Maya Ellison
The 2014 film Plastic is an action-comedy-crime movie about a group of college students who run a credit card fraud scheme and find themselves in trouble when they rob the wrong person. The film stars Ed Speleers as Sam, the ringleader of the credit card thieves, along with Will Poulter, Alfie Allen, Sebastian De Souza, and Emma Rigby. It is purportedly based on a true story involving con artist Saq Mumtaz, although some viewers have disputed this claim.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Comedy, Crime |
| Plot | Four college students, Sam, Fordy, Yatesey, and Rafa run a credit card fraud scheme. They accidentally rob a gangster and are forced to pay him back 10 times the amount they stole. |
| Based on | Purportedly based on a true story involving con-artist Saq Mumtaz. |
| Director | Julian Gilbey |
| Writers | Will Gilbey, Chris Howard, and Julian Gilbey |
| Stars | Ed Speleers, Will Poulter, Alfie Allen, Sebastian de Souza, and Emma Rigby |
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What You'll Learn
Plot
Plastic is a British-American action comedy-crime film directed by Julian Gilbey and co-written by Will Gilbey and Chris Howard. The film is purportedly based on a true story involving con artist Saq Mumtaz.
The plot centres around a group of four college students: Sam (Ed Speleers), Fordy (Will Poulter), Yatesey (Alfie Allen), and Rafa (Sebastian De Souza). The students are running a credit card fraud scheme to cover their student loans. They accidentally rob a person in his car who turns out to be an associate of a gangster named Marcel (Thomas Kretschmann). The gangster demands that they pay him back with interest, to the tune of 2 million dollars in 2 weeks.
To pay off their debt, the students take their scam on the road to Miami. They continue their credit card theft and plan a major heist, but the movie depicts them as amateurs, making dumb decisions and acting in unrealistic ways. One example is when they go to a strip club and allow their friend to try to pay with a card, even though they know it's not safe.
The movie has been criticized for its unoriginal formula, stereotypical characters, and major plot holes. However, some viewers have found it entertaining, with beautiful shots and competent camera direction. The acting and script have received mixed reviews, with some praising the casting and others finding the dialogue weak and the characters unlikeable.
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Characters
The 2014 British-American film Plastic is an action comedy-crime film directed by Julian Gilbey and written by Will Gilbey, Julian Gilbey, and Chris Howard. The film is purportedly based on a true story involving con artist Saq Mumtaz.
Sam, played by Ed Speleers, is the ringleader of a group of university students who become credit card thieves to augment their income. Sam is described as intelligent and brazen.
Fordy, played by Will Poulter, is one of Sam's accomplices. Poulter is a BAFTA-winning actor.
Yatesey, played by Alfie Allen, is one of Sam's accomplices. Yatesey is described as irritating, and some viewers felt that Allen played his role well.
Rafa, played by Sebastian De Souza, is another of Sam's accomplices. Some viewers felt sorry for Rafa, as he bet on the wrong person.
Frankie/Fresh Recruit, played by Emma Rigby, is the final member of Sam's crew. Viewers praised Rigby's performance, with some calling her a "knockout" and the "best part of the movie."
Other notable characters include:
- Marcel, a notorious gangster whom the crew accidentally robs. He is played by Thomas Kretschmann.
- Unnamed mercenary who puts a scalpel to a girl's throat on the beach.
- Steve Dawson, who is described as an "idiot."
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Setting
The 2014 film Plastic is set in the world of credit card fraud and heist planning. The film follows a group of university students who turn to a life of crime to cover their student loans. The main character, Sam (played by Ed Speleers), is an intelligent and brazen ringleader who orchestrates the scams and heists. The film is purportedly based on a true story involving con artist Saq Mumtaz.
The setting of the film is primarily in the United Kingdom, with some scenes taking place in Miami. The shift from Europe to Miami is a notable aspect of the film's setting, as it adds a new layer of suspense and stakes to the story. The move to Miami is also where the film's "high stakes" really kick in, as the group of thieves must up their game to pay back the money they owe to the gangster, Marcel.
The university is a key setting in the film, as it is where the main characters meet and plot their crimes. The film also features scenes in various locations, including a car, a strip club, and a beach. The beach scene, in particular, is notable for its tension and confusion, as a mercenary threatens a girl's life while surrounded by beachgoers who seem to pay no attention.
The group's scams and heists take them to various locations, including a private jet, where there is a comedic moment involving nuts, and a road trip to Miami, where the stakes and suspense increase. The film also includes a scene in a nightclub, where one of the characters, Yatsi, makes the unwise decision to try and pay with a card, despite the risks involved.
The final act of the film involves a shootout, which has been described as similar to other action movie shootouts and a bit cliché. The film's setting, overall, serves to showcase the group's escalating crimes and the increasing tension and stakes of their situation.
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Reception
The 2014 British-American film Plastic received mixed reviews from critics. While some praised the film's entertainment value, attractive cast, and mild action, others criticised its script, character development, and adherence to clichés.
Several reviews characterised Plastic as a "cliché of a cliché of a cliché", noting its derivative nature and unoriginal formula. The film's plot, characterisation, and stylistic choices were also deemed predictable and unengaging. One review described it as a "cheap, laborious junior heist thriller" that devolves into an "empty derivative shell of a film". The camera direction and visual style were also criticised, with one review noting that it resembled an electronic music video more than a film.
Despite these criticisms, some reviewers found the film passably entertaining. One review described it as "mindless entertainment" and a "time-passer", while another acknowledged that while the film was mediocre, it fulfilled its function to entertain. The attractive cast, including Ed Speleers, Alfie Allen, and Emma Rigby, was also highlighted as a positive aspect of the film.
Reviews also noted the film's attempt at social commentary, with the protagonists justifying their get-rich-quick scams within the context of the economic recession. However, this element was criticised as being tokenistic and lacking psychological or political depth.
Overall, while Plastic was recognised for its entertainment value and attractive cast, it was also criticised for its script, character development, and reliance on clichés, resulting in a mixed critical reception.
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Cast
The 2014 British-American action comedy-crime film Plastic stars Ed Speleers, Will Poulter, Alfie Allen, Sebastian de Souza, and Emma Rigby. The film is directed by Julian Gilbey and co-written by Will Gilbey and Chris Howard.
Ed Speleers plays Sam, one of four college students who runs a credit card fraud scheme. Will Poulter, who adopts a unique accent in the film, plays Fordy, another member of the group of scammers. Alfie Allen, known for his role in Game of Thrones, plays Yatesey. Yatesey's character has been described as "irritating" and "a bright spot". Sebastian De Souza plays the fourth member of the group, Rafa, who one viewer "felt sorry for". Emma Rigby, who has been described as a "knockout" and "gorgeous", plays Frankie.
Other cast members include Thomas Kretschmann, Graham McTavish, and Mem Ferda.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic is a British-American action comedy-crime film about a group of college students who run a credit card fraud scheme and accidentally rob a gangster.
The students, Sam (Ed Speleers), Fordy (Will Poulter), Yatesey (Alfie Allen) and Rafa (Sebastian De Souza) get into debt to a crime boss and must pay him back $2 million. To do this, they take their scam to Miami.
Yes, the film is purportedly based on a true story involving con artist Saq Mumtaz. However, one viewer commented that the film is about 95% fictionalised.
The film has a rating of 6/10 on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes.
