Bait - L'esca

This movie surprised me and turned out to be pretty good. I left the room when they started to watch it but the bits and pieces I caught at the beginning were enough to reel me in. In Bait Jamie Foxx plays an ex-con being used without his knowledge as lure for a dangerous criminal. I thought Jamie Foxx was really funny. All throughout Bait I kept drawing parallels to Will Smith and Enemy of the State(one of the surveillance actors from Enemy of the State actually plays the same role in Bait). Foxx is definitely funnier than Will and that makes the movie as a whole really funny. I don't know how the movie was promoted, but I would actually describe it as a comedy before an action film.

The previews on TV made this movie look like a dumb-guy goofball comedy, and with Jamie Foxx in the lead it was worth seeing just for that.

So when it turned out to be a full-on big time movie with lots of action, great characters (including a host of well done supporting roles), true love, a government conspiracy and some genuine laugh-out-loud moments, I WAS PLEASANTLY SURPRISED!

Alvin Sanders (Jamie Foxx) is a career petty criminal who got caught stealing prawns. U.S. Treasury investigator Edgar Clenteen (David Morse) is working on a case of stolen $42M gold. John Jaster (Robert Pastorelli) double crossed his partner Bristol (Doug Hutchison) and hid the gold. The investigation finds Jaster's fingerprint and it turns out that he's in Rikers for DWI. Before he dies, the sick Jaster tells Alvin to tell his wife that "There's no place like home." and about the Brooklyn zoo. The technically advanced Bristol is using his skills to follow Clenteen in his investigation. The amoral Clenteen secretly plants a tracker/bug in Alvin's jaw, and let a rumor out that he knows where the gold is. They allow Alvin to walk and Clenteen hopes to catch Bristol when he comes after Alvin.

Jamie Foxx is trying so hard to be the smart-mouthed fun guy, and the movie is trying to be a high-energy thriller. Neither one reach their goal. It's just too outlandish. There's too much ridiculous stuff going on. Director Antoine Fuqua is trying hide a mediocre comedy thriller with a lot of attitude. It just tires out the movie. Of the three lead characters, I like none of them. The constant yapping from Foxx is not fun, and Mike Epps is not a good partner for him. They're almost the same character. The duo needs a straight guy. And the action is second rate anyways.

Now, some people say this is just your standard genuine popcorn movie- and they're right. There is no big surprise, no overly brilliant acting, no twisted story, no well known producer (you all know who I'm talking about..)..

But it's a very well made, nice to see movie. Acting is good. Or better, it's like it should be in any movie. Photography seems sometimes a little bit careless, but it's OK- it does the trick. Directing is well done.

To get to this conclusion, I compared that flick to Last Boy Scout, because it's basically almost the same background. And I have to say: while LBS is supported by the acting of Bruce Willis, this movie is founded on the acting of each actor. They all do well, the evil guy is convincingly evil (flat character maybe, but hey- it's a popcorn flick, don't forget!), the effects are pleasing, the story is neat, and the director does his best to put all of this on the screen so you can enjoy the picture.

What do you want more? A bag of popcorn.

"Bait" is the type of film that makes you say "Wow!!!! I enjoyed this film."

There are several things I enjoyed about "Bait." The first thing was the villainous character played by Doug Hutchison. His character is the second villain since Will Patton's Gen. Bethlahem in "The Postman" that was not only excellently played but done so with such brilliance.

The second thing I enjoyed was the fact that the script seemed to be so unique in what was being played out on screen. When I go to movies I look for originality and that is what I found with "Bait." Furthermore, it was not just action nor was it a comedy but it was I was so glad to see David Morse back on the screen after his captivating performance in "The Green Mile."

Finally, I enjoyed how "Bait" never let up from the beginning to the end. Also, each cast member brings something special to "Bait," which makes it much more dramatic and funny film.

"Bait" is a film that will appeal to everyone young and old and for those who like dramatic scenes as well as comedic scenes. I give this film two thumbs up.