The Great Mint Swindle

Period piece, theoretically based on a true story from the 1980s. Three aussie brothers sell a gold chunk, which may or may not be what they say it is, to a collector. Grant Bowler, Todd Lasance, Josh Tart are Ray, Pete, and Brian. To buy gold, bank checks are tampered with, and the brothers end up doing time for the crime. Even though some of the evidence was faked by the cops. And they even have the cops on tape admitting as much. Were they set up by someone else? When they get put in jail, the guards and the other prisoners seem to be against them all the way. Who is behind all this? Even the courts and appeals system seems to be blocking their every step to prove their innocence. Some violence and cussing. It's okay. Not quite a documentary, but not bad. Some confusion at the beginning over the timing of the crimes, and what the brothers had really done or not done. Directed by Geoff Bennett, who does a LOT of television, and movies every now and then. Story by Paul Bennett and Reg Cribb.

Not sure how to start as i did know these brothers. Hard doing a review when you know more than the movie gives but here goes.~ Firstly, a thumbs down for channel nines review as you missed a big important part in your review which is ~ the story of 2 innocent men.?? Brian was also innocent and it should have been- the story of 3 innocent men.Brian was incarcerated also and was a highly experienced pilot with both helicopter and fixed wing aircraft.For such an experienced pilot to die in such a crash is ~??????? I found it quite hard to relate to the characters as i know the real characters but persevered with that and i did enjoy the whole movie and recommend it highly. Raymond was without doubt a great SAS soldier and served his country well. Also had a hobby smelting, and used a crucible to smelt -bronze-gold etc to make bronze -brass -gold sculptures and ornaments such as candlestick holders.The movie shows how easy it was to get the gold from the Perth mint. But the brothers were framed. If you haven't seen this movie, do it as it goes into the corruption of the legal system and how innocent people can do years and years in prison for something they did not commit. I highly recommend the book~ The Mickelberg stitch.

The fact a totally inaccurate movie (The Great Gold Swindle) was produced not long after the Mickleberg brothers had been conveniently stitched up and incarcerated, and were in the midst of appealing their sentences in a completely corrupt environment, cannot have served their cause well. In fact, this movie probably should have referenced it as such.

Albeit, the first movie was more about how the crime was committed. This superior version, with the benefit of time and the truth having been exposed, virtually serves as a part 2 that picks up on the aftermath that was actually more intricate and interesting.

Shane Bourne plays the dodgy high ranking cop brilliantly, with Grant Bowler as Ray Mickelberg the other standout.

Watch for two of the surviving brothers having their say during the end credits. Really, had this occurred in one of the eastern states, it would have been a far more notorious and notable chapter in the annals of Australian history.

This movie exposes the corruption rife in the Western Australian Police Force using coerced, fabricated and manipulated evidence. Not only the three Mickleberg brothers, but others have suffered at their hands such as Andrew Mallard, John Button, Darryl Beamish and Lloyd Rayney, all of whom have been exonerated or acquitted.

The complex plot, involving the audacious theft of a large quantity of gold from the State Mint, seems like Hollywood on steroids and yet the twists and turns are simply and accurately developed.

The strong family bond among the three Mickleberg brothers is beautifully portrayed by Grant Bowler, Todd Lasance & Josh Quong Tart. They contrast with the ruthless detective, Don Hancock, played perfectly by Shane Bourne, from smarmy to brutal, and whose end is well deserved.

I have reason to be grateful to the dedicated men and women of the WA Police Force but one can't help wondering whether the culture of corruption has been adequately addressed. In recent years, one of the lawyers who helped put the Micklebergs behind bars rose to become the State Attorney-General