chaos-rampant I was expecting straight-to-video fodder here the kind you watch stupefied because it happened to be on late at night. It revealed itself to be a taut little thing that tries to create its own world.It was caught in the Tarantino craze so we have small talk about cartoons, movies and music peppered throughout. It has, eventually, a heist in animal masks gone awry that makes poor sense and cookie cutter resolutions where we drive around to settle scores with a bunch of characters that were left hanging so that it's all neat by the end.For a while it manages to strike some spark, most of it in the first half.A man who we understand is trying to be upstanding while everyone around him is fickle, but he has a blind spot for gambling. It's not about the money, for him it seems to be a warped way of measuring himself up against the universe, challenging the fates to pave whatever way they have in store so he can have a mandate to abide by. He makes a mess, owing everyone in town, but won't take the easy way out because a bet is a bet; opportunity for self-worth. So when the fates shuffle the deck and he's dealt the role of hapless stooge who loses everything, he goes through it with stoic persistence to settle debts. Ray Liotta is as good as he was for Scorsese in a similar twitchy role as fates conspire to crush him.It's no Asphalt Jungle where the heist is the ritual that opens us from anxiety to dreamlike visions, but it beats Reservoir Dogs.Noir Meter: 2/4 | Neo-noir or post noir? Neo

smatysia I've known gamblers like the Ray Liotta character in this film, those who crave action more than they like winning. Harry Collins at least realizes this about himself, whereas my acquaintances do not. There is some real humor to be dredged in this movie, among all of the truly evil conduct. It had reasonable production values, and a well-known cast, as if no one knew going in that it would end up direct-to-video. Kudos to much of the cast for making it all at least semi-believable. This includes Liotta, Anthony LaPaglia, whichever minor Baldwin brother this was, Brittany Murphy, and Angelica Huston. I will say one thing for it, I was almost never bored with it, and did want to find out what happened. Check it out.

milosz_m I came into this movie as it was added on DVD to Playboy magazine. At first I didn't know what to expect. There were two options: 1) that it will suck tremendously 2) that it will be one of those movies that no one has heard yet they come out as little pearls waiting to be discovered. Frotunately #2 was the case of this one.Of course I was drawn into it by the cast. I mean Liotta, LaPaglia and Houston couldn't be that mad. Then as the subtitles at the beginning revealed the following cast: Murphy, Ribbisi, Esposito I was sure that "Phoenix" couldn't have been the wrong choice. And it wasn't. I know it's not bringing much new to the topic of dirty cops theme, but it gives a great look at gambling addict. The plot is basically combination of three: 1) addiction (gambling) 2) dirty cops 3) heistand it is a well crafted combination. There is action, humour, beautiful women:). There are turning points. The screenplay is good so is the cast and it makes one wonder why it didn't get better fate (worldwide cinema distribution etc). Well no need in complaining. We can be happy it just IS. Because it is intelligent and highly entertaining movie.Best regards

janet-55 I was glad to eventually get hold of a copy of this dark little film; and it didn't disappoint. But it left me confused, I hadn't realised how much it rains in Phoenix, Arizona. Is there another Phoenix in the US of which I'm not cognisant? The amount of rain was distracting and at times made it difficult to discern what was occurring particularly as much of the film happens at night. The film depicts the reprehensible behaviour of four cops, one of whom is an addicted gambler (Liotta) and another (LaPaglia) is just plain evil. Unfortunately there is little to explain these four guys motives, a bit more character development would have been useful. In regards of Liotta and LaPaglia their acting was tight and convincing throughout. I have seen this film likened to 'Copland' this is not so and would give any potential viewer a completely erroneous idea of what they are going to see. This is a very dark film both literally and metaphorically.