When four small-time criminals lose a rigged poker game against a London kingpin, he gives them one week to settle their enormous debt.When four small-time criminals lose a rigged poker game against a London kingpin, he gives them one week to settle their enormous debt.When four small-time criminals lose a rigged poker game against a London kingpin, he gives them one week to settle their enormous debt.
- Won 1 BAFTA Award
- 13 wins & 9 nominations total
- Willie
- (as Charlie Forbes)
- Director
- Writer
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film was dedicated to Lenny McLean, who played Barry the Baptist. He died of lung cancer exactly one month before the film's premiere. The dedication reads as follows: "In memory of LENNY McLEAN (The Guv'nor)"
- GoofsDuring the final round of the card game, Harry reveals his cards one by one. When he turns over his third and final card, Eddie looks shocked in a dramatic "forward tracking zoom out" shot, realizing how much he just lost. However, Eddie had already lost when Harry's second card was revealed (pair of sevens beat pair of sixes), it wouldn't matter what the third card was. So his shocked expression should have come earlier: after the second card's revelation, not the third.
- Quotes
Bacon: What's that?
Samoan Joe's Barman: It's a cocktail. You asked for a cocktail.
Bacon: No. I asked you to give me a refreshing drink. I wasn't expecting a fucking rainforest! You could fall in love with an orangutan in that!
Samoan Joe's Barman: You want a pint, you go to the pub.
Bacon: I thought this was a pub!
Samoan Joes Barman: It's a Samoan pub.
- Crazy creditsIn the closing credits, the character names in the cast list are shown entirely in lower-case letters with no initial capital letters.
- Alternate versionsNew footage included in director's cut:
- at the very start of film, Ed is shown explaining the rules of 3 Card Brag to two people;
- the scene where Big Chris goes to see the man on the sunbed is longer
- Tom, Soap and Bacon are shown walking through the pub to the bar while Ed is playing cards
- the earlier stages of the card game are shown
- Alan explains to Ed the "history" between JD and Harry
- when Barry is talking to the two scousers the dialogue is different
- when Big Chris is walking into Harry's office near the end, he meets the man who was on the sunbed near the start of the film.
- when Ed is being interviewed by the police you see him finishing explaining the rules of 3 Card Brag to them (as seen at very start)
- just before the credits, you see Soap telling a whole joke in the car when they are coming back from the job
- three outtakes are shown during the credits: one with Soap telling a joke, the next where Barry asks one of the scouser's for an ice cream and one where a guy runs onto the set.
- SoundtracksHundred Mile City
Performed by Ocean Colour Scene (as Ocean Color Scene)
Courtesy of Universal Music (UK) Ltd.
Written by Damon Minchella, Simon Fowler, Oscar Harrison and Steve Cradock (as Steve Craddock)
© 1997 Island Music Ltd.
Unfortunately, Harry's game is rigged and the four end up owing Harry half a million pounds, with just one week to come up with the cash. What ensues is a set of schemes, counter-schemes, rip-offs, and bad/good luck that demand you pay attention. On several occasions I had to pause the video just to take stock of which gang was planning what.
The final thirty minutes of the film, as the plots all collide and overlap, turn set-piece shoot outs into comedic punchlines. The comedy is driven by exploding our expectations of what are otherwise pretty standard scenes from the film-noir genre.
The acting is strong and the script very tight. Although I am not normally a fan of voice overs, this one informs without spoiling the action. And I liked the use of the slow-motion to disrupt the action and keep me paying attention.
While this film may not be for everyone, if you enjoy a darker pallette, this may be right up your alley.
- ExtraCrispy-2
- Feb 14, 2000
- Permalink
Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- Juegos, trampas y dos pistolas humeantes
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- £960,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $3,753,929
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $143,321
- Mar 7, 1999
- Gross worldwide
- $3,753,929
- Runtime1 hour 47 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1