As Good As It Gets

Fanciful, disturbing, and wildly original, it announces the arrival of a fresh, bold voice in American cinema.

Funny, strange, confrontational and subversive, this is one of the most interesting experiences you'll have at the cinema this year.

A film of deceptively outspoken contemporary relevance, this is cinema at its most alert, alarming and alive.

Jonathan Slade (McColm) is a retired Military hero whose current profession is listed as "Beach Bum". His brother Alfie (Gould) is your classic computer nerd who uses his skills to become a petty criminal. When a plane carrying something valuable (no spoiler alerts here) crashes into the Black Sea, the CIA, and Stallworth Hubbs (Turman) in particular says "Get me Slade!" So the Slade brothers go to a resort town in Russia to fight the baddies and get the black box of the airplane to try and find some answers. While there, they team up with Alex (Pays), and a series of fights, car chases, underwater scenes, boat chases, and complete silliness ensues.Subterfuge is a lot of bright, upbeat fun and truly is a rollicking adventure. You know when you see the barfight introducing Slade, which is the wackiest we've seen since Radical Jack (2000), that you're in for a funny good time. Matt McColm is a far better central hero than, say, Frank Zagarino, and his meatheadiness contrasts well with his brother in classic "odd couple" fashion. Jason Gould, the son of Barbra Streisand and Elliott Gould, steals the movie with his quasi-annoying yet somehow likable performance. His scientific ideas sure do come in handy, especially in a scene involving a whale which may be a first in an action movie (or any movie). Amanda Pays does well as the action heroine/love interest for McColm, and Richard Brake as "Pierce Tencil" really throws himself into his role. Director Herb Freed is probably best known for the 80's slasher Graduation Day (1981), but is also responsible for the Mike Norris vehicle Survival Game (1987).The movie is filled with funny incidental characters as well, everyone from the standard "wacky taxi driver" to the nightclub singer. Thanks to the humor, as well as some "memorable" editing, Subterfuge is an enjoyable romp. Plus it has great "90's tech" such as CD-ROM-style computers that beep and make "thwacking" sounds when you use them, as well as 90's fashion choices like hiked up jeans with a T-shirt tucked in. McColm's signature fighting move seems to be to fall on his opponent from a high distance up while yelling.Sure, it may have a low budget (just check out the opening plane sequence with its Star Trek-style camera shaking to indicate turbulence, as well as the plentiful stock footage, the fact that it was released by Platinum Disc, etc., etc, ), but Subterfuge is, against all odds, a winner. For hilariously implausible fun, check out Subterfuge.For more action insanity, please visit: comeuppancereviews.com

Not a bad little actioner. Matt McColm shows impressive martial arts ability...at first I was thinking "Who the hell is this guy?", but it soon becomes clear that he knows his stuff, plus he has a sense of humor about himself. Jason Gould takes the "nerdy computer whiz" role and gives it a human face. And Amanda Pays is a very solid female addition to the cast. The film has quite a lot of action, and an undercurrent of offbeat humor that makes it a little different from your typical low-budget action flick. My main two complaints are: not enough hand-to-hand combat scenes (none for Pays, who does play an ex-marine, after all), and a few too many underwater scenes (and we all know how rarely those work in the movies). (**)

I just watched 'Subterfuge' while flipping through the crappy encore channels you get with digital cable...It's movies like this which make me think I still have a shot at getting into the business. This movie is obviously not to be taken seriously by viewers..but How producers, writers, directors, ACTORS take this seriously while making it is beyond me. Matt McColm deserves an oscar for strutting around with no shirt and doing his jump off a high ledge and screaming "Aaaaahh!!" while attempting to tackle a bad guy. And although Amanda Pays still looks good since 'Leviathan', she offers us little when she is supposed to be the girl that McColm has sex with while carrying out his 'beat the bad guys' mission. This movie looks like an 80 minute Baywatch episode, except with cheesier music and less T & A. Lovely editing job by the filmmakers- check for the shot of Pays and McColm pulling away in the speedboat MULTIPLE times. But the scene that takes the cake is when the bad guys drop a grenade in Matt's boat while he wines and dines three babes, then we cut to him punching one bad guy in the face on the beach...PRICELESS. I give this movie 1 out of 10 stars...a must see for anyone who has nothing to do on a saturday before finals week.

This may not be a bang on action flick, but the chemistry between the three leads, including the buffed Matt McColm and Amanda Pays works. Additionally, the genius brother, adds not only the needed "intelligence" but also the bits of comic relief. Not a 10, but definitely not a zero. Also found it interesting that Russia and the USA are referenced as "allies" quite a few times throughout the film. Also appreciated the time taken to study and accurately depict the major cities of the smaller, former "eastern block" countries.