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Spivs

  • 20042004
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
420
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Kate Ashfield, Dominic Monaghan, Nick Moran, and Ken Stott in Spivs (2004)
  • Drama
  • Comedy
Three East-End Spivs spend their time wheeling and dealing wherever and whenever they can. After one of their scams goes south, the three con men are left to care for two young illegal immig... Read allThree East-End Spivs spend their time wheeling and dealing wherever and whenever they can. After one of their scams goes south, the three con men are left to care for two young illegal immigrants.Three East-End Spivs spend their time wheeling and dealing wherever and whenever they can. After one of their scams goes south, the three con men are left to care for two young illegal immigrants.
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
420
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Colin Teague
  • Writers
    • Mike Loveday
    • Colin Teague
    • Gary Young
  • Stars
    • Kate Ashfield
    • Linda Bassett
    • Chooye Bay
Top credits
  • Director
    • Colin Teague
  • Writers
    • Mike Loveday
    • Colin Teague
    • Gary Young
  • Stars
    • Kate Ashfield
    • Linda Bassett
    • Chooye Bay
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 14User reviews
    • 10Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Kate Ashfield, Jack Dee, Dominic Monaghan, Nick Moran, and Ken Stott in Spivs (2004)
    Kate Ashfield, Dominic Monaghan, Nick Moran, and Ken Stott in Spivs (2004)
    Kate Ashfield, Dominic Monaghan, Nick Moran, and Ken Stott in Spivs (2004)
    Add photo

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kate Ashfield
    Kate Ashfield
    • Jennyas Jenny
    Linda Bassett
    Linda Bassett
    • Auntie Veeas Auntie Vee
    Chooye Bay
    Chooye Bay
    • Japanese manas Japanese man
    Elizabeth Berrington
    Elizabeth Berrington
    • Nigel's secretaryas Nigel's secretary
    Jennifer Cartwright
    • Bad Ice Skateras Bad Ice Skater
    Paul Clarke
    • Gangsteras Gangster
    Cavan Clerkin
    Cavan Clerkin
    • Bobas Bob
    Shane Davey
    Shane Davey
    • Ice Skateras Ice Skater
    Jack Dee
    Jack Dee
    • Nigelas Nigel
    Louis Dempsey
    Louis Dempsey
    • Uncle Frankas Uncle Frank
    Glenn Durfort
    • Glennas Glenn
    Neil Edmond
    Neil Edmond
    • Observant Waiteras Observant Waiter
    Stephen Evans
    • Park Attendantas Park Attendant
    Julia Hargesheimer
    • Teenage Safe House Girlas Teenage Safe House Girl
    Tamer Hassan
    Tamer Hassan
    • Villaas Villa
    Paul Kaye
    Paul Kaye
    • O'Brienas O'Brien
    Derek Lea
    Derek Lea
    • Villa's Associate #1as Villa's Associate #1
    Dominic Monaghan
    Dominic Monaghan
    • Goatas Goat
    • Director
      • Colin Teague
    • Writers
      • Mike Loveday
      • Colin Teague
      • Gary Young
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Spiv n. Brit. Slang. A person who makes a living by underhand dealings or swindling; black marketeer. An aristocrat among confidence men, Jack Pike Ken Stott uses his charm to pull off small, elegant swindles, aided by his right-hand-man Steve Nick Moran and slacker brother-in-law Goat Dominic Monaghan. However, a truck con job with sexy rival Jenny Kate Ashfield unwittingly embroils them in the black market immigrant trade -- with two Albanian children now on their hands. It doesn't take long before the double- and triple-crosses pile up and cons and victims alike are scrambling for safety in an increasingly dangerous game where getting out alive is the only absolute truth.
    • london england
    • one word title
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • Warning: These people can seriously damage your wealth!
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Comedy
    • Certificate
      • Not Rated
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Rita Ora's debut.
    • Quotes

      Goat: Where's the dipstick?

      Steve: I'm lookin' at it.

    • Connections
      Spoofs Only Fools and Horses (1981)

    User reviews14

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Tough yet warm-hearted Britcrime offering
    Gentleman Jack (Stott), his edgy right-hander Steve (Moran), sexy self-styled moll Jenny (Ashfield) and stoner Goat (Monaghan) pull elaborate cons on wannabe villains, buoyed by the motto: "You can't cheat an honest man". Victims include O'Brien, played by Kaye as a lisping ne'er-do-well with a silly haircut and a penchant for cash machine fraud, and nice-but-dim Nigel (Dee), owner of an ailing haulage company.

    But Jack and Co. find themselves in deep water after they attempt to steal the latter's office equipment and drive it away in a 'borrowed' lorry which turns out to be full of Albanian human traffic. When the immigrants scarper, a little brother and sister are left behind. Grudgingly, Jack becomes their unofficial guardian - but is closely trailed by some murderous parties, while Steve and Jenny, intent on closing that mythical long con, walk headlong into harm.

    Spivs initially hoodwinks audiences into assuming it's something that it's not, featuring the usual checklist of East End settings, shady characters and slang ("What do you think I am, some kind of meat-puppet?") which must be included by law in all contemporary British crime flicks.

    However, it soon reveals itself to be both a textured character-study of a drowning middle-aged man yearning for redemption, and a harrowing expose of the illegal immigrant / underage sex slave trade.

    That the slapstick and tragic elements mostly hang together bears testament to a well-plotted, well-researched script (occasionally sentimental, though never mawkish), along with an immensely touching central performance by Stott. It's rare and refreshing in these kinds of films to find a late fortysomething taking precedence over two young hipsters like Moran and Ashfield. Fine support too from Bassett as Jack's tough-talking sister Vee.

    A modern Brit crime movie sporting substance over style? It must be a con!
    helpful•1
    0
    • Ali_John_Catterall
    • Nov 12, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 24, 2004 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Languages
      • English
      • Albanian
    • Also known as
      • Oi kombinadoroi
    • Filming locations
      • Canary Wharf Underground Station, Canary Wharf, Isle of Dogs, London, England, UK
    • Production company
      • Carnaby International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

    Related news

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    Kate Ashfield, Dominic Monaghan, Nick Moran, and Ken Stott in Spivs (2004)
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