Cash: O Grande Golpe

"Cash" is a sad case of Paris playing Hollywood, and failing. The plot is a total "Ocean's Twelve" knock-off, with bits of "Heist" and "After the Sunset" tossed in. Also, Catherine Zeta-Jones was about a zillion times hotter as Europol power bitch Isabel Lahiri (than Valeria Golino in the near-identical part of a struggling international forgery investigator). Everyone else is even more forgettable, with the possible exception of Ciarán Hinds in the part of Julia's hard-headed boss. Jean Reno, who appears in the small part of the big counterfeit kahuna, must have owed someone a favor. Don't waste your time with this.

Apart from the numerous stylistic resemblances between "Ca$h" and the Ocean's 11/12/13 movies (funky music, editing pace, use of colorful light, etc.), you have to realize that this is a very different movie. Of course, if all you have seen in this genre is Ocean's 11, and you're easily distracted by style, then of course you draw parallels, and you might prefer the Ocean's movies.

This is, please let me emphasize this, this is NOT a heist movie! So don't expect a heist movie! This movie is more in the line of "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", in that it's filled with con artists, scams, twists, and a sometimes very comedic approach to all that.

Sure it could be better here and there, but it's a really nice feel good crime/(little bit of)heist/con movie, charming and entertaining, and I left the movie theater with a big grin.

Not perfect, but enjoyable.

Other reviewers have noticed the similarities between C$SH and OCEANS ELEVEN (2001) or OCEANS TWELVE (2004). To this list we might add some caper films of the Sixties, including the original OCEAN'S ELEVEN (1960) or Ronald Neame's GAMBIT (1966) and Peter Collinson's THE Italian JOB (1969).

All the familiar elements are here: exotic locations in Monaco as well as the south of France; sun-kissed beaches and luxury hotels; the deep azure blue of the Mediterranean; iconic cars; and a stellar cast clearly enjoying themselves with Éric Besnard's script.

The plot is basically irrelevant - suffice to say that small time conman Cash (Jean Dujardin) pits his wits against Mr. Big Maxime - Dubreuil (Jean Reno). It seems that Cash's endeavors are doomed to fail, as Maxime not only has power but wealth and guile as well. Cash teams up with enthusiastic police officer Julia (Valeria Golino), whose understanding of the difference between right and wrong appears tenuous at best, and together they set about trying to place a sting on Maxime. The action comes to a climax at a luxury seaside hotel, with the protagonists fighting to secure an attaché case full of expensive and unregistered diamonds.

Also involved in the gallimaufry are Ciarán Hinds and Joe Sheridan as a pair of native English speakers involved with the French police force; their grasp of both languages is highly competent - far more so than their professional abilities.

The effect of watching C$SH is rather like playing with a series of Chinese boxes; nothing is quite what it seems. The 'good' characters turn out to be corrupt' the 'bad' characters are not quite as black-hearted as we might first assume. But director Éric Besnard isn't much interested in morality; he invites us to admire the ingenuity of the various cons instituted by the various characters. This is a world where only the fittest - and the most astute - survive.

A highly enjoyable film, with a series of ingenious shot-structures (especially the use of split-screen techniques) recalling those days of the "Swinging Sixties" when everyone seemed so much more carefree than they do today.

A french caper movie, with a stellar cast. Enjoyable and kinda light, despite the criminal background of the movie. Of course you might see where this is going way before it actually gets revealed, but as with other movies, but as a saying goes: "The journey is its own reward" and it is true with this film here too.

The actors seemed to have great fun and you will have to, if you let yourself enjoy this crime caper, that has some of the finest contemporary and popular french actors in it. I did watch it at the Fantasy Filmfest in Stuttgart and was one of the few that liked it. Most thought it wasn't anything special or new, but that wasn't the point in my view. So just sit back, relax and enjoy (if you can and are able to)

this is a great movie a good comedy,a great movie with jean reno and jean dujardin on top of there game,this movie has a little of everything to have a great time.the association between those 2 actors is great it,s a movie full of fun moments ,the actions scene are great,jean reno is the best actor in the world.this movie is great to have a good time,it,s a very entertaining movie the should make more of those movies because they are simply great.this is a great action comedy movie that everybody can enjoy.jean reno is such a great actor and the director also made a amazing work.I hope that they make more of those movie because the are simply great