Body Count, les braqueurs

I had delayed seeing this movie because of all the bad reviews and comments it received but I thought it wasn't THAT bad after all ... I mean I picked it up basically because I had seen everything else so I thought ... why not this one ... especially since it was in the "Nobody wants to see this,

right ??" section of the video store ...

I have to say that despite some goofy dialogues ... scenes ... acting ... script ... I was actually "entertained" enough to recommend it ... Some nice twists and turns along the way as those awful people just can't BEHAVE !!... I mean it would be sooooo easy to just shut up and drive all the way to wherever there going ... (was it Florida, not sure ?? But the story doesn't appear to be so important here !! ) ... you don't make a movie with that .. do you ?? hehe !!

I was surprised that with all the recognizable faces in the cast this movie slipped through the cracks ... marginal recommendation ... too bad the last third is kind of a let down ... but before that I thought this movie was actually pretty "intriguing" .. especially if you like movies like Fargo, Reservoir dogs and Pulp Fiction (Although Body count is really faaaaaaar from being as good as those three !!) ...

All those movies just have similar styles ... gruesome violence and sometimes amusing dialogues ... 3/5 and I am pleased considering I was fearing it would be a turkey when I popped it in the VCR ...

The overall idea for this movie was not bad but the actual movie itself is very bad. What these great actors saw in the script is beyond me.

Following his release from prison, Pike (Ving Rhames) teams up with Crane (Forest Whitaker), an old partner in crime, along with Hobbs (David Caruso), Booker (Donnie Wahlberg, Chino (John Leguizamo)to set up an art theft from a museum. Chino's greed during the heist causes it to go awry resulting in Crane's death and a narrow escape with the stolen items. Only Crane and Pike knew the fence to whom the stolen items were to be fenced for $15M. The balance of the movie consists of the remaining four partners attempting to transport the items to Miami to the fence, via car, with attempts to take a bus, and a train which don't pan out due to various personality conflicts among the thieves and results in one partner killing another who winds up in the trunk of the car.

While en route, the now-threesome picks up Natalie (Linda Fiorentino) who adds another point of conflict among the thieves. The heist itself is shown in flashbacks during the trip. There is definately violence in the movie resulting from the conflicts among the thieves and Natalie. I found the movie to be engrossing throughout with interest in the interaction between the thieves; edgy, violent, keeps you guessing, a good ending, and good performances by all. * * * 1/2 out of * * * * *

The Split is a surprisingly interesting thriller. It has a great plot, unique characters and terrific dialogues. Although entertaining, the film has extremely violent and shocking scenes (like in the one in which Leguizamo destroys Caruso's character), but that was necessary, in order to show the brutality and cruelty of every one of the main characters. Ving Rhames, who was great in Don King, has a small, but memorable role, and Leguizamo gives the movie's outstanding performance, it's sad to see this actor, who has great dramatic capacity, making bad comedies, but in The Split, he had the chance to deliver his very best.Caruso comes out well, but the trailer of the film passes the idea that he is the leading actor on the film, but he isn't, he has just a supporting, although good, part. Finally, I recommend this thriller.

Some films just don't have good advertising. This one could've been a success - if anyone outside the festival circle would've been aware it even existed. BODY COUNT has a great cast, some nice twists, and generally a zany, well-paced script. It's a matured RESERVOIR DOGS, with less pop-cultural chit-chat and more substance to the plot. Check it out, you might be positively surprised.