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 Comedy Drama Alvin doesn't know it but the Feds are using him as bait to catch a killer. |
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I must say I was surprised because I really felt I was going to see a fluff film; another so-so action film that would end up quickly on video tape shelves. I was wrong. This is due to Jamie Foxx's acting ability. Yes he is your wise cracking stereotypical black man small time crook but once he realizes what he has to lose his character grows up. Foxx does this well but still does not lose completely the comedic bite of the character. I really have to say Foxx was impressive in this movie. He also had excellent support from the other actors that made this film enjoyable. Doug Hutchison and David Morse from THE GREEN MILE also add greatly to the film. David Morse was one of the guards in THE GREEN MILE and Hutchison was one of the prisoners. These two actors enhance the film witht heir roles of Treasury Agent Edgar Clanteen and a dangerous criminal named Bristol. Come to think of it everyone in this film did a good job of acting. The film opens with a major heist of a gold reserve of a Federal Gold Reserve in New York City by two men. The mastermind computer expert, Bristol (Hutchison) and his helper/driver Jaster (Robert Pastorelli) masterfully break in and steal millions in gold bars. Unfortunately Bristol is a major sadistic head case. He kills the guards even though they are tied up and unable to stop them. Jaster freaks out, as he was guaranteed that there would be no guns. Realizing Bristol is nuts, Jaster takes off on him, with the the truck and the gold bars.    Alvin Sanders and his brother, Stevie (Mike Epps) are planning another type of major heist, one of....prawn... yup...shrimp...but as Foxx says they're not shrimp, they're bigger. This major heist goes wrong and bingo, Alvin goes to jail but covers for his brother who was not captured. The scenes where they take his pictures in the police station are really funny whenever they make fun of his prawn caper. Jaster is captured by the police on a driving charge after he has hidden the gold. Treasury Agent Clanteen knows he was one of the thieves and gets ready to interrogate Jaster. Meanwhile Jaster and Alvin have shared a jail cell for eight hours. Jaster is not well; it is obvious he has a heart condition and Alvin helps him. He even tries to defend him from Clanteen when they come to take him away. Before this happens Jaster asks Alvin to deliver a message to his wife if anything happens to him. "Tell her there is no place like home." The obvious cliche happens here. While interrogated, Jaster dies. Clanteen realizing that Alvin was in the cell with Jaster, brings the petty crook in for interrogation. Even though Alvin tries to be the hard case wise cracking dude, he cracks under light pressure. He tells them about the the message. They tear up the Bronx Zoo and find nothing. Alvin goes to prison. The Feds realize during this time that Bristol is a security threat to the government because he has the ability to hack their systems and they can not trace him when he does. They come up with a devious plan to lure Bristol out of hiding. They decide to use BAIT. Alvin is hospitalized and implanted with a tracking device. Unaware of this situation Alvin is released from prison so they can use him to get to Bristol. The Feds begin sending out encoded computer messages to each other. They know Bristol will eventually see these messages and learn that Alvin knows where the gold is hidden. They know finding the gold is a lost cause, but they hope this will draw Bristol out of hidding so they can capture him. In the meantime they begin survellance of Alvin. They can hear everything he does which obviously will lead to many entertaining moments.     Alvin quickly goes to his girlfriends house where we discover a different character especially when he finds out he has a son. Alvin is determined to reform and get a job to support his son and marry Lisa (Kimberly Elise). To help keep him on the streets the agents make sure he receives $5000.00 but he turns that over to Lisa. They end making sure he gets more money to support him. After some incidences he realizes that something is going on and that somehow he is being set up for something but does not know what. This is really the only plot device that concerned me. I really kept thinking through the movie how Clanteen could have done all this much easier. Since Bristol did not know who Alvin was they could have used a government agent to play the part of Alvin. Then, of course we wouldn't have had a movie would we? Once he suspects what is happening the plot really gets interesting. Expect lots of twists and turns in the story. Alvin's problems multiply and all sorts of interesting things happen. There are shooting, car jackings, bombs and even kidnappings. I don't want to tell you anymore because it will take too much of the fun out of what happens. I think I can honestly say that you will get your money's worth out of this movie. So grab the popcorn and if you can afford a drink, then, grab one as well, sit back and let your persistence of vision do the rest. Just a reminder that the only good popcorn is made with coconut oil. The heck with healthy canola oil. Drinks also taste better with more ice. Just my own simple observations. Have to go now. Roll it. |
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RATING CANADA... Rated AA for language, violence and some scenes of sexuality |
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vjm@metrocity.com
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