iÁndale!

AN ARGENTINEAN CAPER, NINE QUEENS

In Nine Queens, two Buenos Aires street swindlers partner up for a day and try to reel home a half-million-dollar opportunity that seems to have fallen from the blue sky. A forger has replicated a sheet of nine rare Weimar Republic stamps, but he can't swing the deal. He needs a slick talker or two to shake adequate compensation out of a billionaire hobbyist who's about to split town. The rat-a-tat Spanish dialogue isn't as pickled as a Hammett disciple would have it, but the subtitles rip by, and the double crosses quadruple. Certainly, a smart person like you probably guessed how all of this ends six sentences ago.

Argentina showered this export with awards last year. All right, Jackie Chan wasn't in contention. But why would I tell you that only one of the two co-stars, Ricardo Darin, makes a convincing con man if this recommendation were just a snow job? Why would I mention that the film's hot empanada, Leticia Bredice, comes across a little too much like Speedy Gonzalez's slowpoke sidekick? Suddenly you're not sure what you can trust. At least you're curious: that's what a lightning-paced, tightly crafted caper can do to people. (Rating: ★★★)

CHRIS MITCHELL