Hot Money

We in Australia have recently had quite a few British dramas focusing on women. There was that god-awful piece of crap "Footballer's Wives", and there was another one whose name escapes me now about some relatively glamorous women who stole some money.

Here, on the other hand, they are plain grey women, your "salt of the earth", who like some policemen, simply succumb to overwhelming temptation. You can't help but like them, to cheer them on. As usual, things start well and then turn to mud, but what would drama be without that?

The very ending, the last two minutes, is an excellent surprise. If indeed this is based on a true story (uhh, I don't always believe the producers when they say that), then it's quite a good one.

I watched this movie on TV (in Canada) because it's advertised storyline seemed to be the same as a currently playing movie, "Mad Money" (with Diane Keaton & Queen Latifah). It was much more enjoyable than I expected it to be. It is a real relief from all the super-hi-tech heist movies of today.

Some people deplore the depiction of crooks as heroes, but that's what heist movies do--make you cheer the bad guys and boo the good guys. If you don't want to do that, don't go. I think it just shows how easily we can change our view of good and bad. And this film does a masterful job. The characters are real, serious, funny, sympathetic.

Now, I can't wait to see "Mad Money" and compare the two: old & new, black/white & color, TV movie & screen movie, British & American.

Caught this when it was rerun whilst I was working on a Sunday afternoon. The summary sounded mildly intriguing so I let it run.

I really liked the fact the the characters seemed real. They were just ordinary working women with a (somewhat) ordinary job, who succumbed to a temptation that I'm sure any of us in a similar situation would at least feel if not give into ourselves. And who's to say that you or I wouldn't, under those circumstances? No attempt was made to "glam" up the principals, either, which I appreciated.

This film's greatest strength is that the story was allowed to *tell itself* with realism and a bit of humour. Not exactly a classic, but still it's a mighty good yarn, done in a competent and believable manner.

Fans of The Bill might recognise Melanie Hill (Liz) - she played the looney Marie, who met copper Jim Carver whilst he was counseling her over the murder of her daughter and subsequently was (briefly) married to him.

Caroline Quentin plays a cleaning lady who works in the Bank of England and has a plan to steal money from the incinerator where old notes are decommissioned. As is customary in heist dramas, things go well at first and then start to go awry. Despite the cliches of the genre, the direction and humour of this movie is refreshing and holds viewer attention well. Throughout the movie there is a subtle battle of the sexes going on. The cleaners have to outwit the male security guards while at the same time trying to keep their husbands under control. In general, the male characters don't come off too well from the encounter. It is all good natured though, rather like the comedy series Men Behaving Badly, in which Quentin also stars.

Hot Money was essentially a star vehicle for Caroline Quentin at the time. It is a fictionalised version of the Loughton incinerator thefts between 1988 and 1992.

Quentin plays Bridget Watmore who takes a job as a cleaner after his middle management husband becomes unemployed. She works at the Bank of England's incinerator plant where used money is destroyed.

Along with fellow employees Liz Hoodless and Jackie Haggar who all have money troubles. They hatch a plan to steal the money by changing padlocks and stuff the money inside their underwear.

Trouble arises as they are flushed with cash and go on a spending spree. When they have low paid jobs. One of the husband's deposits the old money in a bank.

For something regarded as a victimless crime. It is all very affable. I think it wanted to be a lighthearted version of Widows. It was all rather bland.