EASY MONEY (2010) – The Review

Ah yes, the allure of film noir is so very addictive. Set-up saps, dangerous dames, crime bosses, goons with gats, they’ve been a part of American cinema since the 1940’s. One of the genre’s biggest fans is Martin Scorsese ( you could say he put his own spin on them starting with MEAN STREETS and TAXI DRIVER ). Well, Mr. S knows when it’s done well, that why he’s put his name ( as in “Martin Scorsese presents” ) on this Swedish import. Sweden? The land of dour relationship dramas? Well, it turns out that they can make a very engaging crime thriller. Particularly director Daniel Espinosa ( he’s already jumped across the pond to make the recent Denzel Washington spy caper SAFE HOUSE ), who gives us the taut nail-biter EASY MONEY. And if you know your noir, you know there’s nothing easy about going after those elusive big bucks.

The flick open with the daring daylight prison escape of Jorge ( Matias Varela ). Seeking shelter, he’s turned away by his sister’s family. We then meet Mrado ( Dragomir Mrsic ), brutal enforcer for a Serbian drug-running gang led by Radovan ( Dejan Cukic ). Mrado’s life takes a turn when he’s awarded full custody of his sweet 7 year-old daughter from his drug-addicted ex-wife. The film’s main focus, JW ( Joel Kinnaman ) , enters the story. We first meet him as he hits the ” gentlemen’s clubs ” with his wealthy school mates. But they don’t know the truth about JW. He returns late that night to the cramped, run-down apartment he shares with his parents. He divides the next day between college economics classes and driving a taxi ( he’s careful to avoid his rich buddies ). JW is invited by a pal to join him for a weekend party at the country estate of the beautiful Sophie ( Lisa Henni ). JW connects immediately with her, but he can’t keep up the charade for long. The social-climber needs lots of money-fast! It turns out that his taxi dispatcher/ boss is part of a Spanish/ Arabic drug-running gang ( Jorge’s old crew ). Soon JW takes in Jorge and uses his economic skills to help the gang launder their drug money. This puts both men on a collision course with Mrado and the Serbian gang and entangles them in a web of lies and deception.

Espinosa knows that a great crime thriller should have plenty of twists and turns, so I’ll do my best not to spoil the many surprises. What really holds this all together are the excellent performances. Fans of AMC-TV’s ” The Killing ” are familiar with Kinnaman ( earlier this Summer he co-starred in the indie rom-com LOLA VERSUS ) who carries much of the story as the in way over his head JW. He aches to be part of the upper crust, to the point of replacing the buttons on his shirt with a more expensive name brand. He believes he can dip his toes in muddy waters of crime and not be dirty. In that way he reminded me of Montgomery Clift in the George Stevens classic A PLACE IN THE SUN. He wanted to be in the big leagues and one look at debutante Elizabeth Taylor made that his obsession. In EASY MONEY, it’s Henni as the luminous Sophie. When they first meet she’s the flirty, ditzy rich brat, but she’s touched by JW. He’s not like the boys she’s been dating. Sophies’s truly hurt by JW’s secrets. Varela’s Jorge has a more modest desire than JW : he wants to be a part of his family once again. His ties to crime have closed that door. The most intriguing character may be Mrsic’s Mrado. In his opening scenes he’s a seething bruiser, but being with his precious daughter brings out a tender side. He doesn’t want to be like his abusive father, so he must get out of the life. This leads to that ” one last job “, that , once completed , will allow them a new life. And as with most noirs, ” last jobs ” rarely play out without a  hitch . Espinosa shoots the action with vitality and clarity, and stills allows us to get inside the characters’ heads. He’ll often use flashes from the previous scenes that intercut a new establishing shot. Like the very best crime thrillers we find ourselves rooting for these thugs and double-crossers as they react to unforeseen circumstances, especially as JW drowns in deceptions as thick as quicksand. EASY MONEY is brutal and heart breaking, so well done that a sequel has been made in Sweden. Let’s hope Mr. Scorsese will presenting that film in US theatres very soon.

Overall rating : 4 Out of 5 Stars

EASY MONEY screens exclusively in the St. Louis area at Landmark’s Tivoli theatre