Customer Reviews

Finder's Fee [VHS]

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Every movie has it's flaws, and this one certainly falls short of perfect. But what it lacks in plot, it certainly makes up with fine acting. From the very beginning you feel the tension and know it is going to explode sooner or later, you just don't know when. So you keep watching, trying to decide who you are going to cheer for. Even when the story gets confusing, you feel like you are right there in the room with these five disfunctional characters getting ready to throw a punch of your own, or dodge one from someone else. Women may not understand this kind of interaction between "friends," but these misfits are bonded by some need for each other and they know how to make each other react. I will watch again to enjoy the acting and subtilities.

The story starts out with a young man finding a wallet on the street while considering marriage to the lady he loves. He calls the only number he can find in the wallet that is the supposed to be the brother of the owner. But then he finds a lottery ticket in it and hears the numbers for the winning ticket. The ticket in the wallet. So what would you do if you found a wallet on the street and it had a lottery ticket worth six million dollars in it? Then his three friends join him for an evening of poker. When a man, played by James Earl Jones, rings the bell and says he is the owner of the wallet, the finder decides to swap the ticket for his losing ticket. The wallet recoverer is invited to play cards by his friends and the the police arrive searching the building and forbiding anyone to leave.

The young man starts to panic wondering if the wallet owner knows he swapped tickets. Finally one of his friends realizes what he has done and takes action against the man that came to recover the wallet. An action that may lead to a life or death result. When a cop arrives at the scene he is given the lottery ticket to make sure the right thing is done. But then at the end we see another ticket given to the man recovering the wallet. The twists and turns in the story make it rather interesting and I enjoyed it. Good quality DVD with decent replayability. If you enjoyed this be sure to catch "Millions (2005)" and "It Could Happen to You (1994)". - C. Luster

Very good movie! My wife and I liked the head games they played, the story twists and great acting, it's a keeper!I ordered via Amazon, easy quick payment process, good deal and fast shipping!

I've read many bad reviews all over the internet about this movie, but I thought it was great! It has a powerful message at the end that people should pay attention to and remember for life. Jeff Probst didn't fail at this, and he got some good actors to play along.

I have to say, I can agree with just about every review in here. There was good, there was bad. The plot was a cool concept, and I would've given it another star if it didn't get almost unbearably slow at times.
I'm a big Ryan Reynolds fan going back to 2 Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place, and just about everything he's been in, I liked the job he did. I was let down in this one though, until nearly the end. Then he had his chance to shine.
Always a pleasure watching James Earl Jones, who did a great job of hovering on the line of does he / doesn't he. While we knew the answer from an audience perspective, it wasn't because his character gave anything away.
I actually liked the ending, to me it didn't feel as if it just negated the entire movie. In a way, it really hammered home the experience and the morality of the choices everyone made.

So had it been less protracted in some spots, a 4, but a solid 3 or 3.5 anyway, not a waste of time, and good conversation fuel.

Excellent movie!!!! Great cast many twists!! Loved it!! Make another one Jeff!! All the way from New Zealand

I won't give away the end of this movie, but, if you are unfortunate enough to watch it, at the end ask yourself: "How could this be; how is it possible that things have happened this way?"

That may not make much sense now, but suffice it to say that, unlike what a previous reviewer wrote, this movie is undone more by its last 20 seconds than its last 20 minutes (though that reviewer makes valid points). And that is only true if you can stomach all of the contrived plot twists that are forced down your throat to that point!

The story ends up making no sense of all, unless you are supposed to see this as some sort of supernatural happening. And if it is that, it is really weak. Jeff Probst (the writer/director) should make watching this movie one of the challenges on his show Survivor.

Perhaps the funniest part of this horrible viewing experience was when I turned to Jeff Probst's commentary track on the DVD for an explanation of the ridiculous plot. Turn that track on and he immediately tells you that it won't contain any discussion of the plot. Instead, he explains, his commentary will focus on how to make a movie, which is kind of like Madonna offering acting lessons.

FINDER'S FEE
ABSOULUT CLASSIC

What can I say about this instant classic besides dawm what a debut. JEFF PROBST of survivor fame debuts with this incredibly engaging film. Written and directed by the rising star, this film leaves u wishing he would come with another film soon. His directing decisions show threw out as he crafts one of the best films I have ever seen. I can't believe this film didn't blow up, but at least he won best up and coming director for this film or was it best new director.

The story follows Tepper {Erik Palladino} as he is preparing to propose to his girl, and on his way home he finds a lost wallet and calls a number inside looking for the owner. He soon finds out that the lottery ticket inside is the winning ticket, and decides to keep it. Soon following this his friends drop in to get started on playing cards, and that's when the real entertainment begins. Has all three arrive to play the owner shows up, James Earl Jones. As he gives the wallet back the police storm the building and put it on lock down. So the stakes rise and friendships get tested as the lottery tickets are up for grabs in the game including the winning ticket. The best part happens when Mr. Jones is attacked by one of them because he figured out what was going on with the ticket.

The thing that makes this film so great is the acting, each actor brings their character to life with their performances. The best performances come from Ryan Reynolds, Matthew Lillard, and Dash Mihok. Reynolds in his quiet shy role surprises the film the most with his violent out burst in the end showing that his depression goes beyond just taking Fishmans abuse. Speaking of Fishman, this role is played brilliantly by Lillard. It is great to see him in this role demanding respect, as he is a small skinny dude bossing the others around. Of course one of the best ones is played by Mihok in his role as a guy who needs to give advice, and desperately wants kids. Each one of these characters each have problems and need the 6 million, so the game is on.

Also get the dvd if u are interested in becoming a filmmaker, because the commentary gives one of the best incites into the business I have ever heard.
So in completion I really really recommend this film to everybody.

Not since the Fight Club have I been this excited about a movie.
The writing is intense, the direction perfect and the acting so wonderful that you become one with the film. Very intelligent film with lots of twists and turns. You truly do not know what is going to happen next. The suspense is so taught at times that you will find yourself holding your breath. Please see this film! Bravo to the writer, director and cast.

I am a huge fan of Ryan Reynolds so I had to see this movie. I ended up watching it twice in one day because I didn't happen to catch all of the twists the first time around. This is an unbelievable movie from first time director Jeff Probst. The movie is based on a guy who finds a wallet on the street on the way home. He goes home to were he will be having his daily poker game with his three friends including Ryan Reynolds and Matthew Lilliard. The man looks in the wallet and finds a lottery ticket worth $6 million. When the owner of the wallet, played by James Earl Jones, comes to retrieve his wallet he ends up staying to play a game when the cops lock down the apartment complex. The rest of the movie fights between what this man should do and how money can take over if you let it. This is a great movie with the ending showing so many twists and turns you'll be dying to watch it over and over again.