Plastic

**

Reviewed by: Angus Wolfe Murray

Plastic
"It looks like a made-for-TV-movie, with nothing cinematic, nothing original"

This could have been a clever modern thriller using clever modern techniques. In the 21st century why bother with bank heists and train robberies when internet hackers and credit card fraudsters can make £2million in two weeks?

Thrillers of note treat The Cliche as a no-go area. If something as hackneyed as a con artist's comeuppance reaches new heights of excellence in American Hustle, this Brit crew can do the same with Plastic. But they don't. Why not?

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Two students find a way of financing their uni loan by perfecting black market deals and forging credit cards. They bring in a rookie street hustler and his apprentice to increase the volume of theft, except the newbie hard man prefers a baseball bat to a computer screen, which gets them into serious trouble with East European heavies who actually kill people.

Subtle? Maybe not. But there is potential. There's also a girl who plays the field and adds a spark of what might be called chemistry.

Problem 1: they are not likeable.

Problem 2: they go to Miami and behave like lads at a stag night with other people's money.

Problem 3: the scriptwriters take a shower.

The "clever modern potential" is wasted in a mish-mashed shoot out and stupid behaviour. It looks like a made-for-TV-movie, with nothing cinematic, nothing original.

The students are out of their comfort zones. The side effects of bad decisions, such as betrayal and greed, don't shock or surprise any more.

Reviewed on: 01 May 2014
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Plastic packshot
Student credit card scammers join forces with low rent street hustlers only to be blackmailed by heavy duty East European gangsters
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Director: Julian Gilbey

Writer: Julian Gilbey, Will Gilbey, Chris Howard

Starring: Ed Speleers, Will Poulter, Alfie Allen, Sebastian De Souza, Emma Rigby, Thomas Kretschmann, Graham McTavish, Mem Ferda

Year: 2014

Runtime: 102 minutes

BBFC: 15 - Age Restricted

Country: UK

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