Movies: Blue Iguana - An Underrated Gem

(Drivebycuriosity) - We can see evolution everywhere. Heist movies ares no exception. The genre was shaped by Hong Kong cinema, Tarantino and others, becoming more violent but also more stylish. The film "Blue Iguana", written and directed by Hadi Hajaig, is the newest example (imdb).

Two low level criminals who are on parole, working in a New York diner, are approached by a British lawyer, who hires them for a heist in London, which leads to a chain of hilarious events (this is a spoiler free blog. You can find a synopsis here wikipedia ).

The film could be seen as a persiflage and a homage to former heist movies. "Blue Iguana" is ultra-violent and very, very bloody. But the scenes look surreal and they show mostly slapstick action. I could see influences by "Pulp Fiction", John Woo, Luc Besson´s Transporter movies, films about the Kray Twins ("Legend") and many others. But Blue Iguana has a lot of new and original ideas and some scenes are artfully shot & decorated. In one scene the violence happens out of sight but we can see people fleeing and things are flying around - all in slow motion. The soundtrack - mostly 80s pop - and some decent romance enhance the pleasure of the film.

I loved to watch Phoebe Fox, who - as a lawyer and master mind - changed her appearances like a chameleon, maybe the best gag of the film. Sam Rockwell was as funny as in "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri", his movie partner Ben Schwartz performed almost as good. I also enjoyed seeing Peter Ferdinando in the role of a psychotic local villain & Peter Polycarpou as a Greek immigrant gangster boss.

My wife and I had much fun watching this movie, but we were the only visitors at this performance. The film deserves more attention - an underrated gem.