 |
| STAR RATINGS EXPLAINED |
| Unmissable |
|
| Excellent |
|
| Good |
|
| Poor |
|
| Tragic |
|
|
| FILM DETAILS | Certificate
15 | | Cast
Matthew Rhys
Kate Ashfield
Art Malik
Tony Haygarth. | | Directors
Richard Janes. | | Screenwriters
Paul Gerstenberger. | | Running Time
84 minutes |
|
|
|
Fakers
Dodgy geezers and art forgers twist their way around Italy and England
Plot
Set in present-day London and 1911 Italy, this story follows a man who is £50,000 in debt to a gangster. To raise the cash needed, he decides to sell forged sketches by an Old Master around London. Review
Brit director Richard Janes' frothy feature debut clearly wants to be The Italian Job when it grows up, but its low-budget, London-based caperings are sadly too lightweight to make it even halfway memorable.
Matthew Rhys struggles to switch on the charm as a hapless roister-doisterer attempting to pull off a multiple art scam so he can pay off Art Malik's opera-loving kingpin. The action flashes back and forth between present day England and 1911 Italy, following the dodgy dealing of art forgers and scammers. Much frantic drawing, fast-talking and zippy driving about ensues, but there's no sense of place and the script is too half-baked to engage.
Why, for example, does Rhys' small-time rogue know so much about art? Because he reads lots of books, we're later told in one clumsy scene. If it's a stylish, British crime flick you're after, go see Layer Cake.
Verdict
With so many high standing peers (both contemporary and classic), it just doesn't have the muscle or the nous to make an impression.
Reviewed by
Write Your Review
To write your review please login or register.
|
|
|
|
