SYNOPSICS
Spivs (2004) is a English,Albanian movie. Colin Teague has directed this movie. Kate Ashfield,Linda Bassett,Chooye Bay,Elizabeth Berrington are the starring of this movie. It was released in 2004. Spivs (2004) is considered one of the best Drama,Comedy movie in India and around the world.
Spiv n. Brit. Slang. A person who makes a living by underhand dealings or swindling; black marketeer. An aristocrat among confidence men, Jack Pike Ken Stott uses his charm to pull off small, elegant swindles, aided by his right-hand-man Steve Nick Moran and slacker brother-in-law Goat Dominic Monaghan. However, a truck con job with sexy rival Jenny Kate Ashfield unwittingly embroils them in the black market immigrant trade -- with two Albanian children now on their hands. It doesn't take long before the double- and triple-crosses pile up and cons and victims alike are scrambling for safety in an increasingly dangerous game where getting out alive is the only absolute truth.
Spivs (2004) Trailers
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Spivs (2004) Reviews
Thought provoking, good plot.
Spivs has a believable, clever but not over complicated plot. As the film starts with the stereotypical spiv characters we seem in store for a light hearted conmen comedy, an attempt at 'The Sting' maybe. But the film becomes gradually darker and nothing you thought you could predict occurs. The desperation and anguish that overcomes the main character is brilliantly portrayed by Ken Stott, as we are transferred from the feel of 'Shooting Fish' to 'Mona Lisa'. All performances are good with Stott stealing the show but the mafia boss wasn't menacing enough and seemed slightly out of place, while his main henchman was very frightening. The direction was generally OK with some genuinely gripping scenes but some overused flashy camera-work did lose the film some momentum in places. Overall, I enjoyed the film.
Sweet film that's not going to rock the world
This film is suffering a bit of an identity crisis - is it a comedy, a drama or what? There are good performances from Kate Ashfield and some of the best moments in the film are the ones with Ken Stott, his aunt (Linda Bassett) and the children - these are tender moments that are well captured. Jack Dee's character is weak and badly portrayed. There are some fun moments but overall this film doesn't gel well. Go and see this film to support British movie making, its a sweet film that portrays the wheeler dealers of east London and had it had a few more bucks in the budget, could have been tightened up somewhat to produce a gem perhaps.
An exciting film treat
I had to search the internet to find a cinema where it was showing(it has not been widely promoted)but I was glad that I did find it.the film brought out a wide range of emotions in me it was in places tender,dramatic,exciting and midway through the film there is a shock I certainly didn't see coming.The acting was top class. Dominic Monaghan was totally believable as a cockney dope head and even brought a little comic relief to a film dealing with some very serious issues:ken stott gave a great performance too,the parts of the two children caught up in the drama are convincingly played and I found nothing at all to complain about in Spivs:it is well worth watching and I look forward to seeing it again
Psychological drama with too little insight
This wasn't at all what I expected. I was expecting something along the lines of Snatch and instead got a reasonably thoughtful story about a middle aged man realising he has wasted the majority of his life on cheap con tricks. I went to see this for Dominic Monaghan and let's be honest, Dom is barely in this and his character is, though entertaining and sweet, largely irrelevant to the film. In fact one of his scenes is so irrelevant you suspect it of having been inserted merely to up his screen time. I didn't actually enjoy the film all that much, not because it was bad but I think because I could find no handle with which to identify with the three main characters. They lived lives I would never live, behaving in ways I would never consider, and the lead character (Ken Stott) more so than the others. There were a few moments when you felt emotion for him, but for me the whole thing was just too far from my sphere of experience. I am not a con man, I could never be a con man and have no desire to be one. I don't understand the mindset. Dom's character is actually easier to empathise with, for me anyway, and not just cause I can feel some sort of connection for any character played by Dom cause the connection already exists. He's a simple minded lad who doesn't think much about what he's doing, he drifts through his life in a cloud of cannabis smoke and that's enough for him, he's the pettiest of criminals, not out to hurt anyone in particular and not looking for the big time. He comes across as a sweet if slightly deluded guy, not the best influence in the world but not the worst either. He does add a nice lightness and goofiness to scenes that might have been a bit heavy otherwise. I would have liked to see more of him but there wasn't room for him in this script which settled down into a psychological drama with gangster side salad. The film was good, but not great. It lacked connection and I can't take all the blame for that, a truly great film can make you connect with it's characters no matter how far they stray from yourself. Perhaps it was too tight lipped, you could never quite see deep enough into the characters to touch what was implied.
spivs going to hit high
A thoroughly well produced film with Lead star KEN STOTT stealing the show! The touchy subject of human trafficking is handled with humour and respect. The film is a comedy with a definite black edge.The script is tight and the film well paced. The supporting cast are excellent well experienced actors whose characters make the plot believable and thought provoking. Look for big screen new-comer Jack Dee. He is a great surprise and it would have been great to have given him a stronger role. This film is the one to look out for and could become the next East is East. Good to see The British Film Industry have still got it. Who needs over inflated American Budgets if we can produce classics like this. More Spivs please.