A slickly directed tale about a pair of confidence tricksters at large in Buenos Aires on the eve of the financial crash of 2001; when it was awash with money (much of it dubiously acquired and easily lost) but also rife with low level criminality, as is lovingly depicted here.
In his feature film debut, the late writer-director Fabián Bielinsky (who only lived to make one more feature film after hitting the ground flying with this) gets superb performances from all of his cast, and the most suspenseful aspect of his labyrinthine script predictably full of surprises (that synthesises many classic McGuffins of the past but probably most recalls David Mamet's 'House of Cards') is just who's scheming against who and who will ultimately end up with the spoils.
In his feature film debut, the late writer-director Fabián Bielinsky (who only lived to make one more feature film after hitting the ground flying with this) gets superb performances from all of his cast, and the most suspenseful aspect of his labyrinthine script predictably full of surprises (that synthesises many classic McGuffins of the past but probably most recalls David Mamet's 'House of Cards') is just who's scheming against who and who will ultimately end up with the spoils.