Swindle (2002) Poster

(2002)

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5/10
Average heist thriller that still is entertaining...
Enchorde9 January 2010
Warning: Spoilers
Recap: Seth George plays a risky game working his way into a crew planning a big bank job. But it pays off and finally the day comes when the hit goes down. But Seth gets suspicious quickly. The plan depends on the police being alerted, creating a hostage situation, with the crew slipping out unnoticed in the end through a unknown maintenance tunnel. But what is the mastermind Sophie really after, she is completely uninterested by the bank's money. And partner Cisco and Seth just can't play along. But Seth got a trick up his own sleeve, he is cop. But he is also far over the line and can't be sure he won't be arrested when this ends. If he can survive that long.

Comments: An average heist movie starring Tom Sizemore as Seth. Sizemore is a good actor, especially in this genre, the heist thriller. But he got little support. The cast is mostly unknown and though they don't fall through completely they don't impress either. Nor does the story. It is predictable and even though it tries to add another level by cutting in time, adding background information and extra substories through a series of flashbacks, it is still rather simple.

But anyone expecting more going in is living in a fantasy world, and is up for a big disappointment. Yes, these kinds of movies can be real gems, but to expect it? I didn't, and therefore Swindle worked alright. It delivered 90 minutes of good entertainment, what it was made to do, nothing more nothing less. I won't remember it for all time, but I'm not supposed to either. This is a movie made with an average budget for an average result. And that it delivers. This is movie that works very well if nothing else is on.

5/10
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5/10
It was free on YouTube and there was nothing else on I wanted to watch
skay_baltimore10 April 2022
Meh. Pretty good cast; but not really a pretty good movie. My main gripe is that it was needlessly choppy, which didn't make it more suspenseful, just more annoying. It's a shame because Fenn and. Sizemore's performances deserved better. (Maybe it was just me but Sizemore reminded me a lot of. Madsen in Kill Bill 2.) I didn't care much for Pla's performance at all. It was cartoonish. I don't know if it was his acting or how he was directed or both. I've seen worse, but I've definitely seen better.
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4/10
"BankJoB-UnderCover-Inside man"
Vasko_petroff26 February 2017
Warning: Spoilers
I was not sure if i will watch the movie after i saw the trailer because there are too many movies about bank robbery (with much better actors) and undercover cop.In the begging i was not sure if i still wanna watch this movie but still i decided to give him a chance(It looks very low budget)After 20-30 min i was interested,the story is not bad its not Scorsese.But the end is with not so good.Sherilyn Fenn is very pretty and act good ,on the other side was Tom Sizemore,i find his acting very poor.(Probably with better acting crew the movie will be good).Conrad Pla was bad i didn't like his interpretation of a psycho-robber,like he was watching a lot of bad movies and copy the acting.The Screenplay is not bad (Mid 90s action),for some people will be hard to follow the story but i actually like that.Don't like that sometime the cameraman recorded the backs of the actor when they acting,speaking in the moment(Probavly Reggie/Director order).I will not recommend the movie but if you are movie fan or you have 90 min to lose its not bad movie.
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Predictable 'Heist' Film, Brightened by Leads...
cariart9 December 2003
It is doubtful that you'll remember much about $WINDLE for long; as a 'heist' film with an undercover cop (Tom Sizemore) falling for mastermind Sherilyn Fenn, it is pretty much 'by the numbers', with the mandatory 'psycho gang member' (Conrad Pla), a plot twist that isn't that surprising, and a resolution that is predictable (save for Dave Foley's unexpected windfall). What provides the greatest pleasure in the film are the performances of Sizemore and Fenn, who are both terrific.

Tom Sizemore is a fast-talking, quick-witted cop who is deep undercover as a freelance hood 'recruited' for an old-fashioned bank job, and whether he is quoting Jack Kerouac while seducing Fenn, savoring a high-stakes poker game, or trying to explain to his partner that he's not on the 'take', he dominates the screen each time he appears.

Sherilyn Fenn is a marvel. After surviving early roles best remembered for her frequent nude scenes (TWO MOON JUNCTION, MERIDIAN), she has matured into an actress of some range and a remarkable sensitivity. When she describes men's usual 'pick up' lines ("Nice dress...It would look great on my floor"), there is a world-weariness and pain in her voice that is totally honest. At 37, she has achieved a balance between her still breathtaking beauty and growing dramatic skills that, in a 'kinder' world, would provide her better roles in more than just 'Indie' films.

