Month: August 2022

Today’s quick review: Cardboard Gangsters. Jay Connolly (John Connors) and his friends Dano (Fionn Walton), Glenner (Paul Alwright), and Cobbie (Ryan Lincoln) are low-level drug dealers looking to make it big. Their aspirations pit them against Derra Murphy (Jimmy Smallhorne), a veteran dealer with a stranglehold on their neighborhood. As the turf war escalates, Jay pursues a dangerous fling with Murphy’s girlfriend Kim (Kierston Wareing).

Cardboard Gangsters is an Irish crime drama about a drug dealer who gets in over his head. Jay Connolly has the street smarts and the ambition to make his criminal dreams a reality, but just a few bad decisions threaten to destroy everything he has. Cardboard Gangsters offers an intimate look at street crime, the decisions that lead to it, and its destructive nature. Believable character work leads to a small-scale story that still has dramatic heft.

Unlike other crime dramas, there is no glory in Cardboard Gangsters. Jay and his crew are petty criminals who make foolish mistakes and turn to violence at the drop of a hat. Even at their most successful, they are never awash with cash. This gives the conflict a very grounded quality, with none of the romanticization seen in gangster epics. The characters have to play the hand they’re dealt—which they often do badly—and live with the consequences.

In spite of its competent execution, Cardboard Gangsters does not have much to set it apart. The plot is a turf war that spirals out of control, but the particulars aren’t very memorable. The narrow scope of the story is a good fit for the movie’s themes, its budget, and its characters’ lot in life, but the drama falls short of what could have been done with such a personal setup. And while Jay has a noble streak, he’s not as sympathetic as he could be.

These factors contribute to a workmanlike crime movie with enough craftsmanship to make good on its premises but not enough to stand out from the crowd. Cardboard Gangsters is a fine pick for those in the mood for something more realistic than flashy. It makes good use of the tools at its disposal, and it manages to set up some interesting choices for Jay and his friends. Even so, viewers hoping for something more striking may want to look elsewhere.

For more small-scale criminal enterprise, try The Business or Killing Them Softly. For a more comedic take on a similar setup, try Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels. For a sci-fi movie about a younger gang of delinquents, try Attack the Block.

6.4 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 for a competently handled story.

Today’s quick review: American Cousins. After a deal with the Ukrainian mob goes wrong, American mafiosos Settimo (Dan Hedaya) and Gino (Danny Nucci) head to Glasgow, Scotland, to stay with their cousin Roberto (Gerald Lepkowski), the owner of a small restaurant. As the cousins get to know each other, Roberto wrestles with his feelings for his friend Alice (Shirely Henderson), while Settimo and Gino help him deal with a group of local thugs.

American Cousins is a crime movie about an ordinary Scottish businessman and his mobster cousins. American Cousins is a soft-spoken comedy that focuses on the rustic charm of Scotland, the gap between Roberto and his American kin, and the budding relationship between him and Alice. The movie also has its share of drama, both at the personal level and in connection to crime. The result is an endearing and surprisingly well-rounded watch.

American Cousins takes a premise that easily could have been a gimmick and evolves it into something heartfelt. Settimo and Gino come off as brash and shady at first, but they are loyal men with some depth to their characters. The same goes for Roberto, a mild-mannered businessman who learns to assert himself. The interactions between the characters and their growth over the course of the movie give American Cousins a solid emotional foundation.

American Cousins builds on this foundation well. The movie uses an assortment of lighter moments, bits of introspection, and personal details to flesh out the characters. The tone is generally light and relaxing, but it dips into heartache and conflict for a few well-chosen stretches of the story. There’s no single idea or line of dialogue that defines the movie, but it’s hard to watch it without growing attached to the characters.

American Cousins is a good pick for anyone in the mood for a thoughtful, character-focused comedy. American Cousins doesn’t aim for the biggest laughs or the most shocking developments. It’s outclassed as a comedy and as a drama by movies that aim higher and focus directly on a single goal. But the movie does an admirable job of making a lot of little moments feel meaningful, making for a modest but satisfying watch with a wide emotional range.

For a small-scale comedy with an even more diffuse plot, try Intermission. For a darker comedy about criminals hiding out in a quiet European town, try In Bruges.

6.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 7.0 for a charming story with good character work and a surprising amount of heart.

Today’s quick review: Knockaround Guys. Matty Demaret (Barry Pepper) has always wanted to be a respected criminal like his father Benny (Dennis Hopper) and his uncle Teddy (John Malkovich). He finally gets the chance to prove himself when his father asks him to pick up a bag of cash. But when the bag goes missing, Matty must travel to Montana with his friends Chris (Andrew Davoli), Johnny (Seth Green), and Taylor (Vin Diesel) to get it back.

Knockaround Guys is a crime drama about four young criminals trying to make up for a costly mistake. What should be a simple errand turns into a fiasco when Johnny misplaces a bag containing half a million dollars, kicking off a sprawling series of events that forces Matty to take charge of a situation that’s spiraling out of control. The movie features a decent plot, well-drawn characters, and a good balance between heavier and more comedic moments.

Knockaround Guys’ greatest strength ends up being its characters. Matty and his friends are not much to look at, but they have heart. Not as tough or as ruthless as Matty’s father and uncle, they still work hard to get back the money, even as fate deals them one bad turn after another. The differences in their personalities lead to some good banter, while their varying perspectives on the criminal lifestyle let the movie touch on some deeper themes.

Beyond its characters, Knockaround Guys is a conventional but competently executed crime drama. The plot is a chaotic affair involving lost luggage, crooked cops, unruly locals, and the looming threat of Teddy flying in to take over the search. The movie has flashes of comedy that highlight how out of their element Matty and his friends are, while the more dramatic moments help to ground the story and give it meaningful stakes.

Knockaround Guys does not have the creative premise, sharp comedy, or raw pathos needed to stand out in the crowded crime genre, but the combination of a solid plot and likable characters makes it a satisfying watch all the same. Knockaround Guys is a fine pick for anyone in the mood for a movie that splits the difference between heavy acts of crime and light-hearted chaos. Those looking for a tense drama or a pure comedy may want to skip it.

For another crime drama about amateur criminals in over their heads, try Killing Them Softly, Cardboard Gangsters, or The Business. For a dark crime comedy about a scheme that gets out of hand, try Fargo. For a more comedic story about small time criminals, try Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels or Snatch. For a similar drama about four criminals looking out for one another, try Four Brothers.

6.1 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.5 to 7.0 for good characters and a decent story.