COOL MONEY
US, 2005, 89 minutes, Colour.
James Masters, John Cassini, Margot Kidder.
Directed by Gary Burns.
Cool Money is an easy watch, a television film about heists. The focus is on James Masters as Jack, who has spent half of his life in prison for petty robberies. He escapes from prison, steals a necklace from a jewellery shop and is arrested. However, he argues his case in court, has a glowing testimony from his mother, from a friend posing as a religious minister, and prepares a document that indicates that he has been penalised for more prison time than he deserved. He goes free, returns to his wife and child, reluctantly gets a job in the factory.
He is approached by a criminal, played by John Cassini, who has few social graces, is aggressively violent but has connections, especially for a series of robberies in the very expensive hotels in New York City. The group are successful with their robberies and the police set up a special squad, including an investigator who grew up with Jack.
It becomes a bit complicated when the criminal is found to be in connection with the Mafia and who then come demanding money from him. Jack is caught again but does not go to prison…
There is an amusing cameo by Margot Kidder as Jack’s quite flirtatious mother.
1. An entertaining television movie? Characters, situations, robberies, police pursuit?
2. The prison settings, the Florida settings, homes, city, factories? The contrast with New York City and the expensive hotels? The musical score?
3. The focus on Jack, his prison sentence, half his life in prison, his wife and child, escaping under the truck, going to the shop, his charm, the necklace and his stealing it, throwing it away when he was arrested? In court, the test and in his mother, his friend posing as a minister? Later getting him to recover the necklace? His explanation of his time served, the judge letting him go? His return home, his wife wanting him to stay home, his friend getting him the job in the factory? The approach of Sam, his manner, Jack agreeing to go, leaving the family? In New York, the first attempt at the Pierre Hotel and their being ejected? Sam and his aggression? The other attempts, dealing with the concierge, the Mexican band, the couple in the basement? The succeeding operations, their success, the collage of the headlines? Phil and his suspicions of Jack? Phil’s superior not taking enough notice? The Thanksgiving dinner, Jack’s mother hosting? Sam and his wanting another job done, Jack unwilling, doing it, the jewellery and cash, hiding it at home? Sam and his visit, the police arresting Jack? Going free again? His smooth and suave character?
4. Sam, rough, his connections, the plans, his treatment of the concierge, Jack having to control him? The success of the jobs? His return, agreeing to do
what Jack asked? The last big robbery? The Mafia, demanding money, his asking Jack, sitting in the car, watching the arrest?
5. The old friend, as a minister, in the court, getting the necklace, participating in the robberies? The other robbers called in?
6. Phil, friendship, the police, the squad, the leads, the superior and is not acknowledging Phil, Phil and his confrontations with Jack? The final arrest?
7. The amusing cameo of Margot Kidder, Peggy, flirting, love for her son, the Thanksgiving dinner, the visit of Sam, tea and cookies? And her final alleged lack of knowledge about the money?
