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Nine Queens Details

2002 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 6447 members

Fabian Bielinsky's directorial debut is an electrifying crime thriller that deserves to join the ranks as a classic of the genre--along with David Mamet's HOUSE OF GAMES and Bryan Singer's THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Set in a Buenos Aires that is on the verge of economic collapse, the film tells the story of Juan (Gaston Pauls), a con .. Read more

Starring Gaston Pauls, Leticia Bredice, Ricardo Darin, Tomas Fonzi
Director Fabian Bielinsky
Genres Drama, World Cinema

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Nine Queens

Fabian Bielinsky's directorial debut is an electrifying crime thriller that deserves to join the ranks as a classic of the genre--along with David Mamet's HOUSE OF GAMES and Bryan Singer's THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Set in a Buenos Aires that is on the verge of economic collapse, the film tells the story of Juan (Gaston Pauls), a con artist with a conscience. Trying to round up enough money to pay off his incarcerated father's debts, Juan stumbles into fellow swindler Marcos (Ricardo Darin), a far more confident, experienced criminal. When Marcos offers Juan the chance to team up for the day, his initial apprehension succumbs to the pressure of helping his father, and he agrees to the partnership. After a few minor cons, the pair unknowingly stumbles into a potentially lucrative score involving a wealthy businessman, Gandolfo, and a forged set of rare stamps, The Nine Queens. As new characters are introduced and the plot becomes more convoluted, it becomes unclear--to the audience, as well as Juan and Marcos--just who is conning whom. Bielinsky's debut feature is a magnetic, ingenious puzzle that features flawless performances by Darin and Pauls, in addition to the stellar supporting cast.

Starring Gaston Pauls, Leticia Bredice, Ricardo Darin, Tomas Fonzi, Graciela Tenembaun
Director Fabian Bielinsky
Studio OPTIMUM HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 53 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Genres Drama, World Cinema
Language DVD: Spanish
Subtitles DVD: English
Released DVD: 27 Jan 2003
Production year: 2002
Format DVD

  • Critics' reviews (6) of Nine Queens

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  • 4 stars out of 5

    Initially an entry in a screenwriting contest, this debut feature from Fabian Bielinsky is as dextrously assured as David Mamet's con-artist thriller House of Games. The story is set in Argentina and hinges on the meeting of incompetent con Gaston Pauls and experienced swindler Ricardo Darin. Their dubious deal involves a tycoon who's about to be deported and a forged set of priceless stamps (the “nine queens” of the title) that he can therefore carry safely out of the country. The endlessly inventive twists and turns are baffling, but the performances will keep you watching, with Darin outstanding as the small-time operator dripping with seedy charisma. Brisk without being brash, slick but never smug, this deftly handled tale is destined for cult status.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006

  • "...The movie combines Hitchcock's winking tongue-in-cheek vision of a paranoid universe where everyone may be part of an elaborate conspiracy with Mr. Mamet's obsession with the finer points of gamesmanship and con artistry..."

    • New York Times
    • Posted 11 Mar 2005

  • Most helpful member's review of Nine Queens

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  • 19 out of 19 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Not Drag Queens but Nine Queens

    What a great film. From the start you are drawn by the characters into a world where nothing is what it seems and no-one can be trusted. This is not a film about Drag Queens in Argentina but one of the most cleverly scripted and well acted Latin American movies recently brought here. Forget "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid", this is a modern heist film which is smart and funny the way "Ocean's Eleven" was but it is much grittier and not as flashy. Take a tour through 21st century Buenos Aires and wonder if anyone in this film is anything near honest. Highly recommended.

      • Avananda from Fife
      • Posted 08 Dec 2003 18:31

  • Most recent members' review of Nine Queens

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Buenos Aires twister

    A great, fast-paced look at a couple of BA confidence tricksters doing what's needed to get by, complete with a Usual Suspects-style twist at the end. The Nine Queens in question are a set of vintage Weimar Republic postage stamps, the counterfeits of which our heroes have to flog to a corrupt politico before he gets deported.

    The acting is great and there's a strong sense of location - of people living on the edge in a city that's madly divided between rich and poor. Not that this is a serious, worthy piece: it's very good fun and pleasingly amoral.

      • Andrew Austin from London
      • Posted 18 Nov 2004 14:08

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Rating breakdown

6,447 Member ratings
  • 100
723
  • 90
781
  • 80
1,520
  • 70
1,286
  • 60
996
  • 50
532
  • 40
255
  • 30
166
  • 20
124
  • 10
64

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    • Nine Queens

    • Nine Queens
      Fabian Bielinsky's directorial debut is an electrifying crime thriller that deserves to join the ranks as a classic of the genre--along with David Mamet's HOUSE OF GAMES and Bryan Singer's THE USUAL SUSPECTS. Set in a Buenos Aires that is on the verge of economic collapse, the film tells the story ...