Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Vincent Cassel | ... | LaRoche | |
Clive Owen | ... | Charles Schine | |
Addison Timlin | ... | Amy Schine | |
Melissa George | ... | Deanna Schine | |
Jennifer Aniston | ... | Lucinda Harris | |
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Sandra Bee | ... | Train Conductor |
RZA | ... | Winston Boyko | |
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William Armstrong | ... | Accountant |
Tom Conti | ... | Eliot Firth | |
Rachael Blake | ... | Susan Davis (as Rachel Blake) | |
Richard Leaf | ... | Night Clerk Ray | |
Xzibit | ... | Dexter | |
Catherine McCord | ... | Avery Price Receptionist | |
Denis O'Hare | ... | Jerry the Lawyer | |
Georgina Chapman | ... | Candy |
Chicago advertising executive Charles 'Chaz' Schine is mentally worn down by his useless teacher wife Deanna and their equally ingrate daughter Amy, whose bad diabetes requires experimental, uncovered treatment that would exhaust their life savings. When foxy investment adviser Lucinda Harris volunteers to pay his ticket when he arrive son the commuter train without cash, they soon start an affair. Taking her to a tacky hotel, they are held at gunpoint by thug 'Frenchie' LaRoche, who rapes her having knocked Chaz down, robs their wallets and calls him afterward, blackmailing a small fortune not to tell his wife. Paying through equally abusive Dexter only incurs more demands and abuse, until Chaz brings along ex con office mail boy Winston Boyko, who promises to scare away, but is shot by LaRoche, leaving Chaz to deal with the corpse, police detective Church being a friend of Winston's. Only when bled dry, Chaz finds out Lucinda is a stolen identity, part of an elaborate setup. His ... Written by KGF Vissers
I saw a sneak preview of this film yesterday in Toronto (Younge & Eglington Theatre) There are some "cheesy" moments but I'm happy to say that they are far and few between.
The acting is not academy-award winning but you will be pleased with the performances.
It is an engaging film that brings you into a dark and gritty underworld that actually can feel quite real at times. You feel for the lead character.
One of the strengths of this film is character development.
It also has some twists that may actually surprise you in a good way.
I think the real downfall of this film is that it has a "Hollywood" ending. For me the film loses points for this.
One final note: the climax, although still good, was pieced together in such a way that it did not hold the tension enough for the theater audience. There was laughter and some heckling in my theater.
I wouldn't walk into this film expecting a ground-breaking film that will change the genre forever, but it is does have some good pacing and the story moved along quite nicely. It is an enjoyable film that I recommend.