I love Argentinean cinema. Maybe that's why I was expecting more from this. Sadly, the mechanics of the main story and the overall premise are way too problematic to allow us an enjoyable suspension of disbelief.
Without further ado, I wanna simply list the issues:
As a teen, decades ago, I had seen the TV adaptation of the novel "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less". This is basically it, but much, much weaker.
I'm not just disappointed, but also a bit surprised that such a talent like Darin could accept to be the lead with such a malfunctioning script. The source material may be a fine novel, but what I just watched is far from matching the basic requirements of writing for cinema.
Saying this as a fan of both Darin and Argentinean cinema in general: This film's IMDb score is wildly overrated. Okay, the actors have done a fine job and there is entertainment value to the outcome. But such a structural problem to the story should not result in anything higher than a 6.
If what I saw on Rai3 tonight is the same thing all these people have watched, well, I just don't know what to say.
Without further ado, I wanna simply list the issues:
- They wanna form a cooperative. Okay. But a cooperative for what? What's the business plan there? How come people of so different professions unite for a cooperative around the idea of renting some dormant, forgotten silos?
- Why is there such a high rent for silos? They weren't in use already.
- The main point of reference is how a particular economic crisis struck Argentina in 2001. But the crucial details of this are not explained. What I got was that withdrawing money from banks had become impossible or banned overnight. Okay. And the bank director who had early notice of this scammed these people. Okay. After learning of the details, why don't they just go to the authorities? Because even in that case they wouldn't get the money back, but what they want is the money? Not saying there is not a logic to why they take the initiative to target Manzi, but the social and financial background of the era just does not reflect in what is going on. There is a void there.
- A man losing a wife, a son losing a mother... And they have good reason to hold Manzi responsible for that tragic death. So? Where's the outrage? Even after such an emotionally crucial turning point for the story, why don't we see any outbursts and "no games" kinda vitriol, revenge, hatred?
- Half an hour into the movie, they know it was Manzi who got their money. They know where he lives and works. Basically, we got a dozen men furious over a huge scam, one which has cost dearly also in human life to a particular family. And what do they do? Just an Ocean's Eleven kinda plan? Really?
- Why aren't these two sides clashing? Why don't the scammed people put on masks, kidnap Manzi, beat him up, make him tell the code, then get inside that damn vault and take all the money? Why are they so hell bent on opening what is essentially a huge box, by coming up with some unnecessarily complicated plan? Not a single cop was seen throughout the movie. If they are down with committing what is arguably a crime, what is holding them from kicking the living daylights out of this evil guy who has not even one body guard?
- Why has Manzi hid all the stolen money and valuables inside that vault he had built in the countryside? Why has he not done the same thing at the office or home? From his perspective, what's the point of being so far from the treasure he apparently values the most?
- If the whole idea is to get the money from the guy who stole it in the first place, why aren't they forcing a confrontation? It gets ridiculous at one point: They mess with the alarms of the vault so frequently that Manzi goes there mad several times, he opens the thing, gets inside, checks things... And what is the gang doing when this is happening?!? There, the vault is open!!! The guy is in there, alone, and you know it! Who cares if he has a gun, you can outnumber him, gas him, do whatever you like. Why are you trying to open that same vault when he is NOT there???
- There is no logic to this. Hence, no real tension. A man versus a dozen men. That's it. Follow him, entrap him inside his vault, take the money and go away. Why does this film cease to develop its plot after the first half hour? Why are we watching a dozen adults pondering over how to open a giant box? How does that even socially connect to the political/financial backdrop???
As a teen, decades ago, I had seen the TV adaptation of the novel "Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less". This is basically it, but much, much weaker.
I'm not just disappointed, but also a bit surprised that such a talent like Darin could accept to be the lead with such a malfunctioning script. The source material may be a fine novel, but what I just watched is far from matching the basic requirements of writing for cinema.
Saying this as a fan of both Darin and Argentinean cinema in general: This film's IMDb score is wildly overrated. Okay, the actors have done a fine job and there is entertainment value to the outcome. But such a structural problem to the story should not result in anything higher than a 6.
If what I saw on Rai3 tonight is the same thing all these people have watched, well, I just don't know what to say.