Ladrões de Luxo

I've noticed that almost everyone that commented was a James Marsters fan. I like others only tuned in especially to watch him as an avid fan. How truly disappointed I was. It was very slow paced and several of the actors were so flat in their lines I felt zero emotion for 90 percent of them. I realize this was based on a true story and plots are limited but I think James should have passed on this one for his first breakout after Angel. He is far more talented than this boring, passionless script. It was refreshing to listen to James without his "accent" and also a fan to his books on tape, I was so looking forward to seeing this as most were. I feel most adult fans will unfortunately look over the fact that James Marsters is in this and concentrate on the story and not the star. Hey I'd watch James shovel snow for five hours with no complaints from me, but movie makers need to find a script that is worthy of him. He has range people use him!

Cool Money is based in true facts about a former convict Bobby Confort (James Marsters) that went to the jail for small robberies, after escape and arrested afterwards he claims at courthouse that already fulfilled his sentence, he was release at once , soon is back on business, now with a Italian crook descendant Sammy Nalo (John Cassini) with bad manners and wears kitsch clothes, they planning something big, the targets are the high class Manhattan hotels and their pulpy safe Boxes, he was double-cross by his jealous Policeman cousin Phil Parris (Schombing), the robberies are quite well and profitable, Bobby found enough, somehow Sammy has unexpected troubles with his former friends from Chicago's Mob, they must make the final job on first target hotel, wich they were outrageous expelled, a bit slow pace, but far away to be bad, has a fine veteran actor Wayne Robson as Doc a skilled thief, including the famous actress Margot Kidder as fiery Bobby's mom, let it see easily!!

Resume:

First watch: 2020 / How many: 1 / Source: DVD / Rating: 6

Bobby comfort does is a well good movie and all. Drops a little sympathy with him being a good father and a loving husband. it tells the organic nature of the crime, and little tricks of the trade. But it never answers why he needs the money why he has to do this than work a 9 to 5. he doesn't gamble doesn't do drugs, he's not on some TAHITIANS paradise resort. No sick daughter no sick grand-mother. Why can't he be a stock-boy some-where. Where I live we have these pimps, and they always describe themselves as a man of leisure. Menaing lazy ass N-word. Bobby doesn't do describe himself as this. But then we don't see him take his kids to the soccer game. they did say he was in debt , but so am I and I work. I'm sorry i don't mean to be moral oral here, I just want to know what he did with the money he got for winning the law-suit.

I thought this was a pretty good movie, but it bothered me that I couldn't figure out in what time period it was supposed to be set. The cars are usually a dead giveaway, but here we have one of the characters driving a mid '70's Ford sedan, one driving an late '80's GM station wagon, and the main character in what looks like a 2005 Chrysler. Not to mention the gang uses a late '90's Lincoln to drive to their heists. I figured that since there were no cell phones or computers it must be the mid-to-late '70's, but then seeing a modern electronic PBX telephone console at the hotel brings you back to the '90's! The acting and writing were quite good, and the movie moved along at a good pace. Enjoyable.

Briefly: Rather entertaining for a late night TV movie with good food and wine and not much else to do, however, don't expect to toss your nickers off for it either. Picture Ocean's 11 poor neighbour with an eviction notice under the door, and there you'll have it :P

The good:

Actors were good. General plot was fine. Atmosphere was there. Music the right style for this type of movie.

The bad/unfortunate:

Direction: there was such a mush up of directional styles superficially coming and going... did not really stick to a signature style. Had a little or rather tried to have a little bit of a Tarantino vibe to it (without the violence bit but the narrative dialogue there) but...uh..NO. It could have been so much more. Still, all in all it keeps moving at an appropriate pace so it doesn't bore you to death like other low budget films I have witnessed.

Script: Gosh, it was weak at times. I thought some scenes were not required, some others not expanded as much, some characters truly interesting not really developed. Had few humorous bits in there but not as much. It lacked originality at times and especially at the robberies!!! I mean come on!This movie should have had at least a bit smart and complex robbery scenes or at least the LAST one that was supposedly a big fish. Again, had the potential to be so much more.

Unfortunate title: I mean ''cool money'' really? so not cool...