Plata quemada (Burnt Money) (2000)

76% of critics liked it
(29 reviews)
76% of users liked it
(3,019 ratings)

Love and betrayal complicate a robbery gone wrong in this offbeat crime thriller shot in Argentina. Angel (Eduardo Noriega) and El Nene (Leonardo Sbaraglia) are a pair of small-time criminals hired to take part in the robbery of an armored truck organized by mobsters Nando (Carlos Roffe) and Fontana… More Love and betrayal complicate a robbery gone wrong in this offbeat crime thriller shot in Argentina. Angel (Eduardo Noriega) and El Nene (Leonardo Sbaraglia) are a pair of small-time criminals hired to take part in the robbery of an armored truck organized by mobsters Nando (Carlos Roffe) and Fontana (Ricardo Bartis), who working in cahoots with the driver, El Cuervo (Pablo Echarri). Angel and El Nene are also lovers, and when the robbery goes sour and Angel is shot by the police, El Nene is enraged and opens fire on the officers, turning the heist into a bloodbath. Angel and El Nene somehow escape and go into hiding, with El Nene attempting to nurse Angel back to health. As the couple tries to avoid detection in Uruguay, El Cuervo's moll, Vivi (Dolores Fonzi), tells the police of their whereabouts under threat of torture. Meanwhile, beginning to crack under cabin fever, Angel and El Nene slip into town to visit a carnival, where El Nene's head is unexpectedly turned by Giselle (Leticia Bredice), sparking murderous jealousy in Angel. Plata Quemada was adapted from a novel by Ricardo Piglia, which was inspired by a true story. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 57 min.
Directed By: Marcelo Piñeyro
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Jan 15, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Oct 1, 2002
Studio: Strand Releasing

Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
It's a soap opera strewn with bullet casings.
Eric Harrison, Houston Chronicle
A sexy, intense crime thriller from Argentina.
Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press
Directed with enough (borrowed) style by Marcelo Pineyro that we barely notice its lack of original ideas.
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News
With flavorful acting, direction and cinematography, Burnt Money touches on emotions universal to any relationship.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
A sexy, mildly entertaining import.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Piñeyro ... meticulously keeps pumping the tension until it's no longer a question of what's going to happen, but when.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O ritmo irregular e as gráficas cenas entre os dois protagonistas incomodam um pouco, mas o filme tem seus momentos interessantes.
Ernest Hardy, L.A. Weekly
Those who hang in for the long haul are rewarded with a sexy, moving love story.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
Its highlight comes in a cunning series of cuts that fade between fellatio performed at gunpoint with genuflection at the foot of a crucifix.
Frank Swietek, One Guy's Opinion
'Burnt Money'=wasted time...a Tarentino ripoff played at half-speed.
Peter Henne, Film Journal International
Piñeyro's solution for every predictable plot advancement and character relationship is a lot of frantic arm-waving, as though to insist, 'But these gangsters are gay!'
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle
Well worth seeing if you have even the slightest interest in guns and sex and the interplay between the two (and who doesn't?).
Eli Sanders, Seattle Times
The twins -- ragged, cool-eyed and inseparable -- are this movie's swinging stopwatch, mesmerizing the viewer with the fierce back-and-forth of their romance.
Ted Murphy, Baseline.Hollywood.com
... a tidy, well-acted little gem.
Paula Nechak, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
A guilty pleasure teeming with enough straight and gay sex, nudity, sweat and violence to please any cult film enthusiast.
Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
[Piñeyro] carefully builds unreleased sexual tensions, heat, thickness and boredom to make the movie's otherwise slow-moving centerpiece pulsate.

Read all 16 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

A movie about waiting. Doesn't sound too interesting, but when you have well written characters, their interactions become action. This is the story of a heist that goes a little awry. The gang must then hideout. This sounds easier than it is, as fingers begin to point at a… More
A movie about waiting. Doesn't sound too interesting, but when you have well written characters, their interactions become action. This is the story of a heist that goes a little awry. The gang must then hideout. This sounds easier than it is, as fingers begin to point at a setup, and a couple begin to drift apart. This whole time waiting becomes a time for the two protagonists to explore and experiment. It soon becomes obvious that money isn't the only thing at stake, but also pride and freedom, and not just the kind of freedom that involves keeping out of jail. The film, like the best crime thrillers, explodes into violence at a shocking speed. It emphasizes the realistic tone. I loved the 60's setting, and the music really captured the period. At times both frustrating and sad, it shows how humans will let their hearts take over, even if that means getting everyone killed/imprisoned and losing a lot of money in the process.
Jake .

I watched Burt Money a while back, and now reviewing it, the first thing that came to mind is that the subtitles were censored. I realize that is irrelevant and random, but I have never came across that before. Plus, it was a really half-assed job. They were just sort of blurred -… More
I watched Burt Money a while back, and now reviewing it, the first thing that came to mind is that the subtitles were censored. I realize that is irrelevant and random, but I have never came across that before. Plus, it was a really half-assed job. They were just sort of blurred - like nudity on television - so, they were still readable. Also, the cussing was not edited from the voicetrack. Apparently, cussing is not offensive as long as it is in Spainish. Idk. I suppose that is what I get for watching a movie online. The actual movie is fasinating. The story is a fairly typical Gangsta Thrilla, but it is so much more than that. It really, really makes you ponder love and relationships. To some degree I think most relationships are made up of a Angel and a Nene. You cannot help but wonder as much as Angel needs to be taken care off, Nene needs to be the one taking care of somebody. You cannot help but marvel at how Angel can keep pushing him away, even when they care so much for each other. You have to wonder how many times Nene can take rejction before he moves on. That was a horrible way of explaining it, but Burnt Money, really is a gripping story exploring two lovers. I love how ever gay-themed movie has a review along the lines of "Its like ___ but with Guys!". Seriously, Bid Eden: "Typical Rom-Com ... But with Guys!" Eating Out: "Its like American Pie ... But with Guys!", Brokeback Mountain: "Its a cowboy movie .. .But with Guys!" And now, we have Burnt Money. "Its like Bonnie and Clyde ... but with Guys!"
Sylvester K

I wouldn't say it's the best film because it was dribbling. It's based on a true Argentinian robbery that took place in the 1960s. The story revolved around the relationship of the 2 gay thugs and how one of their heists affected their relationships. It has a visually… More
I wouldn't say it's the best film because it was dribbling. It's based on a true Argentinian robbery that took place in the 1960s. The story revolved around the relationship of the 2 gay thugs and how one of their heists affected their relationships. It has a visually powerful editing, Hot and erotic would summarise the whole film.
Leina R

Wonderful performances and great story.