12 films about scammers and their clever scams

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

These tapes will surprise you and make you laugh. And it will also tickle your nerves.

12. Games of gentlemen

• USA, 2004.
• Thriller, comedy, crime.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 6, 2.

An extravagant professor gathers a gang of like-minded people. Together they prepare to rob a casino. To commit a fraud, they rent a room from an elderly lady, but she guesses about the intentions of the men. Now the bandits must solve the problem that has arisen, but it turns out to be more difficult than they expected.

"Games of Gentlemen" is a remake of the 1955 film of the same name. This black comedy was shot by the famous Ethan and Joel Coen, and the genre of the picture is a favorite of the talented brothers. Therefore, the film turned out to be eccentric, adventurous and funny - in the best traditions of these directors.

11. The Thomas Crown scam

• USA, 1968.
• Thriller, drama, melodrama, crime.
• Duration: 102 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 0.

Thomas Crown orchestrates a flawless bank robbery. At his behest, four criminals steal two million and deliver them to Thomas. Moreover, none of those involved knows either their accomplices or their boss. Thus, Thomas is above suspicion. Vicky, an independent insurance investigator, is tasked with investigating the case. She goes to Crown and leads a psychological duel with him, trying to lure the truth out of him.

The film seduces the viewer with a stylish visual range and thoughtful plot to the smallest detail. And also - wonderful music, thanks to which the picture even received an Oscar statuette for the best original song.

And the tape is decorated with Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen, who played the main roles. Their characters play a psychological game so skillfully that watching it is an exceptional joy for the viewer. By the way, the film has a 1999 remake starring Pierce Brosnan.

10. American Scam

• USA, China, 2013.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 138 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 2.

Irving is a talented swindler. He deftly manages business with his partner - his beloved Sydney. An FBI agent finds out about this dishonest couple. Having caught the adventurers red-handed, he offers them a deal: Irving and Sydney must turn over the influential fraudsters to the police, otherwise they will be imprisoned. The criminal duo decides to accept the offer - and this serves as a starting point for a cunning and convoluted shenanigans.

The film features a brilliant cast of actors, but the most striking of all is Christian Bale. The artist is known for drastic metamorphoses for the sake of roles, and in this film he demonstrated his ability to transform at the highest level. In order to play the balding and fat Irving, Bale gained 18 kilograms. Robert De Niro, who played with Bale, at first did not recognize his colleague at all. It was only after the director's explanations that he realized who he was interacting with on the set.

9. Magnificent scam

• USA, UK, 2003.
• Thriller, drama, comedy, crime.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

Roy and Frank are swindlers. They run fake lotteries and make money by selling water filters. Suddenly, Roy, who has mental problems, suffers from a severe panic attack. Frank advises an accomplice to see a psychotherapist, who, in turn, should get to know his daughter. As soon as a once abandoned girl appears in Roy's life, everything changes. True, Roy does not yet know which way.

The film has such an unusual plot that the viewer is perplexed until the last minute of viewing. The picture was shot by Ridley Scott, and in this tape he acts out a drama without a grand scale, examining the characters of "little" people through a magnifying glass.

8. The drunkest district in the world

• USA, 2012.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 116 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 3.

The three Bondurant brothers sell moonshine clandestinely during Prohibition in the United States. To cover their illegal trade, they run a gas station and a restaurant. The police find out about their illegal affairs and offer them immunity in exchange for a "share". The Bondurant brothers refuse, not realizing that they have made a very serious enemy for themselves.

Film critics around the world have agreed that the main advantage of the film is acting. Still would! The film stars Jessica Chastain, Tom Hardy and Shia LaBeouf.

And the film is based on Matt Bondurant's book "The Wettest Place in the World" - in this novel the writer told the story of his grandfather's life.

7. The talented Mr. Ripley

• USA, 1999.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 139 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 4.

Tom Ripley is an inconspicuous guy with no outstanding abilities. But he passionately wants to break out into the people. Guided by this goal, the young man enters into the confidence of a very wealthy man named Dicky. Together with him and his fiancée, Tom goes to Italy and receives there the benefits he dreamed of. But at the same time, the hero begins to degrade and commit terrible deeds.

This psychological thriller is striking in its depth of exploration of human nature. The image of the villain Ripley is very ambiguous, and throughout the film the viewer experiences completely different, polar feelings towards him: pity, sympathy, and disgust. It is not for nothing that the full title of the film, which is shown in the credits, has 15 epithets to the name of Ripley. And they are all varied.

The film is based on Patricia Highsmith's novel The Talented Mr. Ripley, but director Anthony Minghella has tweaked the original plot. For example, he added homosexual motives to the picture, and also made the denouement more pessimistic.

6. Bluff

Bluff - Storia di truffe e di imbroglioni

• Italy, 1976.
• Comedy, crime.
• Duration: 110 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 5.

