This is a remake of a 1955 film called "Bob Le Flambeur" but this version is definitely different with an amazing performance by its star. Story takes place in the south of France where an aging thief named Bob (Nick Nolte) drinks, gambles and is addicted to heroin. After losing his last 70,000 francs on a horse race Bob handcuffs himself to his bed to beat his addiction. Bob has also helped a 17 year old prostitute named Anne (Nutsa Kukhianidze) and together Bob gets through this difficult phase in his life. Bob emerges from this broke but a friend takes him to a local casino to show him the paintings on the wall. Bob says that they are all fakes but learns that the real ones are held downstairs in a room with high security. He gets a loan from a local thug and art dealer named Tony Angel (Ralph Fiennes) who wants a percentage of whatever he gets. On Bob's tail is Roger (Tscheky Karyo) who is a cop and a friend who knows that Bob is up to something so he follows him everywhere.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
Bob enlists the help of other characters to assist him but things get complicated when Anne's pimp wants her back and then the head of security at the casino tells him that he wants to be on the heist but it turns out that he has a twin brother that no one knows about.
This film is directed by Neil Jordan who can be at times a brilliant filmmaker but over the last few years his efforts have been at best spotty. Here he seems to be in great form and like his films in the past this is a story about odd characters who try to survive in a harsh world despite their passions. Jordan is aided greatly with the casting of Nolte in a role that seems to be written for him. Nolte has stated in interviews that he did some heroin for some of the scenes in this film. This is one of his best roles and its a performance that borders on his very own personal demons. It reminded me of Robert Downey Jr in "Two Girls and a Guy" and when I describe it that way I mean that these two incredible actors brought out a dark side of themselves and exposed it to the camera. It's not easy to watch but these types of riveting performances are raw at its basic level. Nolte's ragged and weathered face is a mask of both pain and experience. His character is definitely someone that can teach you something but he also comes across as a guy that you would want to know at a distance. Along with a good performance by Kukhianidze and Jordan's wonderful direction this works both as a heist film and a fascinating character study.
*****SPOILER ALERT*****
Bob enlists the help of other characters to assist him but things get complicated when Anne's pimp wants her back and then the head of security at the casino tells him that he wants to be on the heist but it turns out that he has a twin brother that no one knows about.
This film is directed by Neil Jordan who can be at times a brilliant filmmaker but over the last few years his efforts have been at best spotty. Here he seems to be in great form and like his films in the past this is a story about odd characters who try to survive in a harsh world despite their passions. Jordan is aided greatly with the casting of Nolte in a role that seems to be written for him. Nolte has stated in interviews that he did some heroin for some of the scenes in this film. This is one of his best roles and its a performance that borders on his very own personal demons. It reminded me of Robert Downey Jr in "Two Girls and a Guy" and when I describe it that way I mean that these two incredible actors brought out a dark side of themselves and exposed it to the camera. It's not easy to watch but these types of riveting performances are raw at its basic level. Nolte's ragged and weathered face is a mask of both pain and experience. His character is definitely someone that can teach you something but he also comes across as a guy that you would want to know at a distance. Along with a good performance by Kukhianidze and Jordan's wonderful direction this works both as a heist film and a fascinating character study.