Persons Unknown (1996)

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

best movie i've ever seen.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

I thought this movie had a decent pace,enough in the plot,that it kept my interest. The acting was very competent. Naomi Watts is a very good actress,even in a co-starring role of a girl in a wheel chair,who feels her only chance in life, is to rip off some drug dealers,so she and her sister can make a better life. Joe Montegna ,is an under rated actor,he does very good work when given a decent role to play too. Over all,this is a decent movie,rent it,see it on cable,or online (legally of course). If you want to make a at home double bill on the theme of double dealing crime noir,add No Country for old men,to the double bill.

SPOILERSThe law of averages would say you've seen quite a few films of this type before you arrive at this one, but it really doesn't matter one bit. Although not perfect, it does enough to keep the crime-caper cynics at bay (the two-very-attractive-blonde-sisters routine probably being the reason for that, but who cares?).The plot attempts to be so devious and double-crossing that I half-expected Naomi Watts' character to step up out of the wheelchair at any moment (a la 'The Usual Suspects' - or maybe not!).The way the backstory of the main characters are uncovered along the way, and the manner in which they are somehow interlinked works very well, I thought, and I was very impressed with the ending aswell (although not altogether unusual for this type of film!).

Ex-cop Jimmy has a one night stand with Amanda but begin to suspects that she had alterative motives when he notices his files have been moved. He begins to follow her and finds that she is part of a gang planning a robbery on a garage. When they carry out the robbery, Jimmy steals their money from storage. When the gang begin to turn up dead Jimmy offers to help Amanda and her sister, however with the drug runners, DEA and a corrupt cop on their trail he finds it a difficult proposition.The story is not out of the ordinary, robbery goes wrong followed by double cross after double cross. However it is still quite clever and compelling. This is mainly due to the good characters in the film and the back story they have. The action is good as well but it is the back story and complexities of Jimmy, Amanda and Molly that make the film that bit more interesting.Joe Mantegna has class in bucket loads and is great here as the alarm installer with a past. Kelly Lynch is a bit hammy as Amanda but is good for the majority. Watts as Amanda's sister Molly is also good with a strong character. Strong support also comes in quality form from the like of Xander Berkley and J.T. Walsh.Overall this is a moody noir that draws strength from it's strong characters. The story may not be too different from the standard noir plot but it is delivered in a dark fashion.

I'm a big fan of Kelly Lynch and in this little movie she did it again she can act.The story is good and the action is fast enough to keep you interest going.Joe Mantegna and an actress I never heard of Naomi Watts did a fairly good job.J.T Walsh os fantastic again.I'm going to miss him a lot he was a great actor.So movie fans if you got the chance to see this movie in a video store try it it's worth the rental fee.Enjoy