Contrarreloj

"Contrarreloj" is a 2012 action-thriller directed by Simon West and stars Nicolas Cage, Malin Akerman, and Josh Lucas in an adrenaline-pumping tale of crime, redemption, and the desperate race against time. The film, also known by its English title "Stolen," is set against the backdrop of the buzzing city of New Orleans, where the vibrant culture and festivities are contrasted by a dark underworld of crime and corruption.

Nicolas Cage embodies the character of Will Montgomery, a master thief who is well-known for pulling off high-stake heists with finesse and precision. However, after a particularly risky robbery goes awry, Will finds himself at a crossroads. Caught and convicted, he's forced to spend a significant amount of time behind bars, giving him ample time to rethink his life choices and the path that led him there.

The sands of time flow steadily, and upon Will’s release from prison, he emerges a changed man. Determined to leave his life of crime behind and rebuild a strained relationship with his estranged daughter, Alison, played by Sami Gayle, Will is eager to make amends. But the past is not so easily left behind, and Will quickly learns that the repercussions of his former life are still very much a part of the present.

Enter Josh Lucas’s character, Vince, a former partner in crime of Will's, whose loyalty has been tarnished by betrayal and a thirst for retribution. Vince is manipulative, unhinged, and driven by a single-minded pursuit of what he feels is owed to him. His actions set in motion a harrowing chain of events that pull Will back into the shadows he's fought so hard to escape from.

The tension ratchets up when Will's daughter is kidnapped by Vince, who demands an impossible ransom: the $10 million cache from their last heist that was never recovered. The problem? Will doesn’t actually have the money. It was reportedly burned up during their getaway, which complicates the situation and leaves Will with an almost insurmountable predicament.

Malin Akerman joins the game as Riley Jeffers, Will's savvy former accomplice and expert in her own right. Riley is not only a key player from Will's past, but also a potentially crucial ally in his present conundrum. Together, they embark on a relentless mission to rescue Alison, each with their own motives driving them forward.

The movie captures Will's fraught pursuit to save his daughter as he navigates the seedy underbelly of New Orleans. With the clock ticking loudly in his ears, he must rely on his honed skills, old contacts, and sheer determination to outwit his adversary. Each minute that passes diminishes the chance of a safe return for Alison, and with the city's annual Mardi Gras celebration as a chaotic backdrop, Will must weave through the madness while staying one step ahead of the police who are hot on his trail.

As they dig deeper into the mystery of the missing money and work to track down Vince, Will and Riley’s dynamic relationship highlights their shared past and the tension it brings to their current situation. Their chemistry is a blend of trust and distrust, knowledge and surprise, a testament to the life they once led and the fine line they walk between right and wrong.

Amidst explosive action sequences, high-speed chases, and intense confrontations, "Contrarreloj" delves into themes of loyalty, sacrifice, and the unyielding bonds of family. The film showcases Cage's character wrestling with the moral dilemmas that define who he is: a father fighting not just to save his daughter’s life, but also to prove to her, and to himself, that he can be the man she needs him to be.

Throughout the film, Simon West orchestrates a symphony of suspense, building towards a crescendo that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. The movie promises to deliver a compelling narrative embroidered with the intricate expertise of a high-stakes heist, the ferocity of a revenge thriller, and the heart of a redemptive family drama. With ticking clocks, moral choices, and an unrelenting pace, "Contrarreloj" is a story of a man pitted against time, fighting to rectify the wrongs of his past in the hopes of securing a future for those he holds dear.