killed Barrett, but as a murderer she now has no choice but to work for him.

Cast

The players included: *

as Jack Barrett, hit man. *

Angie Milliken Angie Milliken is an Australian actress. Early life Milliken was born and raised in the western suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia to a musical family. She played the French horn and competed in athletic sprinting events from the age o ...

as Kate, his favorite prostitute. *

Vince Colosimo Vincenzo Colosimo is an Australian stage, television and screen actor. He has worked in both Australia and the United States. He is of Italian descent and lives in Melbourne, Australia. He was previously married to Australian actress Jane Hall ...

as Philip Keeling, crooked Assistant Commissioner of Police. *

Bojana Novakovic Bojana Novakovic (, sr-Latn, Bojana Novaković) is an Australian actress. She is known for starring in the police procedural television series ''Instinct'' (2018–2019). In film, she has appeared in '' Drag Me to Hell'' (2009), ''Edge of Dark ...

as Billie Finn, the relentless honours student. *

Chris Haywood Chris Haywood (born ) is an English-born Australian actor, writer and producer, with close to 500 screen performances to his name. Haywood has also worked as a casting director, art director, sound recordist, camera operator, gaffer, grip, lo ...

as Arkan, crime boss. *

Tony Barry Tony Barry (28 August 1941 – 21 December 2022) was an Australian actor and activist best known for his television and film roles. Personal life Barry was born in Ipswich, Queensland, on 28 August 1941. He had one son. Barry was an environmen ...

as Louis (pron. "Lewis"), subordinate of Arkan, a blackjack player. *

Linal Haft Linal Haft (born 23 March 1945) is an English actor, best known for playing controlling or manipulative characters in both film and television, most notably his role as businessman Harry Gold in the popular BBC soap opera ''EastEnders'' from 20 ...

as Reno, boxing promoter and Barrett's handler. *

Anh Do Anh Do (born 2 June 1977) is a Vietnamese Australian, Vietnamese-born Australian author, actor, comedian, and painter. He has appeared on Australian TV shows such as ''Thank God You're Here'' and ''Good News Week'', and was runner-up on ''Danci ...

as Nguyen, importer and black marketeer. * Brian Harrison as Havana, old jazz pianist.

Production

The film was made after

's script was voted winner for

Project Greenlight ''Project Greenlight'' is an American documentary television series focusing on first-time filmmakers being given the chance to direct a feature film. It was created by Alex Keledjian, developed by Eli Holzman and produced by Ben Affleck, Matt ...

in Australia.Andrew Urban, "O'NEILL, MORGAN – SOLO", ''Urban Cinefile'' 6 July 2006
accessed 16 November 2012

Sound track

The film featured a sound track of "cool" modern jazz, played by Martyn Love (piano), Michael Bartolomei (piano), Damian de Boos-Smith (guitar and keyboards),

Dale Barlow Dale Barlow (born Sydney, Australia, 25 December 1959) is a jazz saxophonist, flute player and composer. He has a Masters of Music degree begun at City College New York under Ron Carter and completed at ANU Canberra. He has received ARIA Awards, A ...

(tenor saxophone, bass clarinet and flute), Phillip Slater (trumpet), Cameron Undy (acoustic bass guitar), Martin Highland (drums), Fiona Adie (vocal textures). Pieces "Cross on ya" and "Hunter" were written by King Brown and Damian de Boos-Smith and performed by King Brown. "The Phone Call" was written by Toby Roberts and performed by The Telltales. A CD titled "Solo Original Australian Motion Picture Soundtrack By Martyn Love & Damian De Boos-Smith" containing much of the sound track was released.

References

External links

*{{IMDb title, 0477472 Australian crime drama films Films directed by Morgan O'Neill 2006 films 2000s English-language films