Swindled

2004
6.7| 1h50m| en
Details

In a flashback, Ernesto, a young con man, tells us how he got to the edge of a big score: childhood in an orphanage, youthful smash-and-grab burglaries until his partner is caught, then tutelage from Lefty, an aging swindler. After some years of success, they're joined by Federico, the best, a true artist. Things go well until Pilar, a woman from Federico's past, re-enters his life with a proposal to con a golden goose - a swindle that will put them all on easy street. A double-cross may be in the cards. The flashback over, can Ernesto hold his own in the present?

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Reviews

Hellen I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much
Cathardincu Surprisingly incoherent and boring
Murphy Howard I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.
Cassandra Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
ferdelaboca That's the best title for this movie, because nothing ever happens. Totally stupid and waste of time. Luckily for me I fast forward it so didn't waste all this time. Some good acting though
groggo I was so offended by this film that I had to write SOMETHING about it, so please humour me.Its only redeeming virtue, outside of some good acting, is that it doesn't go on past 107 minutes. Even that length is about 30 minutes too long.Comparisons have been made here to the brilliantly dark 'The Grifters,' but I can't see it. They are two different films altogether. The closest 'Swindled' comes to an existing film is 'The Sting,' made in 1973. It borrows (sorry, STEALS) liberally from this splendid George Roy Hill 'entertainment,' which is exactly what is was. I enjoyed it because it didn't pretend to be anything else.There are so many red herrings in 'Swindled' that I thought I was in a fish tank. It's very confusing, but that's only one of its many problems. The principal one is this: if you make a film where everyone lies to everyone else, where everyone is conning, we have no 'anchor' to ground us. The inevitable result is a mish-mash of very sloppy seconds from other caper flicks.Just about everyone in this film is conniving and objectionable. Surely a basic Film 101 class would tell us that the audience has to 'care' for someone. We can't 'care' for anyone here: they're ALL swines. It might have worked as a rakish comedy, but it plays it straight from beginning to end.IF YOU WANT TO SEE THIS FILM, READ NO FURTHER. BIG 'SPOILER' COMING. SORRY, BUT I HAVE TO DO IT.There's so much fake blood and so many fake killings that it doesn't strain credulity -- it destroys it. The ending is absolutely ridiculous -- a 'murder' in a crowded airport that isn't really a 'murder' at all? And the 'murdered' guy, blood-soaked, simply stands up, brushes himself off, and walks away, fake blood dripping, with the booty? All while the police and hordes of people are looking on, and no one intercedes? The director must have a lot of cojones if he thinks we're supposed to buy into this. Noirish B-movies from the 1940s did better. I'm a great fan of European flicks, but this confirms that schlock doesn't always come from Hollywood. As far as 'Swindled' is concerned, my judgment lies with a famous line from the oft-misspoken producer Samuel Goldwyn, who knew all about schlock: 'Include me out'.
Henry Fields So far Miguel Bardem's career it's been one of the more dreadful of recent Spanish cinema. He's made nothing but rubbish... until now. "Incautos" has been quite a surprise: it's a serious film, with rhythm, with a great cast and very entertaining.The art of robbing, that's what "Incautos" is about. A film much alike to David Mamet's "House of game" and stuff like that. A thousand of twists in the script, and a story where nothing's like it seems.The weak points in latest Bardem's movie may be the so-American language, that makes some of the characters look rather unnatural (especially Victoria Abril's. She's a hell of an actress, but in "incautos" she looks a little bit forced). Ernesto Alterio is not that bad, but he's not half as good actor as his father... And what to say about Luppi?? Well, he's the MAN.In short: a good movie. The best that Miguel Bardem has ever made. I hope this is the beginning of a brand new stage in his career.*My rate: 7/10
newland80 Miguel Bardem is one of the latest off springs of a well-known family of actors, directors, composers and writers. His previous films have been very irregular, since "Más que amor, frenesí" was nice, "La mujer más fea del mundo" was too weird to my taste and "Noche de reyes" was a complete failure. "Incautos" is his best film so far, but still has a few gaps in the screenplay and its pacing. Three actors in a state of grace (Ernesto Alterio, Victoria Abril and Federico Luppi are great) are involved in a plot that might remind the viewer of Stephen Frears' "The Grifters". Although the film starts well, the ending is somehow too twisted and some pivotal points in the plot are barely explained. Maybe all the events going on in the first hour could be cleared by a second viewing, but the screenplay should explain everything by itself in a single viewing."Incautos" is technically good, specially cinematography and score, and the cast is outstanding (apart from the three leading actors, Manuel Morón and Manuel Alexandre are a delight to watch). Therefore, a better structured screenplay would have helped to make this film a really great one.Overall rating: 6/10

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