Swindled (2004)
In a flashback, Ernesto, a young con man, tells us how he got to the edge of a big score: childhood in an orphanage, youthful smash-and-grab burglaries until his partner is caught, then tutelage from Lefty, an aging swindler. After some years of success, they're joined by Federico, the best, a true artist. Things go well until Pilar, a woman from Federico's past, re-enters his life with a proposal to con a golden goose - a swindle that will put them all on easy street. A double-cross may be in the cards. The flashback over, can Ernesto hold his own in the present?
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Absolutely Fantastic
The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.
That's the best title for this movie, because nothing ever happens. Totally stupid and waste of time. Luckily for me I fast forward it so didn't waste all this time. Some good acting though
Ernesto is a man that makes a living out of duping other solid citizens of their hard earned money. Together with Manco, an older man with a lot of experience, he pulls out capers that allow him to make a decent living, but that is not making him a rich man by any means. Enter Federico, an older man who is more experience in the art of deception. Together with the younger Ernesto they prove a winning combination. That only lasts until Pilar, Federico's former love interest, appears in the picture.This Spanish film directed by Miguel Bardem, is light in tone and pleasant to sit through. Other, better made caper films have been made with much clever plots than this one, but the film is easy to take, and at times, it has a lot of funny situations.This viewer will see Federico Luppi in anything, even reading the telephone directory! He is an actor's actor. We have had the privilege of having seen him in the Buenos Aires stage doing excellent work before his international film career. As Federico, he does what he does best. It's impossible to imagine anyone better in his role. Ernesto Alterio, the son of Hector Alterio, is a young actor who promises to have a great career. Victoria Abril makes Pilar fun as she gets involved with these con men. Miguel Alexandre, a veteran actor, is also good as Manco.
This is an outstanding criminal thriller, and with a great cast too. Spanish language cinema's best and most popular actors of the past couple of decades, Victoria Abril and Federico Luppi, team up in one of the better Spanish language crime thrillers of 2004-5.The film begins by focusing on thirty something Ernesto (Ernesto Alterio), an elegant, attractive and slick thief who learned from childhood friend Gitano, and more recently from Manco, an old seasoned swindler. Manco introduces Ernesto to Federico (Federico Luppi), an also elegant, but more astute & experienced methodical thief - the best in his class.Federico's only known weakness is Pilar (Victoria Abril), his former mistress and partner. She suddenly appears and proposes a fabulous rip-off scheme to her former lover, a crime in grand scale, which will eventually require the help of Ernesto, Manco and Gitano, among others.The script is full of twists and surprising reversals, particularly towards the end of the film. One criticism about the film I've heard a lot is that there are too many plot twists towards the end, but I disagree. The film captivates the audience so much that all the unexpected events are not too much to follow. In fact, these are what make the film outstanding. I highly recommend it.
Miguel Bardem is one of the latest off springs of a well-known family of actors, directors, composers and writers. His previous films have been very irregular, since "Más que amor, frenesí" was nice, "La mujer más fea del mundo" was too weird to my taste and "Noche de reyes" was a complete failure. "Incautos" is his best film so far, but still has a few gaps in the screenplay and its pacing. Three actors in a state of grace (Ernesto Alterio, Victoria Abril and Federico Luppi are great) are involved in a plot that might remind the viewer of Stephen Frears' "The Grifters". Although the film starts well, the ending is somehow too twisted and some pivotal points in the plot are barely explained. Maybe all the events going on in the first hour could be cleared by a second viewing, but the screenplay should explain everything by itself in a single viewing."Incautos" is technically good, specially cinematography and score, and the cast is outstanding (apart from the three leading actors, Manuel Morón and Manuel Alexandre are a delight to watch). Therefore, a better structured screenplay would have helped to make this film a really great one.Overall rating: 6/10