Plastic

Plastic, released in 2014, is a fast-paced, glossy British heist film directed by Julian Gilbey. The storyline is inspired by true events and follows the audacious escapades of a group of young friends who've turned credit card fraud into a lucrative, if not exactly legal, business. The street-smart gang includes charismatic leader Sam, played by Downton Abbey's Ed Speleers, comic relief Rafa portrayed by Will Poulter of We're The Millers fame, the tech-savvy Yatesey enacted by Alfie Allen from Game of Thrones, and the affluent but bored scholar Fordy, portrayed by Sebastian De Souza.

The protagonists of Plastic are not your typical gangsters. They are a quartet of students making mischief in the high-end neighborhoods of Miami to London's Canary Wharf. The movie opens with the group executing a sophisticated swindle, posing as international businessmen, using stolen credit card information to fund a luxe lifestyle that proves irresistible to their peers. This lifestyle includes swanky parties, designer clothing, and weekends in high-end resorts which equally prove captivating to us as viewers, enveloping us in a tantalizing world of luxury and hedonism.

The group meets their match in the form of Marcel, played by Thomas Kretschmann, who after falling victim to their scams, forces them into working off their debt. This formidable mobster, portrayed with a captivating mélange of menace and charm, coerces them to pull off a daring heist worth millions. Beside facing Marcel’s daunting threats, they also have to face the dilemma of trust amongst themselves, as deceiving others for a living makes trust a tricky business.

Adding flavor to the mix, the film brings in a romantic dimension between Frankie, Emma Rigby’s character, and Sam. Frankie starts off as a mere side character, but she soon gains importance when it turns out that her job in a credit card company could become a massive boon for the gang’s operations. Their on-and-off again relationship adds a personal scent to the plot, with highs and lows that perfectly reflect the roller-coaster ride of their risky endeavors.

Plastic stakes its claim as a heist movie with more than just well-executed scams and plot twists. It employs eye-catching locations from high-end bars and beaches of Miami to the skyscrapers in London. The cinematography coupled with an appealing soundtrack provides a visual and audio feast that resonates well with the overall suave and voguish aesthetic of the movie.

The movie’s tonality is crucially balanced between the light-hearted banter between the group of friends, high-stress criminal activities, and an air of joviality even in their most dangerous endeavors. However, the young, charming protagonists' glamor doesn't allow us to forget the morally ambiguous nature of their work and the dangerous ground they tread on. This veil of ambiguity around our protagonists lends an extra dose of intrigue and unpredictability to the film, constantly reminding us that in this luxurious but risky game, everything can change at a moment's notice.

Despite its fun-loving facade, Plastic deals with thought-provoking themes like greed, the seductive nature of affluence, the implications of a life of crime, and the fickleness of friendship in desperate circumstances. It raises questions about the price and purpose of using unethical means to achieve a dream life, the very unraveling of character under pressure, and the persistent tussle between personal desires and professional obligations.

Moreover, Plastic challenges expectations in that the characters are not romanticized vigilantes or Robin Hoods stealing from the rich. They are flawed, ambitious students succumbing to the allure of easy money and luxury, coping with their actions' repercussions.

The performances by the lead actors are noteworthy, particularly Ed Speleer's as Sam, providing his character with a credible mix of charm and desperation. The dynamic between the group, their jovial exchanges, combined with their stress-filled lapses of seriousness, brought about by the actors, create a suitable organic character study.

Plastic offers an adrenaline-filled thrill ride into the world of credit card fraudsters, peppered with luxurious escapades, unexpected twists, and thought-provoking dilemmas. It's an intriguing dive into an unconventional world of crime, with enough charm and wit to keep you engaged throughout. If you are a fan of slick crime capers with heart, then Plastic is a movie to check out.