Cool Money

I found out about this movie 24 hours ago, and in that time the summary on the main page has changed three times. Each of them made reference to James Marsters' most famous previous job, on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which may or may not be a good thing.

I'm not an obsessive fan (as far as you know), but he's a solid actor, and so is everyone in this movie who isn't playing a cop. This is a TV movie on USA, for crying out loud, where does it get off being GOOD? The last TV movie on USA I watched was "Hard Cash" with Christian Slater and Val Kilmer, and there is a prime example of two hours of my life I will never get back. While that was a movie made by a director and actors who are all on their way down, "Cool Money" (despite the lame title) is made with relative unknowns both behind and in front of the camera, and I hope to see them working again soon on newer and bigger things.

Director Gary Burns keeps the action moving along quickly, despite the obvious handicaps that are commercial interruptions, and having the budget of a USA TV-movie. The script, by Shelley Evans, doesn't exactly pop, but it's above average for what it is, and gives us some really great characters, even if the memorable lines are few and far between.

Even if you know nothing about Marsters, he's an actor with presence and the face of a man up to no good; he'd look right at home in any Guy Ritchie movie. High marks for this one, and extra bonus points for a shockingly good Margot Kidder as Comfort's New York mother.

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.

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 the movie was pretty good. I agree that they did take some license with actual facts (Rochester Downs, should have been Batavia Downs). I believe that they did that in order to remain within a fairly small budget. Overall, I really liked the film. It was interesting and although it was not action packed, it didn't ever seem to move slowly. The characters were very believable and the dialogue was real. All the actors did a great job in making you want to root for the bad guys. It certainly made me interested in finding out more about the actual events on which it was based. Also, having James Marsters in the lead role didn't hurt at all.

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!