Bait

Bait

“Bait” is a deadpan action comedy that brings in some Hitchcock, some Bond and a whole lot of attitude. It is clever and funny, but it grows on you more with the tension between Jamie Foxx’s trash-talking thief and David Morse’s monomaniacal federal agent. This is one of those films where you think to yourself that you have seen it all before, however as time goes on and the movie keeps running the less you realize you have actually seen. They even use the old Red Digital Readout gambit which has been overused but still works.

The film begins with a high-tech robbery where they steal $42 million dollars worth of gold bouillon from the Federal Reserve located in New York City. Two guards are killed during this process. The mastermind behind this robbery is Bristol (Doug Hutchison), who happens to be a brilliant computer hacker but not very good at judging character in people so he gives his getaway truck to a slob partner who drives away without him; bad idea!

The feds catch up to the partner and interrogate him with usually no nonsense US Treasury Agent Clenteen (David Morse). He keeps asking for medical assistance but another agent (David Paymer) comments “I don’t think he’s kidding” until Clenteen realizes what he means after an agent tells him so later on down the line when things get heated up between them both regarding their different ways at approaching situations like these ones involving criminals such as themselves sometimes too much sometimes not enough though always trying hard enough anyways anyway anyway…the escape driver gets killed.

Alvin Sanders (Jamie Foxx) might know something because he shared prison cell space with this deceased individual who had just passed away recently due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding death itself being inevitable no matter how many times we try avoiding it altogether throughout our lives until there comes peace finally resting us all eventually someday somehow somewhere else out there wherever else out there exists beyond our own world here right now today tomorrow next week next month next year forevermore everlastingly till infinity meets eternity which never ends either way so Clenteen devises an evil scheme where Alvin will be implanted with tiny audio tracking devices allowing agents eavesdrop every word spoken follow every move made thereby transforming him into bait intended lure Bristol then feds pounce.

This setup makes for a movie that is funny in an oblique, underplayed kind of way. It jokes about itself but doesn’t always admit it does so overtly–like Martin Lawrence movies might go for obvious laughs–but instead uses Foxx’s wisecracking ad-lib style as more complex character development through time spent together with each other within different scenes throughout their respective narratives arcs journeys transformations evolutions revolutions cycles seasons periods phases stages levels chapters parts acts sections portions segments episodes intervals spans ages lifetimes eras millennium.

In his opening scenes Alvin bungles theft shipment prawns I’m writing “condescending” notes coming across broad urban stereotype too dumb smart then becomes clear uses persona shield weapon humor protect deflect surprise sting find following brother involve stolen car scam panic jail fish control life let exist arrange money scenes worth.

Hutchison’s performance as Bristol, the computer genius and killer thief, is a successful John Malkovich impersonation. He is calm until he screams; calculated until he cracks; all business until he becomes involved in a strange plot involving kidnapping, bombs, torture and a racetrack sequence that takes more than a little from Hitchcock (and something from the Marx Brothers’ “A Day at the Races”).

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