$WINDLE isn't a great film, but catch it, anyway, for Sizemore and Fenn. You won't be disappointed!
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1/10
Beyond bad. I mean really really bad!
lopezpatricia-061397 July 2021
This film is in 360p quality I kept faffing with my broadband to see if it was bad connection. Terrible quality image to watch. Then in the first scene you see the bank robbers park about 2 streets away and do a slo motion walk across to the bank. Armed to the teeth, balaclavas on vests on. And pushing pedestrians out of the way. Then the same level of ridiculousness throughout.
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7/10
Thanks to Heat....
searchanddestroy-13 May 2022
HEAT is obviously the DNA of this film, as many others made in the mean time, including Spanish films such as INSIDERS, a bad movie by the way. AMERICAN HEIST and TAKERS were also good ones. Back to this one, Tom Sizemore is of course the main link between Michael Mann's masterpiece, but not exactly the same character. The basic scheme of undercover cop is so predictable, foreseeable.... But that doesn't matter after all, the main interest is somewhere else. The heist is rather complex and ingenious but obviously inspired by DIE HARD WITH A VENGEANCE, the diversion. I admit that the lady gang leader, mastermind, is not that convincing. It remains overall a good story, destined for TV and DVD market. Good dialogue lines, especially from the female lead, exquisite lines for this kind of B movie.
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6/10
not much new going on here.
ksf-210 May 2021
Stars Dave Foley (kids in the hall), Tom Sizemore, Sherilyn Fenn. George goes undercover to try to join the gang that's been pulling jobs in his hood. They have pretty sophisticated equipment and strategies. Sophie (Fenn) is the boss of the gang, and isn't sure about trusting him at first. So they pull the job.... was kind of hoping for surprises, some twists and turns. But no. It starts out so good, and doesn't really go anywhere. Script needed souping up. Needed something new and different. There's violence and swearing. Directed by KC Bascombe.
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8/10
Funky precursor to CSI genre, TV B movie with cool music
emilyroberts60031 March 2010
$windle is a cool, funky movie I landed on by accident watching TV, when I couldn't fall asleep. I was instantly captivated and entertained by the large number of clichés. I guess it was all tongue in cheek from the get go as far as cop shows roll. I love cop shows. For those of you who can read between the lines, and love CSI,loved Snatch, it would seem like this unpretentious flick could be one of the precursors to the CSI genre. A borderline cheesy cult B movie made in 2002, starring Tom Sizemore (Natural Born Killers) and an semi-serious performance by comedian Dave Foley (Kids In The Hall)I don't want to create anticipation or spoil the plot. It's light weight in a fun way.

I wish there were more of those movies around in 2010, to pad those sleepless nights, zapping through infomercials. We love the cheese, so I can't wait to see another cop show by KC Bascombe. On a final note, I really loved the music score throughout, and had to go and find that El Camino song by E.P. Bergen that now plays on my I Pod all the time.
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There can be worse ways to spend your Sunday afternoon...
Enochian8 December 2003
Synopsis : Tom Sizemore plays an undercover cop, who infiltrates a gang (led by the gorgeously curvy Sherilyn Fenn) planning a heist at a bank, where Dave Foley is the manager.. The movie unfolds as a series of flashbacks (to describe how the whole thing was set up) that occur as the robbery is taking place.. While the plans are being made, Tom semi-falls in love with Fenn and loses contact with his superiors leaving them to wonder which side he is on.. The plan is conceived as a smooth get in - get out operation, but things quickly start going wrong.. There are a couple of plot twists along the way, and the climax is satisfying if not mind-blowing..

My Comments : The lead cast is pretty good since I consider both Sizemore and Fenn to be very good, underrated actors.. Though it seems as if it was made on a shoe-string budget, their acting along with the support cast is reasonably strong... The script and dialogue, though smattered with heist movie cliches, can be witty at times.. In short, this is an eminently watchable movie for those Sunday afternoons, when you're all done with laundry and have nothing else at hand..
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9/10
Better than I had hoped
infolord1 March 2003
Warning: Spoilers
** SLIGHT SPOILER **

I don't usually rent a video on a Saturday night, so when I do I really want it to be enjoyable. This one was. I got more than I expected. I'm a sucker for movies with a twist in the end, so naturally I loved this one. Clever dialogue, the script was not bad, direction was good, the story-telling speed was just right.

No complaints, I got more than I had hoped for.
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8/10
Loved it.
roxy349916 April 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Pretty much Tom Sizemore carried this entire movie. His performance blew me away.

His character Seth George was everything. Badass, compassionate, heroic and charismatic.

Sheralyn Fenn was incredible as the kickass Sophie. I really liked her performance too.

I actually really liked this movie overall, great acting, script, cinematography, music and a great story.

A great heist movie and Tom plays the undercover cop who infiltrates this gang and ends up saving the hostages lives. I am freaking glad that Tom Sizemore played the hero in this. He hardly plays a good guy in his movies. He has died in way too many of them it's nice to see him as the good guy for once.
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9/10
Surprisingly Good
oobrimah26 January 2019
With a title like 'Swindle', and a score (criminal activity) as object of a movie, you wonder if it could be any good.

But if you are looking for a good illustration of how a movie can be chock full of characters yet revolve mainly around two characters, this is the movie. There is the undercover cop whose dialogue is just great, and a tough hoodlum who does not get much screen time, but whose presence looms large in the movie. The two are a lesson in contrasts.

The ending is one of those grey area endings, different people will have different takes on it. The important thing? A surprisingly good movie with a somewhat surprising ending.
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