Petty criminal Felix escapes from prison very successfully. However, when he meets with a gang of mafiosi led by the seductive Belle, he learns that another person should have been saved. Now the bandits are forcing him to go back to prison and pull out the criminal Philip to freedom. In the course of this adventure, it turns out that he does not want to meet with Belle at all, and as a result, Felix and Philip team up to circle her.

The film stars the inimitable Adriano Celentano. Rogue Felix is one of his best roles. And the picture has long been ranked among the eternal classics of comedy. Despite the fact that the tape was filmed in the 80s, it is interesting and funny to watch it today.

5. How to steal a million

• USA, 1966.
• Comedy, crime, melodrama.
• Duration: 123 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 6.

Charles Bonnet successfully counterfeits masterpieces of great artists and then sells the paintings to wealthy people. Once he was offered to exhibit a statue of a naked Venus, as well as to insure it for one million. Bonnet agrees. But later it turns out that an examination is a prerequisite for insurance. The scammer's daughter, Nicole, realizes that her father is in danger. She decides to steal the statuette and invites a charming handsome man as her partners.

The film was directed by William Wyler, one of the most important directors in Hollywood. Behind Wyler's shoulders are paintings that have entered the golden fund of American cinema: Ben-Hur, Roman Holiday, The Collector. And How to Steal a Million was no exception.

This tape is famous not only for its impeccable directorial work, but also for its excellent creative duet. Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole shine on the screen.

4. Selling for a fall

• USA, 2015.
• Drama, comedy, biography, history.
• Duration: 130 minutes.
• IMDb: 7, 8.

Hedge fund manager Michael Burry discovers that the real estate market is supported by subprime loans. He decides that he can bet against this market and make good money. Michael's clients are agitated by the strange activity, but the financier is confident in his idea. And when Burry's colleagues realize that he is right, they also decide to play for a fall and make a profit.

It is hard to imagine that such a serious (albeit humorous) picture was shot by Adam McKay, the director of the comedies "Cops in Deep Stock" and "TV Presenter". However, he did it at the highest level. And proof of this - more than 40 film nominations for various awards in various categories.

Separately, critics noted the cast of the film: Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell and Brad Pitt appeared in the lead roles.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street

• USA, 2013.
• Drama, crime, biography, comedy.
• Duration: 180 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 2.

Jordan Belfort begins his career as a broker, but soon the bank where he works is closed due to financial difficulties. Then the hero decides to found a small company and, thanks to his perseverance, makes a profitable enterprise out of it. At the same time, he is living through his life, using drugs and alcohol. And after a while Jordan becomes interested in the FBI.

The film was shot by the great Martin Scorsese, an influential figure in American cinema. He did it in his own unsurpassed manner, perfecting the use of his favorite techniques. Admirers of the director will note in the film slow-motion shots, deep inner conflict and the presence of beautiful blondes. And those who are not familiar with the work of the master will like the dynamic narration, humor on the verge of a foul and the harsh, “masculine” character of the film.

2.12 chairs

• USSR, 1971.
• Comedy, adventure, crime.
• Duration: 153 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 3.

Ippolit Vorobyaninov, nicknamed Kisa, learns from his dying aunt a secret: a long time ago, diamonds were sewn into one of the 12 chairs of the furniture set. Inspired by the desire to get rich, Hippolytus travels to his hometown to find jewelry. The adventurer Ostap Bender helps him in his search.

The comedy was shot by Leonid Gaidai, a recognized classic of Soviet cinema. The charming and bright Archil Gomiashvili was invited to play the role of Ostap Bender, and Sergei Filippov played Kisu. The adaptation of the great novel "12 Chairs" by Ilya Ilf and Yevgeny Petrov turned out to be very colorful, funny and witty. And watching it is fun and interesting today.

1. Parasites

• South Korea, 2019.
• Thriller, drama, comedy.
• Duration: 131 minutes.
• IMDb: 8, 6.

Ki Woo comes from a poor family with no education or work. But one day, an old friend offers him a part-time job as a tutor for rich people - this is how a young man meets the well-to-do Pak family. Realizing that they also need an art teacher, Ki Woo tricked his sister into this position. And she, in turn, is going to lure her father and mother into the service of the Pak.

The picture is notable for its symbolism. For example, during the first minutes of the film, a cockroach appears in the frame, as if hinting at the future fate of the heroes. Also, throughout the tape, many stairs are shown that personify the position of people in society. And the main character often exclaims: "This is so metaphorical!"

It is also noteworthy that the picture combines features of many genres: from adventurous comedy to thriller. For its impeccable artistic work and acute social themes, the film received the award as the best film. And twice: in 2019 - at the Cannes Film Festival, and in 2020 - from the Oscar.