PLAYED

US/UK, 2006, 87 minutes, Colour.
Nick Rossi, Sile Birmingham, Gabriel Byrne, Roy Dotrice, Vinnie Jones, Patsy Kensit, Val Kilmer, Bruno Kirby, Anthony La Paglia, Joanne Whalley.
Directed by Sean Stanek.

Played is a thriller set in both London and Los Angeles. It was co-written by its star Nick Rossi with director Sean Stanek.

The film has a very strong cast – most of them in cameo roles but which are played forcefully. (Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley were married for many years and both appear in this film, but not together.)

Nick Rossi portrays a small-time London criminal who becomes involved with a corrupt detective, played by Vinnie Jones, a ruthless hit-man played by Patrick Bergen. His girlfriend is played by Joanne Whalley. He has to go to America after serving a prison sentence and eliminate the Patrick Bergen character under the orders of British crime boss, Roy Dotrice.

When he is wounded, he is picked up by a contact, played by Val Kilmer. In the meantime, Gabriel Byrne plays a sinister presence who is instrumental in bringing the film to a close.

The film is a mixture of American style and British style in its presentation of the criminal worlds.

1.The impact of the British segments, American segments, the contrast? Common gangster themes?

2.London, the various areas, wealth, poor apartments, hotels, mansions?

3.The title and the question who plays whom? Cynical touches? The presence of evil?

4.The introduction: Ray, his being shot, the phone call, Dylan coming to help him, handling the situation, driving him, keeping him conscious, the taco story, Dylan burning the house? The reprise of these sequences later in the film?

5.London, Bryce as the corrupt detective, Vinnie Jones’s style? The contact with Riley? In the restaurant, the shooting? The collecting of the gang, the commission to get the heroin, Ray, Terry, Nathan? Nathan and the lookout, the dropped gun, his death? Riley and Bryce, getting heroin, deceiving Ray, Ray taken by the police?

6.Ray, eight years in prison, Terry’s death from an overdose, Maggie not visiting him? The effect? His release, going to see Cindy, trying to help her to become clean? His memories of Terry?

7.Danny and Bryce, the set-up for Ray, the confrontation, Ray and his breaking Danny’s nose? Maggie, meeting her again, getting her to help? His visit to Jack, memories of Terry, Jack giving him the commission to kill Riley?

8.Charlie and Los Angeles, Bryce’s hold over him with the videotape? His commission to Ray? Ray coming to the US, meeting Eddie at the airport, a mystery man? The contract, the tape, Bryce and his hold over the others? Riley and his girlfriend? Ray and his visit, the threats, his return, shooting Riley? Leaving the information, the credit cards? Going to the appointment, seeing Samantha? The police and the interrogation?

9.Samantha, the police, questions? The gun, the money, her shooting Ray?

10.His return to London, the confrontations, Danny and killing him, Maggie and her help, Bryce and the issue of the tape, the phone calls, Jack and his shooting of Bryce? His blaming Ray for his son’s death, their discussion, his leaving Ray to Eddie? Bryce responding to the tip-off leading to his death? Eddie and Maggie’s phone call to him?

11.Ray, walking the streets, wounded, repeating Dylan’s words that he would not die?

12.A satisfactory glimpse of gangster worlds?