Bait (2000 film)
Bait | |
---|---|
Directed by | Antoine Fuqua |
Written by | Andrew Scheinman Adam Scheinman Tony Gilroy |
Produced by | Sean Ryerson |
Starring | |
Cinematography | Tobias A. Schliessler |
Edited by | Alan Edward Bell |
Music by | Mark Mancina |
Production companies | |
Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release date | September 15, 2000 |
Running time | 119 minutes |
Countries | United States Canada |
Language | English |
Budget | $51 million |
Box office | $15 million |
Bait is a 2000 American
In the film, a
Plot
When fast talking, petty thief and hustler Alvin Sanders gets arrested for stealing prawns, the worst of his problems would seem to be going to jail. Unfortunately, he ends up sharing a cell with John Delano Jaster, who, while stealing $42 million in gold from the Federal Reserve, double-crossed his partner, Bristol, after Bristol murdered two bound and gagged guards during the gold heist. Bristol, who is the mastermind of the heist, is shown to be a dangerous man, with a knack for computers, a long memory, and who will go to any lengths to find where Jaster hid the gold, including killing others. While being interrogated by hardball Treasury Agent Edgar Clenteen, the double-crosser dies from heart failure.
All the feds have are an incomprehensible message that Jaster gave to Alvin to deliver to his wife, who is dead unbeknownst to him, having been killed by Bristol ("Tell her she should go to the Bronx Zoo. Tell her '
Alvin soon becomes suspicious of the many situations that have occurred since he has been released from prison, especially when he encounters Bristol face to face, yet eventually Bristol kidnaps Alvin while evading the authorities, causing an explosion from a bomb attached to a bound and gagged agent Wooly. After interrogating Alvin, Bristol forces Alvin to lead him to the gold supposedly hidden at the horse track in Manhattan, while holding his girlfriend Lisa and baby hostage. Alvin manages to eventually escape and fight off Bristol and free Lisa before a bomb set in the van they’re in explodes. Alvin manages to hot wire the van, drive it and jump out just in time before the bomb explodes. Bristol catches up to Alvin and points a gun at him, yet Clenteen shoots him multiple times, saving Alvin. A grateful Alvin punches Clenteen due to earlier treatment while in jail, yet Clenteen, not upset by it, admits he had it coming.
While discussing with Lisa concerning their son Gregory at her bookstore, Alvin meets a customer asking for the book, "The Bronx Zoo", which leads him to understand Jaster's message; the gold is buried under "home" plate at Yankee Stadium. He then calls Clenteen to discuss a reward for the recovery of the stolen gold, which after some confusion turns out to be five percent of its value; two million dollars.
Cast
- Jamie Foxx as Alvin Sanders
- David Morseas Treasury Agent Edgar Clenteen
- Doug Hutchison as Bristol
- Kimberly Elise as Lisa Hill
- David Paymer as Treasury Agent Wooly
- Mike Epps as Stevie Sanders
- Robert Pastorelli as John Delano Jaster
- Jamie Kennedy as Treasury Agent Blum
- Nestor Serrano as Treasury Agent Boyle
- Megan Dodds as Treasury Agent Walsh
- Neil Crone as Supervisor
- Kirk Acevedo as Ramundo
- Larry Block as Customer
- Jeffrey Donovan as Julio
- Tia Texada as Tika
Production
In May 1999, it was announced
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 26%, based on reviews from 82 critics. The website's consensus reads, "Even though Jamie Foxx shines in Bait, the movie suffers from music video roots and a formulaic script that strains credibility."[3] On Metacritic, it has a score of 39 out of 100, based on reviews from 28 critics.[4]
Roger Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars and wrote that "it's over the top, an exercise in action comedy that cuts loose from logic and enjoys itself."[5]
Later Director Antoine Fuqua said: "Bait was one of those movies that's not me. As a director in the beginning you're still trying to find what your passion is. You don't always necessarily get to do what you're passionate about, and I was always impatient with waiting around." - said Fuqua. "It wasn't like the stuff I was passionate about was coming across my desk, and it was a chance to work with Jamie. And I thought, well, maybe I do have a little bit of humor in me. But I don't! It didn't work out for me." He concludes by: "I kind of did it as an exercise. It was fine, and I got to work with Jamie, and Jamie turned out to be a major star, which is great because I knew he would be back then by just spending time with him. "[6]
Box office
The film opened at #2 at the North American box office making $5,485,591
Soundtrack
A soundtrack was released on September 12, 2000 by
References
- ^ a b Chris Petrikin (May 17, 1999). "Castle Rock will use Jamie Foxx as 'Bait'". Variety. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ Michael Fleming (July 30, 1999). "Kris and Foxx to play cat and mouse in 'Bait'". Variety. Retrieved June 11, 2023.
- ^ "Bait (2000)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
- ^ "Bait". Metacritic.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (September 15, 2000). "Bait". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 8, 2013.
- ^ http://legacy.aintitcool.com/node/31644
External links
- Bait at IMDb
- Bait at Box Office Mojo
- Bait at Rotten Tomatoes