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Circus

 Circus
type
TVTItem
 Circus
label
Circus
 Circus
page
Circus
 Circus
comment
Circus is a 2000 British crime thriller movie directed by Rob Walker and written by David Logan. The movie stars John Hannah, Famke Janssen, Peter Stormare, Brian Conley, and Eddie Izzard.Bruno, a sadistic criminal, wants clever con man Leo out of the way. Leo and his equally clever wife, Lily, are up to something. So too is Julius: he hires Leo to kill Gloria, Julius's wife. Leo does it, but then Julius shows up with the murder on tape, saying Gloria isn't his wife - it's blackmail. Leo's bookie, Troy, is also closing in, wanting to be paid. Bruno and Lily as well as Bruno and Julius have their own scams running, and Leo is their target. Maybe Leo can get Troy off his back, avoid Moose (Bruno's huge enforcer), send Gloria's corpse out of England, turn the tables on Bruno's murderous brother Caspar, and outfox Lily. Or is Lily his fox? It's a three-ring circus.
 Circus
fetched
2024-03-03T15:44:41Z
 Circus
parsed
2024-03-03T15:44:41Z
 Circus
processingComment
Dropped link to Blackmail: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Circus
processingComment
Dropped link to TheCon: Not a Feature - ITEM
 Circus
processingComment
Dropped link to TheMakeover: Not a Feature - IGNORE
 Circus
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Circus / int_1592e954
type
Man Bites Man
 Circus / int_1592e954
comment
Man Bites Man: While expressing his displeasure to Arnie, Bruno leans in close to whisper to him, then bites his ear off.
 Circus / int_1592e954
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_1592e954
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_1592e954
 Circus / int_171e14be
type
London Gangster
 Circus / int_171e14be
comment
London Gangster: Bruno and Caspar are based in Brighton, but otherwise fit the trope. Judging from their accents, they may even be displaced Londoners.
 Circus / int_171e14be
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_171e14be
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_171e14be
 Circus / int_1e8f4221
type
Fingore
 Circus / int_1e8f4221
comment
Fingore: Bruno displays his displeasure with Don by having Moose break Don's fingers before firing him.
 Circus / int_1e8f4221
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_1e8f4221
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_1e8f4221
 Circus / int_20860a0e
type
Punch-Clock Villain
 Circus / int_20860a0e
comment
Punch-Clock Villain: Moose, a Scary Black Man who is really an affable family man whose job just happens to be breaking legs for a London Gangster. Best demonstrated when he calmly breaks Don's fingers, and then helps him up. Don thanks him and the two have a pleasant conversation as Moose escorts him off the premises.
 Circus / int_20860a0e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_20860a0e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_20860a0e
 Circus / int_270ed8b8
type
Candlelit Bath
 Circus / int_270ed8b8
comment
Candlelit Bath: Leo and Lily share a candlelit bath before Leo goes to meet the blackmailer.
 Circus / int_270ed8b8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_270ed8b8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_270ed8b8
 Circus / int_2b5ab7c1
type
Analogy Backfire
 Circus / int_2b5ab7c1
comment
Analogy Backfire:
 Circus / int_2b5ab7c1
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_2b5ab7c1
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_2b5ab7c1
 Circus / int_2f187e89
type
It Works Better with Bullets
 Circus / int_2f187e89
comment
It Works Better with Bullets: When Lily handcuffs Elmo to the door of the bank and leaves him there for the cops, he attempts to shoot her, only to discover that she has unloaded his gun.
 Circus / int_2f187e89
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_2f187e89
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_2f187e89
 Circus / int_3036294e
type
Scary Black Man
 Circus / int_3036294e
comment
Scary Black Man: Bruno's chief enforcer is Moose (played by Tiny Lister), who towers over everyone else in the cast. Although normally a Punch-Clock Villain, even the sadistic Bruno steers clear of Moose when his Berserk Button has been pushed.
 Circus / int_3036294e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_3036294e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_3036294e
 Circus / int_44db43ce
type
Staged Shooting
 Circus / int_44db43ce
comment
Staged Shooting: The final scene reveals that Lily's shooting and death had been staged (although anyone familiar with Con Man films was probably suspecting it by this point). The shooting of Bruno was real, however.
 Circus / int_44db43ce
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_44db43ce
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_44db43ce
 Circus / int_45398e01
type
Psycho Knife Nut
 Circus / int_45398e01
comment
Psycho Knife Nut: Troy and Roscoe favour knives for threatening their victims. When threatening Leo, Roscoe opens his jacket to show the inside is lined with knives.
 Circus / int_45398e01
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_45398e01
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_45398e01
 Circus / int_477bcc9f
type
Greasy Spoon
 Circus / int_477bcc9f
comment
Greasy Spoon: Leo goes to meet Julius at an American-style diner, only to be caught in a Mexican Standoff when Bruno's goons show up. One of them even refers to the place as a 'greasy spoon'.
 Circus / int_477bcc9f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_477bcc9f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_477bcc9f
 Circus / int_7046be0a
type
Shopping Montage
 Circus / int_7046be0a
comment
Shopping Montage: Lily subjects Julius to one when she decides to give him The Makeover: buying him new clothes, glasses and hairstyle.
