Nueve reinas (2000)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Fabián Bielinsky

Writer:

Fabián Bielinsky (written by)

Release Date:

31 August 2000 (Argentina)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller

Plot:

Two con artists try to swindle a stamp collector by selling him a sheet of counterfeit rare stamps (the "nine queens").

Plot Keywords:

Stamp | Partner | Con Artist | Policeman | Stamp Collector

Awards:

21 wins & 8 nominations

Cast

Gastón Pauls	...	Juan
Ricardo Darín	...	Marcos
Graciela Tenenbaum	...	Convenience Store Employee
María Mercedes Villagra	...	Convenience Store Employee 2
Gabriel Correa	...	Convenience Store Manager
Pochi Ducasse	...	Aunt
Luis Armesto	...	Bar Waiter
Ernesto Arias	...	Bar Manager
Amancay Espíndola	...	Woman in Elevator
Isaac Fajm	...	Vendor
Jorge Noya	...	Aníbal
Leticia Brédice	...	Valeria
Oscar Nuñez	...	Sandler
Ignasi Abadal	...	Vidal Gandolfo
Carlos Lanari	...	Man on Cell Phone

Also Known As:

Nine Queens (International: English title) (UK) (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

Argentina

Language:

Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Iceland:12 | Finland:K-11 | Canada:18A (Ontario) | New Zealand:M | Norway:11 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Belgium:KT | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG | Chile:14 | Denmark:7 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hungary:14 | Ireland:15 | Italy:T | Netherlands:12 | Peru:14 | Poland:15 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina

Company:

FX Sound

Trivia:

During the filming of the scene where Juan and Marcos run after a motorbike, Gastón Pauls fell and injured his knee and was taken to the Argerich hospital where he got four stitches.

Quotes:

Marcos: Can't you see the way she swings her ass? There are no saints.

Movie Connections:

Remade as Criminal (2004)

Soundtrack:

Il Ballo del Mattone

Scams and con artists in modern day Buenos Aires

This is one of the best whodunit's in years! The acting is great, and cleverly staged. Each individual adds more and more complexity to the storyline such that you can't discount whether or not they're crucial to the plot. The plot unweaves slowly, but evenly, adding layer on layer of innuendo, suggestion, twists, and turns that catch you off guard. No one character, or actor for that matter, overtakes any of the others. I don't think you'll get this consistency, unless Mamet directs. The downtown realism of Buenos Aires only adds to the story. It's not a shoot location we're used to seeing, and the novel setting creates an odd contrast to what we've seen come out of modern Europe. The action is well-paced, with a steady guessing, and wondering-what's-gonna-happen-next pace. I highly recommend seeing this movie before, and if, a US version is released.