Author(s): Adam
Location: Texas
“The Counterfeit King”
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by Nicholas Pileggi
Produced by Graham King/Irwin Winkler
Principal Cast:
MARK WHALBERG as Frank Sereno
ROBERT DE NIRO as William "Bill" Ronstadt
CATE BLANCHET as Olivia "Liv" Marcell
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN as Marcus Sereno
TALIA SHIRE as Julia Sereno
RAY LIOTTA as James Maretto
Released: December 25, 2007
Rated R for strong language, some sexual content/nudity
Tagline: "Greed is an evil king"
Synopsis: The true story of "The Counterfeit King" on which the film is based was featured on an episode of The History Channel's Breaking Vegas. Told in flashback, it is the true story of Frank Sereno, who along with his girlfriend Olivia Marcell, worked what seemed to be the perfect plan for getting rich quick off of casino slot machines. He created counterfeit coins that looked, weighed and were shaped exactly like slot machine coins from Atlantic City's Empire Casino. After spending nearly a year crafting these false coins, Frank's tests of the coins showed that many of them worked on the machines. Hence began what Frank felt would be the key to his early retirement. Over a period of time, Frank begins to craft coins from other casinos as well and has coins for numerous Atalntic City casinos. He and Olivia go to different casions and use the counterfeit creations. After making hundreds of thousands off casinos in Atlantic City, Frank and Julia want to try their luck in Vegas. Using part of their earnings, Frank moves his equipment with him to Vegas as he and Olivia work to fool another city of infinite slot machines. The more Frank wins, the more he wants to keep going. Frank and Olivia have built themselves a world of wealth. Frank is even sending money to his parents Marcus and Julia whom he plans to eventually move down to Vegas. Frank also plans to eventually wed Olivia. What Frank doesn't know is that he's being watched. Suspicions begin to arouse from different figures the more Frank gets lucky on the machines. William Ronstadt, an invesatigator for the FBI has been put on the case to investigate Frank. Frank is now also being watched by James Maretto, the tough-natured owner of the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. Frank is so into his creating and winning off of counterfeit coins that it has become an addiction. Nothing lasts forever, and neither does Frank's glory. The FBI has gained enough evidence on him to go in and make an arrest. Olivia is also arrested as an accomplice. Frank's empire has fallen. His coins are confiscated from the trunk of his car and used as evidence against him in court. He pleads guilty and is sentenced to time in prison. Upon his release, Frank never again works any kind of coin counterfeiting.
What the press would say:
"The Counterfeit King is an excellently crafted drama about how far down our greed will take us"
"It's the Scorsese/Pileggi reunion we've all been waiting for"
"Whalberg, Blanchet and De Niro give excellent performances"
"Another Scorsese crime classic!"
Nominations:
BEST PICTURE- Graham King/Irwin Winkler
BEST DIRECTOR- Martin Scorsese
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY- Nicholas Pileggi
BEST ACTOR- Mark Whalberg
BEST ACTRESS- Cate Blanchet
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- Robert De Niro
BEST EDITING- Thelma Schoonmaker
Location: Texas
“The Counterfeit King”
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Written by Nicholas Pileggi
Produced by Graham King/Irwin Winkler
Principal Cast:
MARK WHALBERG as Frank Sereno
ROBERT DE NIRO as William "Bill" Ronstadt
CATE BLANCHET as Olivia "Liv" Marcell
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN as Marcus Sereno
TALIA SHIRE as Julia Sereno
RAY LIOTTA as James Maretto
Released: December 25, 2007
Rated R for strong language, some sexual content/nudity
Tagline: "Greed is an evil king"
Synopsis: The true story of "The Counterfeit King" on which the film is based was featured on an episode of The History Channel's Breaking Vegas. Told in flashback, it is the true story of Frank Sereno, who along with his girlfriend Olivia Marcell, worked what seemed to be the perfect plan for getting rich quick off of casino slot machines. He created counterfeit coins that looked, weighed and were shaped exactly like slot machine coins from Atlantic City's Empire Casino. After spending nearly a year crafting these false coins, Frank's tests of the coins showed that many of them worked on the machines. Hence began what Frank felt would be the key to his early retirement. Over a period of time, Frank begins to craft coins from other casinos as well and has coins for numerous Atalntic City casinos. He and Olivia go to different casions and use the counterfeit creations. After making hundreds of thousands off casinos in Atlantic City, Frank and Julia want to try their luck in Vegas. Using part of their earnings, Frank moves his equipment with him to Vegas as he and Olivia work to fool another city of infinite slot machines. The more Frank wins, the more he wants to keep going. Frank and Olivia have built themselves a world of wealth. Frank is even sending money to his parents Marcus and Julia whom he plans to eventually move down to Vegas. Frank also plans to eventually wed Olivia. What Frank doesn't know is that he's being watched. Suspicions begin to arouse from different figures the more Frank gets lucky on the machines. William Ronstadt, an invesatigator for the FBI has been put on the case to investigate Frank. Frank is now also being watched by James Maretto, the tough-natured owner of the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas. Frank is so into his creating and winning off of counterfeit coins that it has become an addiction. Nothing lasts forever, and neither does Frank's glory. The FBI has gained enough evidence on him to go in and make an arrest. Olivia is also arrested as an accomplice. Frank's empire has fallen. His coins are confiscated from the trunk of his car and used as evidence against him in court. He pleads guilty and is sentenced to time in prison. Upon his release, Frank never again works any kind of coin counterfeiting.
What the press would say:
"The Counterfeit King is an excellently crafted drama about how far down our greed will take us"
"It's the Scorsese/Pileggi reunion we've all been waiting for"
"Whalberg, Blanchet and De Niro give excellent performances"
"Another Scorsese crime classic!"
Nominations:
BEST PICTURE- Graham King/Irwin Winkler
BEST DIRECTOR- Martin Scorsese
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY- Nicholas Pileggi
BEST ACTOR- Mark Whalberg
BEST ACTRESS- Cate Blanchet
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR- Robert De Niro
BEST EDITING- Thelma Schoonmaker
No comments:
Post a Comment