Reel Critics

Peggy Rogers

Made in Argentina (subtitled), “Nine Queens” has won several

international awards including best film, actor, director and screenplay.

Fans of director/writer David Mamet films such as “House of Games” and

“Spanish Prisoner” will find “Nine Queens” to be equal to the genre and a

fitting companion. The art house film is one of those where you are sure

you know what will happen next, however it never does and the twists and

turns keep getting better right up to the end.

Petty con-artist Juan (Gaston Pauls) barely makes a living wage short

changing liquor store clerks. Marcos (Ricardo Darin) professes to be a

skilled and successful con. When they meet under accidental

circumstances, Juan is in need of money and Marcos in need of a partner.

For a day they’ll work together as a team, see how they get along.

Through a series of hit and miss scams throughout the morning it’s

evident that Juan has a conscience about who they steal from while Marcos

believes having a conscience prevents a con from being successful.

“Nine Queens” really starts to take some interesting turns. Neither

the characters or the viewers seems to know whodunit at all.

* PEGGY J. ROGERS, 39, produces commercial videos and documentaries.