By EWAN McDONALD
(Herald rating: * * )
Rudy (Ben Affleck) and Nick (James Frain) are about to be evicted from the cell they've shared. Nick has engaged in a steamy correspondence with Ashley (Charlize Theron) during his time inside and the decor consists largely of her photos.
Nick is knifed in a
prison brawl, and when Rudy walks out of jail and sees Ashley, he tells her, "I'm Nick." Within minutes their long-distance relationship has become extremely close.
In one of those coincidences that only screenwriters seem to think are not far-fetched, Ashley's brother Gabriel (Gary Sinise) heads a gang of gunrunners who think Rudy used to work in a casino — because they think Rudy is Nick.
Gabriel and his gang try to squeeze information about the casino security setup out of Rudy, who says he isn't Nick, and then says he is Nick and then says he isn't. Gabriel gets very confused (and so do we), and keeps deciding to kill him (but we don't), and deciding not to kill him, and deciding to kill him after all.
There are other surprises, too, but all will be explained, and explained. The only missing explanation: how did Affleck and Theron keep straight faces?
Running time: 98 mins
Rental: Now
