Hollywood Flies (2005)

Good concept, poorly executed.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

The only two names you will recognize in the cast of Hollywood Flies are Casper Van Dien as a rich club owner who is now confined to a wheelchair because of a car wreck he caused while driving intoxicated and Brad Renfro as a sad sack bank robber. I guess they were there for a little bit of box office insurance, but these two both saw better film projects.Van Dien's main squeeze Caprice Bourret has given him the air, but Casper is a spoiled rich guy who doesn't take no for an answer. He sics a private detective.At the same time Anthony Cupo meets up with his sister Bianca Guerrero just over from Italy and they pick up two hitchhikers Vinnie Jones and Renfro. Big mistake this two did a bank robbery where one guy was killed and they've stashed the loot in a bus station locker. They hold Guerrero and want Cupo to go to Los Angeles and get their money.Cupo and Bourret hook up under some odd circumstances and now everyone would like to get that loot.The story is pretty lame with a lot of holes in it. But some real acting is done by Jones and Renfro who met each other in the joint. When Renfro says Jones helped him make it through prison you know exactly what Jones got from him in return. Jones is one dangerous dude.Still Jones and Renfro are not enough to make up for the rest of the film.

Review: My expectations for this movie, really wasn't that high but it turned out to be a watchable film, which has different story lines running at the same time but they don't really join up. I personally found the acting pretty poor and the whole project had a cheap feel to it, like most of Vinnie Jones movies but I did stick with the film because I was intrigued about what was going to happen to Luca, (Antonio Cupo), who was fighting to save his kidnapped sister, Martina (Bianca Guaccero). Caprice's character, Cherie, was pretty useless and she seemed to cause trouble were ever she went but I was surprised with Vinnie Jones acting, which was better than the rest of the cast. As usual, he was playing the cockney hard man, who was the main culprit for kidnapping Martina but he actually was showing some form of acting skills which you don't see in his movies nowadays. Anyway, you can tell that the director had a low budget because of its poor casting and "dumb criminals" type concept but I have seen worse for films in this category. Passable!Round-Up: This "straight to DVD" movie was directed by Fabio Segatori, who has mainly made movies for an Italian market. It did seem like he over complicated the movie, in some ways but I still enjoyed watching Vinnie Jones dancing. I doubt that I will be watching this movie again anytime soon but on the plus side, I didn't fall asleep whilst watching it.I recommend this movie to people who are into their crime/drama starring Antonio Cupo, Bianca Guaccero, Casper Van Dien, Caprice Bourret, Vinnie Jones and Brad Renfro. 3/10

While too many writers credited, this script was well plotted. The suspense and intrigue left each scene with more riveting questions. That Bianca Guaccero is just the female role for today. A young Claudia Cardinale with no inklings of annexure, an actress not afraid to perspire and a face to cut apple pie. The director knows pacing for the movie was edited with straight cuts, camera steady that moved with just the right light and tempo. The group will be something to look forward to, either together again or individually. Caprice Bouret is another Usurla Andress with warmth where Ursula has fatality in her eyes. We loved everybody but the bad guys.

I rented this movie only because I wanted to see Caprice act.. Even though on her website.. She is a model/actress/TV Presenter/spokesmodel and the rest..I was watching this movie.. I must admit, it was all getting good and then it all went stale.. You got 2 bank robbers (VINNIE JONES and BRAD RENFO) kipnapping some girl (BIANCA GUACCERO) as they take some place and leave her for ransom. They tell this guy (ANTONIO CUPO) to deliver them their money or his Sister dies.. Along the way, comes another girl (CAPRICE) who happens to get involved as well.. But later on..? Well, you do the maths..I gotta hand it to you.. It's one of those sleazy type thrillers where you feel you're gonna get drawn to it. But then again.. you might bored with it. I got bored with it.. Somehow I didn't know where this film is taking the viewer.. It sounds there are parts of the film that I was really familiar with.. but it just keeps running out of steam at times..I don't know how this director Franco Segatori was trying to do here.. But it seems he put a good cast in a down low dirty shame of a script. However, it wasn't really up to my satisfaction in the end..Well, as for this Caprice gets a 7/10 for her acting.. The director gets 5/10 for his bit. The film gets a dismal 3/10Not my cup of tea..!