Gambit (2012)

An art curator decides to seek revenge on his abusive boss by conning him into buying a fake Monet, but his plan requires the help of an eccentric and unpredictable Texas rodeo queen.

Director:

Michael Hoffman

Writers:

Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay)

Stars:

Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Alan Rickman

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colin Firth	...	Harry Deane
Tom Courtenay	...	The Major
Alan Rickman	...	Lionel Shabandar
Mike Noble	...	Gunboy
Brodie Ross	...	Shabandar's Shoot Servant
Alex Macqueen	...	Mr. Dunlop
Joe Berryman	...	Gas Station Cashier
Ralph Alderman	...	Rodeo PA Man
Cameron Diaz	...	PJ Puznowski
Terry Dale Parks	...	Cowboy 1 (Merle) (as Terence Parks)
Russ Dillen	...	Cowboy 2
Cloris Leachman	...	Grandma Merle
Sarah Goldberg	...	Executive Wilson
Obi Abili	...	Executive Slazenger
Anna Skellern	...	Fiona (Secretary)

Storyline

Curator Harry Deane (Colin Firth) is an expert in fine art, but he's equally accomplished in taking abuse from his insolent boss Lionel Shabandar (Alan Rickman). That's about to change. The plan, trick the avid art collector into buying a fake Monet painting. To assist in the heist, Deane hires rowdy Texas cowgirl P.J. Puznowski (Cameron Diaz) to help him fool the richest man in England. But as the plan begins to unravel, Deane finds he is falling in love with the rodeo Queen, ensuing further complications.

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Plot Keywords:

painting | heist | art forgery | cigar smoking | man wears eyeglasses | 

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Taglines:

A fake masterpiece. The perfect plan.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content, partial nudity and a rude gesture

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Coen brothers' draft of the script was originally written in the early 2000s, but the project became stuck in development hell after several directors dropped out. Despite several uncredited rewrites that removed many of their contributions, the Coens were still given sole writing credit.

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Goofs

The stunt double used for PJ in the calf roping scene is heavier than Cameron Diaz.

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Quotes

[first lines]
The Major: [narrating] This is the story of my brave, foolish friend Harry Deane. Mr. Deane's work as a art curator in London had gone, he felt, largely unappreciated. He told me of countless insults suffered at the hands of his employer, Lionel Shabandar, media tycoon, art collector, and an absolute brute of a fellow.
Lionel Shabandar: [covered in mud] Do not touch my person! You, idiot...
Man: Yes, my lord.
Lionel Shabandar: ...give me your boot.
The Major: [narrating] Forty years ago I'd have called this Shabandar a cad. Now the prevailing ...

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Crazy Credits

The German military leader Hermann Göring is shown briefly in a flashback scene. In English, Göring often transliterated to Goering. However in the credits, his name is spelled Georing.

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Connections

Referenced in Honest Trailers: Die Hard (2015)

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Soundtracks

Air On A G String
Written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by The Classical Jazz Quartet
Licensed courtesy of Proper Records Ltd. (P) recording Arts AG

User Reviews

I loved it!! What are people on about

I am surprised at the bad reviews. I thought the film was hilarious. Obviously people's sense humour is not the same but come on.. Give them some credit! it's no where near as rubbish as some of the reviewers are making it to be. This film made me laugh properly and I found it entertaining and engaging from from A to Z. I haven't seen any older version to compare but I don't care I think this film was money well spent. I loved the cast especially Colin! Sometimes just looking at his facial expressions in some scenes was funny. Directing was great too not to mention the script. I can't claim that I am an expert film critics but I felt I had to write a review after reading so many negative ones which I think is quite unfair for a film that had so many laugh out loud moments.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

21 November 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

Gambit

Filming Locations:

Heathrow Airport, The Compass Centre, Nelson Road, Hounslow, Greater London, England, UK

Box Office

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$10,200,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Crime Scene Pictures, ArtPhyl, FilmNation Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital Datasat SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1