Lies & Illusions

I'll start by defending myself for actually watching this; someone else made me watch it! This isn't so much a review, but more of a warning. DON'T WATCH IT! The plot if you read the back of the DVD sounds quite promising. A writer's (Christian Slater) fiancé is kidnapped and he finds himself being chased by violent thugs (led by Cuba Golding Jr) who believe he has some diamond that his fiancé stole from them. Nothing groundbreaking about the plot, but OK, could be a good Saturday night action film. Alas no! What we get could be reasonably described as a cheese fest. Appalling acting, an awful plot, dismal effects and shoddy camera work.

Perhaps the most depressing part about this film is watching the death of the careers of two previously promising actors. Christian Slater and Cuba Golding Jr, both have successful films behind them, but both have had a recent string of turkeys, and this should just about finish them off. However to be fair, they are probably the best thing about this film, as the supporting cast are well out of their depths.

At one point in the film, it feels as though it might just save itself in becoming a sort of spoof of action films. The fight scenes and dialogue are so bad it is hilarious. The people watching it with me were laughing harder than we have done with some comedies. The trouble is, the film isn't meant to be funny.

I think this film has one use, to show it in film school to aspiring actors, directors, cameramen etc and explain this is how not to do a film.

It's simply incredible that two famous actors accepted to act in such a terrible Z-movie. The script and screenplay are so incredibly poor that it looks like a 5 year old child spent his time in writing this crap. Direction is something which made me hope there was no director, the result could have been better. Really, I can't save anything at all of this movie, the only nice thing is sometimes the soundtrack, but two songs repeated ad infinitum would result boring even if wonderful. Please, avoid this movie if you can, spend your free time in something more intriguing... like sleeping. And actors, were you really so short in money you had to accept it or there was a gun on your head to force you to?

There are movies that are so bad that, after a short while, I just stop watching and move on. This one had Slater and Gooding who, given what little they had to work with, made it somewhat bearable for me although the script had Slater doing such stupid things that the whole thing was idiotic. They tried to make it somewhat humorous but they really should have gone all the way and made it a spoof of thrillers. Screenplay stunk. Direction was awful. Editing so so (although probably not given much to work with). Would never have completed watching it if Gooding and Slater weren't in it.

If you absolutely have nothing else to do, go ahead and waste some time. Otherwise, much better things to do.

I watched it in segments because I couldn't sit through it in one sitting. My wife asks me why I do it. I tell her: "to appreciate the good movies that much more" that I see.

Wow that was painful! The film style used to film this movie made this movie so cheesy! Almost looks like a 70's style film... What a disappointment for Cuba & Christian. What where they thinking? They must be so embarrassed! The girls were very pretty and their fight scene was one of the best girl fights that I've seen. Even the cars weren't that great for being made in 2009. The airplane part was the kicker for me. LAME! I wish this sight showed how much money each actor got paid for their part. It would explain a lot.... I hope Christian does something better in the future. I've always like him especially in the Mob movie he did in the 90's. Christian plays a good sexy bad guy. I've always wondered why he isn't in more films. Oh well, I've heard all actors have at least one movie their not proud of.

This is a very poor film indeed and is not recommended if you have alternative choices. Cant fault Chrstian Slater, he acts impeccably, it is just he must work with a very below average script with some really cheesy and ineffective dialogue. There is no real continuity or coherency in the movie and there is no realism to the diamond dealings at all, the two women are just two charlies angels out of context. Sure there is action and thrills but nothing bolts together at all and you WILL leave the cinema or the DVD room DISAPPOINTED. thankfully its not a long movie and its over before it starts. The potential plot actually is very good, shame nobody worked on it before taking it to the big screen. Oh yes, was there a director for this film? I notice a name but doubt any professional contribution.