Gambit [DVD] [2017]

we went to see the 15.45 show of Gambit at the Empire, a huge cinema where the premiere took place. We sat near the front, so were ‘immersed’ in the film. From the get-go, we laughed! I was so relieved – after all the negative reviews, I was fully expecting to sit there stony faced, as I have in some of Colin’s other films, but from the first cartoons, a spoof of The Pink Panther, and throughout the film, we laughed and enjoyed it tremendously!I really liked the cartoons, especially the way Colin’s character, Harry Dean, was drawn – wide shoulders (and I should know, having been pushed and falling against them at the ASM premiere!), square jaw, dark glasses, clumsy and ham-fisted, befitting his character. Mark Kermode criticised them, but the story is so familiar now, that it didn’t matter.But as soon as Colin appeared, I had to catch my breath – good grief, I have not seen him look so beautiful since ASM! I think they photographed him really well, lots of his ‘best’ left-hand side face, his skin was smooth, his eyes dark and luscious, and as for his legs! I do think, however, that the director was so in awe of him that he didn’t edit the film tightly enough, which is why there was too much dialogue in places, when, as Barbie pointed out, Colin acts with his face. So I felt the middle section needed either cutting or editing. But that is a small point.There were a number of imagined sequences, where everything went as planned for Harry, only to fall into disarray when faced with reality – like the heavy Southern accent of Cameron Diaz’s character. For my ears, this took some getting used to, but I did, and thought it appropriate for her character.We both like the scenes in the Savoy the best – they were well-filmed and very funny. He did not take his trousers off twice, as Kermode said, he just left them off! We both wondered how the scene on the face of the building was filmed – was it CGI, or did they film it flat? The scenes in the bedroom were hilarious and a wonderful cameo role for British actress, Selina Cadell, who was in Doc Martin and loads of other films and tv productions. But Colin in a dressing gown can come to my bedroom anytime! These scenes weren’t in the trailer, so a delightful surprise!I loved Tom Courtney and the role he played with such droll humour! Alan’s role, though important, wasn’t big enough, I feel and his character could have been developed more. Stanley Tucci was, for me, just excruciating and his role wasn’t made clear enough, I thought. I also didn’t like the so-called German accent, which was hard to decipher.But the story was quite clever and I liked the twist at the end, but no romance, except between Shabandar and Cameron’s character. At least she got to throw her noose after all that practice!But as an art historian, and knowing Compton Verney well, as I live fairly near there, I really appreciated the art history side of the film, and especially the twist at the end – great stuff! The paintings looked spectacular and Colin didn’t say ‘Manet’ as in one of the trailers (I was watching out for that mistake!). This part of the story was well-woven together and made a lot of sense to us on the professional side, with so many falsifications and copies about.I shall go and see it a few more times on the big screen, before the video comes out – and I can’t wait to make some videos of Colin’s beautiful face and lovely legs, haha!

A most entertaining film, beginning with the cartoons of the actors. Not recommended as a family film, but for mature audiences.Great performances by all, in their character portrayals, as well as a great supporting cast.Love the storyline, & how it all played out. Most especially loved the ending, & laughed my way through the credits.So glad to be able to purchase & enjoy this DVD in the States, as it has yet to be released over here.Many thanks, to amazon.co.uk, for having made this possible for me, & I highly recommended you, as well as this DVD of this humorous remake of Gambit.Most sincerely, Roberta

the film is a bit crazy colin firth plays a good part in film and alan rickman plays his same misrabel face expresions in films hes made and between colin firth and alan rickman make it a very good film but you have to watch it twice or more then you see the funny side of it

This film, if it were a meal would be steak and salad followed by sticky toffee pudding and a bottle or two of Bordeaux.English stiff upper lip -- caustic wit -- and feminine sweetness makes this film a winner, just as the game becomes clear, someone tips the board making us rethink the plan.So funny on many levels-- a film to get you feeling good on a dull day.If you don't have this film in your collection-- you are definately loosing out.

Having been disappointed at missing Gambit when it was on at my local cinema a few months ago, I have now at last got round to watching it on DVD. My main criteria for watching this particular film is that I am an avid `Rickmaniac' (Alan Rickman fan) and, having got most of his films/TV work on DVD, felt I owed it to my allegiance to add this one too!So, as Colin Firth himself said in an interview, this film is not ground-breaking - all the old `clichés' from 60s and 70s capers seem to be there, along with `Pink Panther'-style farces - from Colin Firth without his trousers (time to move over, Brian Rix ) to a dig at the Japanese, American, Germans and indeed Brits, with all their stereotypical idiosyncrasies to the fore. All that seems to be missing is Peter Sellers' Inspector Clouseau, complete with trilby hat, magnifying glass and his trademark distinctly ridiculous French accent. Then again, it's what we, as Brits, do best - the fact that we haven't really done so since the 60s and 70s is neither here nor there. The other fact being that the Coen brothers, who wrote the script, ironically, are in fact American. Then again, the original of this was made in the early 1960s (with Michael Cain and Shirley McClain in the lead roles, and I'm led to believe that the original writer was in fact English, though please don't quote me on that.)The role of Harry Deane, the put upon Art Curator at the heart of the story, is not one that you would automatically think of Colin Firth for. And, although he does his very best, I spent most of the time I was watching him thinking that someone else (not sure who) might have been better. He wasn't terrible by any means but I personally think there are better comedic actors out there. Alan Rickman himself is larger than life as the selfish, arrogant media tycoon boss that Deane is trying to con, and Cameron Diaz plays her part well as the ditzy rodeo rider, `P.J' Puznowski, called in to help Deane. Maybe her 'Texan-ness' is somewhat over the top, but then again, I'm guessing that was deliberate too.Without giving away too much of the plot, I have to say I found some of the first part of the film a little confusing, but once the penny dropped, it all fell into place and totally made sense.However, side-splitting this film is not, but it does have its moments - such as a highly amusing scene in the Savoy Hotel foyer when two receptionists (superbly played by Pip Torrens and Julian Rhind-Tutt) get the wrong end of the stick re a conversation between P.J (Diaz) and Harry Deane: This is innuendo at it's very best and, in a way, the rest of the comedy from then on is a bit of a let down by comparison.Whilst it would be fair to say that this film would be unlikely to make anyone's `Top 10' (or probably `Top 100' for that matter), I'm sure there must be worse ways to spend 85 minutes. I can honestly say it was a fun, cheery `caper' that certainly left more than a hint of a smile on my face. (Not least because you get to see Colin Firth sans trousers, and more of Mr. Rickman than most of his other films have revealed; the latter not necessarily a good thing at his age of 67, I hasten to add, but I admit to being easily pleased at my own age nowadays!) The twist at the end though is definitely worth waiting for and elevates the film to slightly more than your average comedy, e.g. it has a plot!Quite what other reviewers have meant when they've said things like "the worst film ever" and "totally unfunny" (as some professional review claimed), I'm really not sure. Have they seen some of the movies out there? Trust me, this was one of Alan Rickman's better ones (though hardly a glamorous role, and playing a rather nasty character in a kind of endearing way that only he can) - and I should know - I've sat through them all!

One of the reviews I read concerning Gambit was the only thing like the earlier movie was the glasses Colin wears.Maybe so, but the whole idea is to bring it up to date. This movie was so funny, Colin,Cameron,Alan,Tom and George made a great encomble. They are great actors and all are good at comedy. It was fun to see Colin in such a different role. As far as I am concerned he can do no wrong!!