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 is an expert in fine art, but he's equally accomplished in taking abuse from his insolent boss. 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 a rowdy Texas cowgirl 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 | black comedy | 

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Taglines:

Revenge is a work of art.

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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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English Japanese

Release Date:

21 November 2012 (UK)

Also Known As:

Гамбит

Filming Locations:

London Heathrow Airport, London Borough of Hillingdon, London, England, UK

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Hugh Grant, Sandra Bullock, and Ben Kingsley were originally attached to play Harry Deane, PJ Puznowski and Lord Lionel Shabandar.

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Goofs

In the karaoke scene PJ takes off her hairpin with her right hand while holding the microphone in her left. In the next shot the microphone is in her right hand and the hairpin is in her left.

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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

East St. Louis Toodle Oo
Performed by The Guy Barker Nonet
Written by Duke Ellington and Bubber Miley (as Bub Miley)
Published by EMI Harmonies Ltd
Master courtesy of Shabandar Productions Ltd

User Reviews

Decent!

A remake of the 1966 film of the same name, 'Gambit' is a fair comedy, that offers some decent laughs in its short & sweet running-time of 88-minutes. Keep your expectations in check, and have some fun!

'Gambit' Synopsis: 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.

'Gambit' isn't laugh-out-loud funny, which it definitely should've been. Nevertheless, the film has a consistent pace & some of the jokes involving the protagonist's series of unfortunate events, tickle your funny bone.

Joel & Ethan Coen's Screenplay is fair, but it needed more humor, for sure. Michael Hoffman's Direction is royal. Cinematography & Editing are pitch-perfect.

Performance-Wise: Colin Firth is the life of the show. He's fantastic, enacting a comedic role with flourish. Alan Rickman is alright. Cameron Diaz is sporty. Stanley Tucci is wasted. Tom Courtenay is cute.

On the whole, 'Gambit' is a safe bet to watch on a lazy Sunday afternoon.