Les neuf reines

Seen The Sting? Treasure of Sierra Madre? Catch Me if You Can? You probably have come to expect that most characters are lying in the con-artist film. Thankfully there is always some innocent involved who reminds us that the world isn't completely cynical. In Nine Queens, however, the atmosphere of deceit is so complete that everyone is either running a scam, or expecting one.

This Argentinian film will never be featured to promote tourism in Buenos Aires. An artificial economic bubble full of overvalued pesos in Argentinia means hard financial times. Hard times breeds desperation and cunning. The Buenos Aires of Nine Queens is teeming with thieves among whom there is no honour. This film will appeal to the cynic in all of us. Sometimes the safest approach to people is to expect the worst from them.

Ricardo Darin's performance as 'Marcos' is as perfect and intricate as the swiss made time-pieces he probably swipes. Watch with morbid fascination as he gives up little parts of his soul until there is nothing left.

The jack-in-the-box ending rivals The Usual Suspects.

I have never seen a film as relentlessly uncompromising about the allure, power, and banality of the con game as I have seen in the Argentine `Nine Queens.' From the opening sequence where small-time grifter Juan pulls a $20 switch at a convenience store to the final scam that looks like `House of Cards' and `The Sting' welded onto `Hard Eight,' nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted.

More recently think of `Sexy Beast,' `The Heist,' and `The Score.' However this is David Mamet territory, where buddies keep one eye on the target and the other on the buddy.

In the current `Enron' environment, no surprise at the allegorical suggestion of this film that trust is a rare commodity these days, banks are vulnerable (consider the Argentinean economy), and lame goddess Nemesis may never catch up with some of business's most egregious con artists, from CEO's to salespeople.

The film's pace is quick, like the hands of 3-card Monte; emotional involvement either on the screen or in the audience is minimal; everyone has a moment of triumph and defeat. Even beauty has its deceptive moment when Leticia Bredice, as the sister of other con artist Ricardo Darin, struts her stuff in the hotel lobby.

`Nine Queens' won 7 awards from the Argentinean Film Critics Association. I'm betting that's not a con.

I know some people out there who don't like to watch movies with subtitles. It either makes them feel that they are missing out on the essence of the film because they do not understand the language being spoken, or they simply don't want to be forced to read in order understand what's going on. For those who share that opinion, it's quite a shame because this is one fantastic film that you will be missing.

Being the son of an Argentine-born parent, I more or less understand a lot of the Spanish spoken by the characters in this film, though I am in no way fluent. As you watch this film though, you almost forget that the subtitles are there. You can miss a few lines of dialog and still have a good grasp of exactly what's going on. This is due mainly to the two starring actors in the film who were absolutely incredible. First, Ricardo Darin, is nothing short of brilliant. He's a well-known actor in Argentina and has such an incredibly natural on-screen presence that you can't help but be captivated by his performance. He plays the role of a professional con-man to perfection, combining his dramatic and comedic skills to form an equally villainous as well as sympathetic character. Secondly, his counterpart Gaston Pauls is equally brilliant as Darin's baby-faced accomplice in what is to be a "one in a million" opportunity to swindle a wealthy businessman out of a small fortune.

I've seen the American version "Criminal" - 2004, which is also good, but does not really do justice to the original. Nine Queens is a brilliant piece of international film-making that will not disappoint any fan of the genre. As mentioned by a reviewer, there is absolutely zero "down time" in this film. The dialog is crisp, the characters are very well cast and there is no time wasted with any unnecessary filler or elongated scenes. Every word and every scene builds a bridge to the next and culminates with a surprising and satisfying ending that you definitely will not be expecting. Please, don't let the language barrier prevent you from seeing this film. It's very easy to follow and well worth the small effort required. 10/10.

I'm surprised no other has seen nine queens is actually a spin-off, or, better, a parody of "House of Games". The analysis of the differences between the two movies is a very interesting subject i submit to all imdb addicts and con-movies experts. I have to admit that, following Mamet's plot, i fell in bielinsky's trap exactly as i suspect he expected me to.

There are a few movies that have the premise found in this movie and that is the old 'sting' or the 'con'. 'The Sting' with Paul Newman did spring to mind at certain scenes whilst watching this but, to be honest, this film is very original and has something all of it's own. Very well acted by the main actors as well as the rest of the cast, the plot was superb, seemingly predictable at first, there was a moment when during the film you suddenly realised that you didn't have a clue who was conning who and what exactly was REALLY going on?!

Very well written and as some have said here already, the twist is wonderful and surprising, by then I had suspected every possible scenario as the reality but failed to get it right!

Recommended watching. There is a reason this film is included in the book '1001 Movies You must see before you Die'.