User reviews

This wasn't at all what I expected. I was expecting something along the lines of Snatch and instead got a reasonably thoughtful story about a middle aged man realising he has wasted the majority of his life on cheap con tricks.

I went to see this for Dominic Monaghan and let's be honest, Dom is barely in this and his character is, though entertaining and sweet, largely irrelevant to the film. In fact one of his scenes is so irrelevant you suspect it of having been inserted merely to up his screen time.

I didn't actually enjoy the film all that much, not because it was bad but I think because I could find no handle with which to identify with the three main characters. They lived lives I would never live, behaving in ways I would never consider, and the lead character (Ken Stott) more so than the others. There were a few moments when you felt emotion for him, but for me the whole thing was just too far from my sphere of experience. I am not a con man, I could never be a con man and have no desire to be one. I don't understand the mindset. Dom's character is actually easier to empathise with, for me anyway, and not just cause I can feel some sort of connection for any character played by Dom cause the connection already exists. He's a simple minded lad who doesn't think much about what he's doing, he drifts through his life in a cloud of cannabis smoke and that's enough for him, he's the pettiest of criminals, not out to hurt anyone in particular and not looking for the big time. He comes across as a sweet if slightly deluded guy, not the best influence in the world but not the worst either. He does add a nice lightness and goofiness to scenes that might have been a bit heavy otherwise. I would have liked to see more of him but there wasn't room for him in this script which settled down into a psychological drama with gangster side salad.

The film was good, but not great. It lacked connection and I can't take all the blame for that, a truly great film can make you connect with it's characters no matter how far they stray from yourself. Perhaps it was too tight lipped, you could never quite see deep enough into the characters to touch what was implied.

A London based film, Spiv has the mood of a classic London based Gangster, or wide-boy, films such as 'The long good Friday', Layer Cake, Lock Stock and two smoking barrels. It tackles fundamental, international, human rights issues. There is a reasonable review posted on "Eye for film'. The review doesn't adequately acknowledge the disturbing topic matter of the film: humans, children as a commodity for trade in Western captialistic culture. Life and sex as something that has monetary, tradeable value.

Beautiful lighting and attention to photographics details. For example, during the opening credits we see the Spiv dressing. Smart 3-piece suit, classic style with the last button of the waistcoat undone. Inbetween the calm attention of his dressing we see and hear loud scenes from racecourse. We swiftly move to the spinning a yarn. We watch the Spiv talk in one screen frame while simultaneously viewing the story he is recounting in an inset. This technique of multiple frames is used sparingly, to good effect. The ending is clever and leaves enough to to feed your imagination. It's more of a turning point in a story than a 'wrap up all major themes' ending.

For Anglophiles there are some excellent scenes of London, Docklands, Victorian red-brick terraced streets, slummy high-rise flats, gray skies, the London underground. Jack Dee plays a significant bit part as a builder called 'Nige' with impressively powerful perception and sublety. Summary? This is half way between a well constructed art film and a socially conscious film. It doesn't hit the heights of either, it does meld the experiences well. It is worth watching if either genre moves you.

This film is suffering a bit of an identity crisis - is it a comedy, a drama or what? There are good performances from Kate Ashfield and some of the best moments in the film are the ones with Ken Stott, his aunt (Linda Bassett) and the children - these are tender moments that are well captured. Jack Dee's character is weak and badly portrayed. There are some fun moments but overall this film doesn't gel well. Go and see this film to support British movie making, its a sweet film that portrays the wheeler dealers of east London and had it had a few more bucks in the budget, could have been tightened up somewhat to produce a gem perhaps.

What a flop. this film had promises of a "Snatch" lookalike. what a misleading cast too! a film with Paul Kaye and Jack Dee should be COMEDIC, not a load of fake drama. i thought the violence was supposed to be funny until it hit me, this movie is supposed to be serious. i found this film pretentious, and it was obvious that it had no heart whatsoever. further more, i was asking myself why anyone would cast a lead actor (Ken Stott) that annoys you so much you wanna rip your hair out. his voice alone is enough to infuriate the most patient of people, not to mention his "array" of witty remarks. i found that i really TRIED to like this film, even though i just couldn't. i think nick moran and dom monaghan are great actors, however, this film was a bad career move for them both. a POOR effort...really disappointed...

Spivs has a believable, clever but not over complicated plot. As the film starts with the stereotypical spiv characters we seem in store for a light hearted conmen comedy, an attempt at 'The Sting' maybe. But the film becomes gradually darker and nothing you thought you could predict occurs. The desperation and anguish that overcomes the main character is brilliantly portrayed by Ken Stott, as we are transferred from the feel of 'Shooting Fish' to 'Mona Lisa'. All performances are good with Stott stealing the show but the mafia boss wasn't menacing enough and seemed slightly out of place, while his main henchman was very frightening. The direction was generally OK with some genuinely gripping scenes but some overused flashy camera-work did lose the film some momentum in places. Overall, I enjoyed the film.

