Incautos

This stirring picture deals with Ernesto (Ernesto Alterio), a young swindler who tells us his infancy in an orphanage, youthful years until his relationship with El Gitano (Alejandro Casaseca) and tutelage from an aging con man named Manco (Manuel Alexandre), a true artist from long time ago . After some years of smash-and-grab burglaries , they're joined by Federico (Federico Luppi), an old swindler , he is the best , a real professional . Things go well until they become involved to Pilar (Victoria Abril), a woman from Federico's past, re-enters his existence with a proposal to trick that will put them all on richness , but the events go awry . Now they along with Orozco (Manuel Moron) got to the edge of a big score when attempt to cheat a millionaire named Mellado (Gabriel Melki) by means of a complicated plot.

This interesting film packs thrills , suspense , action , twists and turns . It deals with a group of swindlers and their cat-and-mouse game full of plot twists and extraordinary surprises . The twisted story is carried out in similar style to other magnificent films as ¨Nine queens¨ and ¨David Mamet's House of games¨ . It is developed in flashbacks from childhood until the final big score and is narrated voice in off by the starring , an excellent Ernesto Alterio , son of another good actor , Hector Alterio , and sister of Malena Alterio . Remaining cast is frankly fine as Victoria Abril , Federico Luppi who bears a strong Argentinian accent , Enrique Villen , Marian Alvarez , Alfredo Villa , among others . Special mention to veteran and always likable Manuel Alexandre , recently deceased . Atmospheric and suspenseful musical score by Juan Bardem . Being a co-production Spanish/French appears as cameraman Thierry Arbogast who realizes a good camera-work and he has photographed several French super-productions.

The motion picture is well directed by Miguel Bardem who belongs a notorious actors family , as is son of director Juan Antonio Bardem , aunt is Pilar Bardem ,cousin of Carlos Bardem, Mónica Bardem and Javier Bardem. He has directed some entertaining films as comedy as ¨Twelfth night¨ , Mas amor Que Frenesi , ¨Mortadelo and Filemon , mission : save the planet¨ , suspense as ¨The ugliest girl in the world¨ and ¨Incautos¨ at his best and results to be his most successful picture .

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

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.

So far Miguel Bardem's career it's been one of the more dreadful of recent Spanish cinema. He's made nothing but rubbish... until now. "Incautos" has been quite a surprise: it's a serious film, with rhythm, with a great cast and very entertaining.

The art of robbing, that's what "Incautos" is about. A film much alike to David Mamet's "House of game" and stuff like that. A thousand of twists in the script, and a story where nothing's like it seems.

The weak points in latest Bardem's movie may be the so-American language, that makes some of the characters look rather unnatural (especially Victoria Abril's. She's a hell of an actress, but in "incautos" she looks a little bit forced). Ernesto Alterio is not that bad, but he's not half as good actor as his father... And what to say about Luppi?? Well, he's the MAN.

In short: a good movie. The best that Miguel Bardem has ever made. I hope this is the beginning of a brand new stage in his career.

*My rate: 7/10

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