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NINE QUEENS Send This Review to a Friend
The film that I enjoyed most in the realm of pure entertainment at the 2001 New Directors/New Films series was "Nine Queens," an ingenious movie from Argentina about con experts. Written and directed by Fabian Bielinsky, it features one duplicitous move after another. You can never accept anything that is said or done, no matter how convincing the gambit, and you never can be sure of the truth until the ending with the final twist. Even then, you may wonder. It is great fun, thanks to the writing, direction, and the amusing performances by Ricardo Darin, Gaston Pauls, Leticia Bredice and the rest of the cast. "Nine Queens," should be a treat for audiences everywhere.
The film begins with what seems to be a petty bit of conning in a convenience store, and someone watching the culprit intercedes to protect him. From that point you are on your own. It would be the height of disservice to tell you much more of the plot, other than that the title refers to a set of stamps reputed to be worth a lot of money. Bielinsky makes the story crackle with twists and turns, and he packs the scenes with plenty of atmosphere and offbeat characters. There's a sexual situation at work as well, and in the process of the storytelling various elements of greed come into play.
There is also a sociological angle that we encounter. In other words, this isn't just about petty conning. By the film's finale you may also see some relevance to current events. Enough said. Just go and enjoy it. A Sony Pictures Classics release.
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