Finder’s Fee
Product DescriptionAfter finding a wallet in the street tepper calls the owner in order to return it. After making the call he discovers that the lottery ticket inside is a $6 million winner. To add to things his friends are on their way over for their weekly poker night & the groups tradition is to bet their lottery ticket. Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 05/25/2004 Starring: Erik Palladino Matthew Lillard Run time: 99 minutes Rating: R Director: Jeff Probst. . . More >>
Finder’s Fee
Image taken on 2009-05-30 19:38:01 by Simon Blackley.
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December 5th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
In FIGHT CLUB, Brad Pitt’s character asks the character played by Edward Norton if he could fight anyone who would it be. My answer to that question would have to be SURVIVOR host Jeff Probst (or perhaps Dr. Phil). Don’t ask me why? Probst just really gets on my nerves on that show. So much so that after somewhat enjoying the show’s first season I quit watching after that just because of its host. So, when I first heard of FINDER’S FEE I became outraged that just because the guy was the host of a popular reality show that he would be given the chance to write and direct his own film. Naturally, when I saw the film on the shelf of my local video store I had to rent it. I wanted to hate it. I couldn’t wait to hate it and tear it apart piece by piece. Did I hate it? No, I’m sorry to say that I didn’t. However, I didn’t love it either. At least I can find some comfort in that. First off, the film has an interesting concept. If you found a winning lottery ticket in a stranger’s wallet would you give it back? I’d like to think that I would but who knows? That would probably be a hard thing to do. And who knows more about the crazy things people will do for money than writer/director Jeff Probst? I mean, the man sees people competing for money on a daily basis so he knows a thing or two about the plot from first hand experiences. Anyway, for the first hour and twenty minutes or so the film seems to be moving a long rather nicely until suddenly a certain character does something that seems very out of character by smashing a certain someone in the head with a champagne bottle. I was baffled. This, to me, just felt like it came completely out of left field. While the action does lead to some of the film’s more exciting moments that’s just not where I saw the film heading from the way the first acts played out. Normally, I would be happy to be surprised by the final act but this surprise just seemed to out there no matter who the director of the film was. All in all, FINDER’S FEE is an enjoyable little movie that is extremely hurt by it’s final twenty minutes and Jeff Probst proves he may have some talent behind the lens but that doesn’t mean I have to like him. The film stars Matthew Lillaird (SCREAM, SCOOBY DOO), Eric Palladino (U-571), Dash Mihok (BASIC, WHITEBOYS), Ryan Reynolds (VAN WILDER, THE IN-LAWS), James Earl Jones (PATRIOT GAMES, CONAN THE BARBARIAN), and Robert Forster (JACKIE BROWN, VIGILANTE)C-
Rating: 3 / 5
December 5th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Wonderul film by first time director Jeff Probst. Matthew Lillard shines again, and Ryan Reynolds is funny and effective as well. It really is a fun popcorn film on a Friday or Saturday night.
Rating: 5 / 5
December 5th, 2009 at 6:49 pm
I’m afraid that the reviewers who didn’t like this movie understood it all too well. At times it promises real drama and tension, but never delivers. There are too many character twists with no basis. And the ending really does make the viewer feel cheated. This is a really poor attempt at making a movie.
Rating: 1 / 5
December 5th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I was going to give this movie 2 stars because I am sure that there must be worst movies out there. Having just watched it, however, it is difficult to remember any. I agree with the reviewers below who say that this movie falls apart at the end. The first 80 minutes of the movie are often slow and boring, but the acting is good and you keep hoping the plot will fully develop. You do feel the tension the makers of this movie intended. And the cast is top-notch. But all of the good acting in the world cannot save a story that is so fundamentally flawed. In the end, nothing makes sense. You are left wondering how things could possibly turn out the way they do. A thinking person will be left with no conclusion but that the story is full of gaping holes. This story could only make sense as a bad Twilight Zone episode. At least then you could think some supernatural phenomenon is responsible for the plot device that cannot be rationally explained. But there is nothing in the movie to indicate that it is supposed to be anything supernatural occurring. So the viewer is just left feeling cheated.
Rating: 1 / 5
December 5th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Not a single bad comment for this movie other than it’s rediculous it was never released in theaters. Erik Palladino (ER,U-571,Dead and Breakfast), Ryan Reynolds (Van Wilder, Amittyville Horror, Waiting) in his best performance to date in my opinion, Matthew Lillard (Scream, SLC Punk, Wing Commander) and Dash Mihok (The Day After Tomorrow) are perfect in their parts as 4 friends who play for lottery tickets in their weekly (or whatever) poker game. Of all the big hollywood movies previously mentioned, I would say all of these actors put their best foot forward on this one. Writer/Director Jeff Probst (of Survivor fame) seemingly has a knack for perfectly written thrillers. Don’t expect alot of cursing (there is a little), and certainly dont expect alot of action or violence. . . and even without these elements, Finder’s Fee grabs your interest and won’t let go until the unexpected, shocking finale (which contains the only scene of violence).
Rating: 5 / 5