(1999)
3.5
Buzz McClain
This surprisingly funny crime-thriller boasts an attractive cast, a tightly wound script, and a multi-layered story that sports echoes of Shakespearean plots. Brian Bloom and Alicia Coppola (alas, not related to Francis Ford Coppola, who has made a mob movie of his own once or twice) are wonderful as the Wall Streeters transplanted to the seedy, shady San Diego underworld, where the Italian mob is toothless and broke. The tension among the Russian, Mexican, and Italian mobsters is skillfully played as Tony contrives an intricate -- but entirely plausible -- plot to steal from one, pay off another, and get his family out of debt, meanwhile solving the mystery as to who killed his brother, and why. The use of somber Latin chants during dramatic or dangerous scenes, while not entirely original, works well. Most mob movies take themselves too seriously -- Blood Money, while keeping a consistent tone of danger, also knows when to lighten up.
cast-crew for Blood Money on AllMovie
Blood Money (1999)
