Easy Money

Based on the first in a series of best selling novels, Easy Money follows three parallel storylines, all of which eventually converge, revolving around the drug-smuggling scene in Sweden. Director Daniel Espinosa has infused Easy Money with a gritty, down-and-dirty visual sensibility that certainly proves an ideal match for the frequently seedy material, with the admittedly confusing nature of the movie’s opening half hour (ie we’re not entirely sure who these people are and what they’re up to) subsequently not nearly as problematic as one might’ve anticipated. And though each of the three narratives are quite interesting, it’s clear right from the get-go that the highlight here is the subplot detailing a money-hungry college student’s (Joel Kinnaman’s J.W.) epically disastrous decision to fall in with several seriously shady characters. The convoluted atmosphere ultimately gives way to a vibe of surprisingly taut suspense, with the pieces falling into place in a slow yet sure manner that proves impossible to resist. And although the film does hit a bit of a lull as it passes the one hour mark – it’s obvious that some trims here and there would’ve been beneficial – Easy Money builds to an absolutely electrifying finale that’s as exciting and thrilling as anything within the genre (and it’s certainly difficult not to wish that the rest of the proceedings had been even remotely as jaw-droppingly exciting).

***1/2 out of ****