Talk About the Money

Another BFI London Film Festival film and my Swedish entry for my World Film Challenge. Couldn't have worked out better.

Apart from having to sit next to one of the most annoying people ever, the man did not spot making strange noises throughout the whole film, the film was a mind blowing thriller!

Snabba Cash, otherwise known as Easy Money is about JW, a clever young guy who attends business school. Coming from a poor background and living a relatively poor existence. He does his best to lead a double life in the upper class areas of Stockholm. After meeting a woman at a party and wanting to continue his expensive lifestyle, he becomes involved with the world of oragnised crime and selling cocaine.

If anyone watched the US version of The Killing, a remake of the Danish TV series, you will know Joel Kinnaman. He takes the lead in this film and its sequel, Easy Money 2, which I actually tried to get a ticket for but alas, work got in the way. Kinnaman is brilliant, surprisingly he plays poor and vulnerable really well. Having to switch from nice guy to drug criminal is done well and I can't wait to see what happens to his character in the sequel and the third part which is apparently rumoured to shoot next year.

Aside from the centre point of JW who just wants money to lead a 'good life', the rest of the cast is quite multi-cultural. From the Spanish prison escapee to the Serbian mob who want him dead and the Arabic wannabe drug lord who entices JW to join his gang as 'the money'.  This film also includes another father daughter theme. One of the Serbian gangsters is left with his young daughter when his wife ODs. Their relationship at first seems like a side note but soon develops into a caring parent child relationship and you start to hope that nothing bad happens to them. If you know what I mean.

The film was a huge hit at the box office when it was first released in 2010 and hopefully will be when it is released over here. Just hope it doesn't take too long as two years was too long. Also, like all hit films in Europe, it is being remade in the US and apparently going to star Zac Efron which is a MASSIVE MISTAKE. He is NOT the actor to take over the lead role.

So expect yet another Scandinavian remake on the horizon. But please, see the original FIRST, it truly is a roller coaster ride.