The International Film Showcase's February selection is a funny and solid movie from Quebec. Les Doigts Croches - Sticky Fingers - was the first movie written and directed by Ken Scott who is very well known in Canada as a comedian, scenario writer and now director.
Sticky Fingers will appeal to those who love movies that offer the possibility of redemption to heroes. Here, five thieves from Quebec will have to go through a spiritual quest in order to get back the loot they stole a few years earlier. The humor comes from the confirmed thieves' efforts to become honest. Their sunny and funny journey is welcome in the middle of our winter; a well done and efficient comedy that rejoices the audience and speaks to its intelligence.
The movie is continuously happy and up-beat. The tone is easy going, with subtlety and depth. It does not try to revolutionize the art of movie making, but it is directed with a lot of maturity by Scott who gives it an excellent rhythm.
Another element that makes this movie a success is the solid group of actors selected by Scott. "I worked hard on the casting," he said to a Quebecois publication, "I wanted them to be quite different from each other, but still to create a sense of unity." All the chosen actors are experienced and quickly embody their characters, making them believable, colorful and likable.
It seems that Scott was inspired both by Spike Lee's Inside Man and Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven, even if nothing daring comes to disturb this sound work of a movie. Additionally, it will take you on a very beautiful trip through Spain. Don't ask me why, but funny movies are always more enjoyable when discovered without knowing too much of the story ahead of time.
Sticky Fingers will be shown at the Orinda Theatre from Friday, February 3 through Thursday, February 9. Go to www.lfef.org/showcasetickets/ for times and ticket information.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA