Themes: Cons and Scams, Dangerous Friends, Race Against Time
Main Cast: Robbie Magasiva, Paolo Rotondo
Release Year: 2001
Country: NZ
Run Time: 96 minutes
Plot
Three small-time gamblers discover their stakes have been raised to a career high in this comedy-drama. Jack (Robbie Magasiva), Wayne (Scott Wills), and Thomas (Paolo Rotondo) compose a trio of hotshot billiards players who devote their spare time to hustling games at their favorite watering hole in New Zealand. When the boys learn that Daddy (Enrico Mammarella), a fearsome local crime czar, is organizing a high-stakes pool tournament, they decide to get in on the action, but when they learn that Dave (John Leigh), the owner of their favorite pub and hustling spot, is deep in dept to the mob, they figure that wining the tourney may be their only hope for keeping the bar open (and Dave alive). As Jack, Wayne, and Thomas prepare to square off against the sharpest Kiwi pool sharks alive, they find themselves attracting the attention of Karen (Simone Kessell) and Sara (Anne Nordhaus), a pair of beautiful women who seem to know their way around a billiard table and are more than casually interested in the boys. But what the guys don't know is that Karen and Sara are world-class pool hustlers who've been hired by Daddy's crew to distract them and throw them off their game. Stickmen was the first feature film from director Hamish Rothwell, who previously was a top director of television commercials and music videos. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Cast
Robbie Magasiva - Jack
Paolo Rotondo - Thomas
Credit
Rachel Evans - First Assistant Director, Hamish Rothwell - Director, Chris Brown - Executive Producer, Robin Laing - Executive Producer, Michelle Turner - Producer, Nick Ward - Screenwriter
Thomas (Paolo Rotondo), Jack (Robbie Magasiva) and Wayne (Scott Wills) are the best of mates. Each of them lives their life the way they play pool. Thomas is either absolutely brilliant or absolutely crap. Jack is always slick, cool and forever setting up the next shot. Wayne bumbles his way through life happy to be the guy that always says the wrong thing at the wrong time. During the high-stakes underground eight-ball tournamment run by Daddy (Enrico Mammarella), a Greek crime lord, they encounter a weird and wonderful collection of people on their way to the big prize. As well as the tournament, Thomas is at turning point in his life. He's lost his job, his girlfriend and the roof over his head. But as the game goes on he finds himself being pursued by the feisty Sara (Anne Nordhaus).
Director Hamish Rothwell and Writer Nick Ward appear in the movie a total of 4 times (incl voice overs) - Nick as a "john" with only 20 bucks and a burger coupon, Hamish as the voice of the passed out "john" in the previous scene as well as two other small cameos.
Despite Hamish's pool education as part of this movie he has still to beat his father. Having not faced him since the infamous Rothwell family pool competition in the mid 90's.
