Spivs (2004)

Very disappointing...

That was an excellent one.

Highly Overrated But Still Good

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Gentleman Jack (Stott), his edgy right-hander Steve (Moran), sexy self-styled moll Jenny (Ashfield) and stoner Goat (Monaghan) pull elaborate cons on wannabe villains, buoyed by the motto: "You can't cheat an honest man". Victims include O'Brien, played by Kaye as a lisping ne'er-do-well with a silly haircut and a penchant for cash machine fraud, and nice-but-dim Nigel (Dee), owner of an ailing haulage company.But Jack and Co. find themselves in deep water after they attempt to steal the latter's office equipment and drive it away in a 'borrowed' lorry which turns out to be full of Albanian human traffic. When the immigrants scarper, a little brother and sister are left behind. Grudgingly, Jack becomes their unofficial guardian - but is closely trailed by some murderous parties, while Steve and Jenny, intent on closing that mythical long con, walk headlong into harm.Spivs initially hoodwinks audiences into assuming it's something that it's not, featuring the usual checklist of East End settings, shady characters and slang ("What do you think I am, some kind of meat-puppet?") which must be included by law in all contemporary British crime flicks.However, it soon reveals itself to be both a textured character-study of a drowning middle-aged man yearning for redemption, and a harrowing expose of the illegal immigrant / underage sex slave trade.That the slapstick and tragic elements mostly hang together bears testament to a well-plotted, well-researched script (occasionally sentimental, though never mawkish), along with an immensely touching central performance by Stott. It's rare and refreshing in these kinds of films to find a late fortysomething taking precedence over two young hipsters like Moran and Ashfield. Fine support too from Bassett as Jack's tough-talking sister Vee.A modern Brit crime movie sporting substance over style? It must be a con!

This film breaks Rule One: the audience MUST care about the characters. Nobody introduces us to the puppets, we don't know who they are, what makes them tick, where they're coming from, where they want to go, NOTHING. The director simply throws them into action and expects us to worry about what happens next and to be bothered enough to listen to their very badly spoken lines. (Each line in a picture like this costs on average about UKP2,000, so every time one of these second-raters tosses off a line we can't quite catch they are burning 20 big ones for the producer. Nice going, fellas!) The producer of this half-baked turkey should be talking to one of the decent script development shops in London next time. They'll run him through the ABC of movies and how to make them work. Then, at least he won't make another stinker to add to the incredibly long list of indescribable stinkers the UK so-called "movie industry" has turned out over the last few years. Don't waste five minutes of your life viewing this badly conceived, poorly executed effort at entertainment. Read a book instead.

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.

What a positiv surprise this was !Another brit-film with humor, depth and action ! Ken Stott is brilliant and the younger crew is not bad either ! Paul Kaye has a smaller part but is very good ! Jack Dee's first apperance on the big screen...and not last, I am sure. He could probably been used more in this film ? Normally I am not to keen on "children plots " but this was well balanced and the kids was good, not overacting as is so common. Nick Moran is well established in brittish gansterfilms and this is another strong performance. Kate Ashfield is "foxy" and helps the overall strengths of the film. Linda Bassett as Auntie Vee is very solid.Overall : very good !!!