This film breaks Rule One: the audience MUST care about the characters. Nobody introduces us to the puppets, we don't know who they are, what makes them tick, where they're coming from, where they want to go, NOTHING. The director simply throws them into action and expects us to worry about what happens next and to be bothered enough to listen to their very badly spoken lines. (Each line in a picture like this costs on average about UKP2,000, so every time one of these second-raters tosses off a line we can't quite catch they are burning 20 big ones for the producer. Nice going, fellas!) The producer of this half-baked turkey should be talking to one of the decent script development shops in London next time. They'll run him through the ABC of movies and how to make them work. Then, at least he won't make another stinker to add to the incredibly long list of indescribable stinkers the UK so-called "movie industry" has turned out over the last few years. Don't waste five minutes of your life viewing this badly conceived, poorly executed effort at entertainment. Read a book instead.

Gentleman Jack (Stott), his edgy right-hander Steve (Moran), sexy self-styled moll Jenny (Ashfield) and stoner Goat (Monaghan) pull elaborate cons on wannabe villains, buoyed by the motto: "You can't cheat an honest man". Victims include O'Brien, played by Kaye as a lisping ne'er-do-well with a silly haircut and a penchant for cash machine fraud, and nice-but-dim Nigel (Dee), owner of an ailing haulage company.

But Jack and Co. find themselves in deep water after they attempt to steal the latter's office equipment and drive it away in a 'borrowed' lorry which turns out to be full of Albanian human traffic. When the immigrants scarper, a little brother and sister are left behind. Grudgingly, Jack becomes their unofficial guardian - but is closely trailed by some murderous parties, while Steve and Jenny, intent on closing that mythical long con, walk headlong into harm.

Spivs initially hoodwinks audiences into assuming it's something that it's not, featuring the usual checklist of East End settings, shady characters and slang ("What do you think I am, some kind of meat-puppet?") which must be included by law in all contemporary British crime flicks.

However, it soon reveals itself to be both a textured character-study of a drowning middle-aged man yearning for redemption, and a harrowing expose of the illegal immigrant / underage sex slave trade.

That the slapstick and tragic elements mostly hang together bears testament to a well-plotted, well-researched script (occasionally sentimental, though never mawkish), along with an immensely touching central performance by Stott. It's rare and refreshing in these kinds of films to find a late fortysomething taking precedence over two young hipsters like Moran and Ashfield. Fine support too from Bassett as Jack's tough-talking sister Vee.

A modern Brit crime movie sporting substance over style? It must be a con!

well first of all i want to say that the featurette on the DVD is better than the actual film, which is why i gave it a seven. i only watched this movie because i knew dominic monaghan was in it, i think they underused his character though. i thought it was a good plot and nothing at all what i expected it to be. its quite a sad movie and doms characters only purpose, apart from 1 line, is only there to lighten the mood. it was very...British. lots of grey, if you know what i mean. but still a good bit of British film. they had a very low budget and many investors were actually given places in it as extras. so with no money and limited resources i think they did a pretty good job. byeX

I had to search the internet to find a cinema where it was showing(it has not been widely promoted)but I was glad that I did find it.the film brought out a wide range of emotions in me it was in places tender,dramatic,exciting and midway through the film there is a shock I certainly didn't see coming.The acting was top class. Dominic Monaghan was totally believable as a cockney dope head and even brought a little comic relief to a film dealing with some very serious issues:ken stott gave a great performance too,the parts of the two children caught up in the drama are convincingly played and I found nothing at all to complain about in Spivs:it is well worth watching and I look forward to seeing it again

I was fortunate enough to see the film before it was on general release. It is a really great movie. Strong but understated, humorous yet tragic - typically Brit. Works well on the big screen and will work well on DVD too.

A thoroughly well produced film with Lead star KEN STOTT stealing the show! The touchy subject of human trafficking is handled with humour and respect. The film is a comedy with a definite black edge.The script is tight and the film well paced. The supporting cast are excellent well experienced actors whose characters make the plot believable and thought provoking. Look for big screen new-comer Jack Dee. He is a great surprise and it would have been great to have given him a stronger role. This film is the one to look out for and could become the next East is East. Good to see The British Film Industry have still got it. Who needs over inflated American Budgets if we can produce classics like this. More Spivs please.

What a positiv surprise this was !

Another brit-film with humor, depth and action ! Ken Stott is brilliant and the younger crew is not bad either ! Paul Kaye has a smaller part but is very good ! Jack Dee's first apperance on the big screen...and not last, I am sure. He could probably been used more in this film ? Normally I am not to keen on "children plots " but this was well balanced and the kids was good, not overacting as is so common. Nick Moran is well established in brittish gansterfilms and this is another strong performance. Kate Ashfield is "foxy" and helps the overall strengths of the film. Linda Bassett as Auntie Vee is very solid.

Overall : very good !!!

One of the best movies that i have seen in years, a true and gritty depiction of London life, with a comedic strain that can only be described as classic British humour. Spivs is a also a touching heartfelt story about the horror that is the modern day slave trade. A truly strong and great piece of cinema I can't recommend it enough. Onwards and upwards for the British Film Industry.

Support the British Film Industry on Friday the 24th September when SPIVS is released.

A film born and breed in Britain. A true depiction of British life today, this witty yet gritty comedy-drama stars: Ken Stott (King Arthur,) Nick Moran (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels,) Kate Ashfield, (Shaun of the Dead,) Dominic Monaghan (The Lord of the Rings Trilogy,) Jack Dee and Paul Kaye

SPIVS Cert 15 Running time 91 Minutes.

Carnaby Films are a totally unique company, funded by the British people, for the British people.