FAKERS

UK, 2004, 86 minutes, Colour.
Matthew Rhys, Kate Ashfield, Tom Chambers, Tony Haygarth, Art Malik.
Directed by Richard Janes.

At only 86 minutes, this is a brief confidence trick caper set in contemporary London.

After an elaborate prologue in Sicily 1911, with a romantic artist pursued by the vengeful husband of his voluptuous model, Fakers opens with a vigorous animated credits sequence that finally introduces us to Nick, a genial young man about town (Matthew Rhys) who has fallen foul of a dramatically psychopathic gangster (Art Malik) who can switch instantly from orders for bashings to semi-sophisticated discussions about art theory. Nick is in debt to the tune of 50.000 pounds with four days to raise it.

The plot consists mainly of persuading London gallery owners that some sketches, copies of the aforesaid Sicilian artist’s lost masterpiece, are genuine so that he can sell them and pay off his debt. He is helped by the nice copyist (Tom Chambers) and his tough-as-nails sister (Kate Ashford). Things go right and things go wrong – but you know a happy ending is somewhere there (in Sicily) but not until a nice twist at the end concerning the artist.

Pleasantly inconsequential.

1.An entertaining confidence-trick movie? Both serious and light? The ambiguity of the morals at the end?

2.The prelude, Sicily, the painter, the model, the affair, the husband, the chase – and the information that the artist had died the next year?

3.Contemporary London, interiors of houses and apartments, pubs? Exteriors, the panorama of the city of London? The chase sequence through the market? The score?

4.The credits and the animation, setting the comedy tone?

5.Nick, his financial situation? Personality, caught by the thugs, being brought before the chief? Wright and his aristocratic tone, discussions of art, Nick one-upping him? Having the four days to get the money? The pub, Eve and her coldness, seeing Tony and his drawing, buying him the gift? The sarcastic interchanges with Eve? The drawing and its financial value? Phil as an expert? The plan, Tony doing the drawings, contacting the galleries, the split second timing visit, the confidence trick, Eve helping him? Getting the money? Enjoying the success, with Eve, the sexual encounter, her robbing him? The deal with Mick, the thugs, their coming to the house – his quick escape and the irony of their arrest? Tony in court, his pretending to be the lawyer, getting Tony out of the court? The deal with Wright about the picture, getting Tony to draw it, close his eyes, the success, the expert and his testifying that the picture was genuine – and the problem about the earrings? The postcard, knowing that Eve was in Sicily? Portrait of a character – genial but a conman?

6.Tony, dominated by Eve, his skill in drawing, being part of the plan, the drawings, the arrest, in court, Nick getting him off? The final drawing, shutting his eyes – and his decision to leave the earrings off? The irony that the picture they had was a fake? The expert praising the artist – and Tony – as a true artist?

7.Eve, hard, the pub, wishing she was elsewhere? Dominating Tony? Her helping Nick, the drive and the chase through the city? The sexual relationship, her robbing him – but the postcard from Sicily?

8.Phil, his expertise, part of the plan, escaping just in time?

9.The gallery owners, their jealousies, phone calls – and the split-second timing to deceive them? Sylvia Creat and her snobbery?

10.Wright, his expertise in art, his transition from gentleman to psychopath, his thugs and the beatings?

11.Themes of art, forgery, true artists – and the irony about the story of the earrings?

12.A caper, the light mood, serious issues? Innocence and guilt?