 Circus / int_7046be0a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_7046be0a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_7046be0a
 Circus / int_83f0971b
type
Mexican Standoff
 Circus / int_83f0971b
comment
Mexican Standoff: The showdown in the Greasy Spoon ends up with Leo pointing a gun at Julius; Bruno's men pointing guns at Leo; and Moose pointing guns at the thugs.
 Circus / int_83f0971b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_83f0971b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_83f0971b
 Circus / int_91495e52
type
Heads or Tails?
 Circus / int_91495e52
comment
Heads or Tails?: Throughout the film, Leo makes several important decisions by tossing a coin. This includes whether he is going to shoot his wife Lily.
 Circus / int_91495e52
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_91495e52
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_91495e52
 Circus / int_9d02df1b
type
Blast Out
 Circus / int_9d02df1b
comment
Blast Out: The Mexican Standoff in the Greasy Spoon looks like it is going to be resolved amicably, with everyone starting to lower their weapons, when an employee works through the back door at the wrong moment. One of Bruno's hired guns starts shooting, and a firefight erupts. At least, according to Julius's version of events.
 Circus / int_9d02df1b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_9d02df1b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_9d02df1b
 Circus / int_a3509d95
type
The Password Is Always "Swordfish"
 Circus / int_a3509d95
comment
The Password Is Always "Swordfish": Bruno is instructed to create a password for his online banking account consisting of 8 characters. The password he chooses is 'PASSWORD'. Bruno is established to be an idiot, and the Con Artists actually specifically set up the scenario where he needed to create a password so they could use a key logger to record what it is, but even they are astounded to discover it is something so obvious.
 Circus / int_a3509d95
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_a3509d95
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_a3509d95
 Circus / int_a58e5ad7
type
Naked People Are Funny
 Circus / int_a58e5ad7
comment
Naked People Are Funny: Presumably to humiliate Leo, Troy arranges to meet him on a nudist beach where they are the only people. They end up standing up to their knees in the sea with their naked arses facing the camera.
 Circus / int_a58e5ad7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_a58e5ad7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_a58e5ad7
 Circus / int_ab8e26e2
type
Slipping a Mickey
 Circus / int_ab8e26e2
comment
Slipping a Mickey: Leo slips Julius a mickey finn before dumping him on the side of the road to take the fall for Bruno's murder.
 Circus / int_ab8e26e2
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_ab8e26e2
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_ab8e26e2
 Circus / int_bc74ef27
type
Berserk Button
 Circus / int_bc74ef27
comment
Berserk Button: Moose is generally as easygoing sort of fellow. But anything happening to Gloria will send him into a blind fury where he rips the doors off cars, among other things.
 Circus / int_bc74ef27
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_bc74ef27
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_bc74ef27
 Circus / int_c2c80ef
type
Neck Lift
 Circus / int_c2c80ef
comment
Neck Lift: An enraged Moose lifts Leo up with one hand while strangling him in the elevator.
 Circus / int_c2c80ef
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_c2c80ef
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_c2c80ef
 Circus / int_ccc62785
type
I Want My Beloved to Be Fashionable
 Circus / int_ccc62785
comment
I Want My Beloved to Be Fashionable: This is want appears to be happening when Lily hooks up with Julius. She completely overhauls his wardrobe and personal grooming to transform him from a nerdy accountant into geek chic. However, it turns out to be another con within a con.
 Circus / int_ccc62785
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_ccc62785
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_ccc62785
 Circus / int_d0f0a80d
type
One-Word Title
 Circus / int_d0f0a80d
comment
One-Word Title
 Circus / int_d0f0a80d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_d0f0a80d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_d0f0a80d
 Circus / int_d4ca1a40
type
*Twang* Hello
 Circus / int_d4ca1a40
comment
*Twang* Hello: At one point, Troy announces his presence to Leo by throwing a knife so it sticks into the wall beside Leo's head.
 Circus / int_d4ca1a40
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_d4ca1a40
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_d4ca1a40
 Circus / int_dc292b90
type
Ear Ache
 Circus / int_dc292b90
comment
Ear Ache: Bruno displays his displeasure with Arnie by biting off Arnie's ear. Later on, Troy drives a point home to Leo by grabbing Leo's ear and twisting it while they are both standing naked in the sea.
 Circus / int_dc292b90
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_dc292b90
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_dc292b90
 Circus / int_de9047ac
type
Gambit Pileup
 Circus / int_de9047ac
comment
Gambit Pileup: Just about every major character has some sort of scheme running: Leo, Lily, Bruno, Caspar, Julius, Troy, Elmo, and even Gloria (after a fashion). All of them come crashing together as the film races toward the conclusion.
 Circus / int_de9047ac
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_de9047ac
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_de9047ac
 Circus / int_f62b8d00
type
Sinister Switchblade
 Circus / int_f62b8d00
comment
Sinister Switchblade: The switchblade is the villainous bookie Troy's weapon of choice. The first time it is seen, it appears seemingly out of nowhere as he holds the blade against Leo's neck. At other points, he whips it out while threatening to cut off various of Leo's body parts for non-payment of debts.
 Circus / int_f62b8d00
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_f62b8d00
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_f62b8d00
 Circus / int_f9876f7e
type
Faking the Dead
 Circus / int_f9876f7e
comment
Faking the Dead: The death of Gloria is faked as part of an elaborate blackmail scheme, and to turn Moose against his employers.
 Circus / int_f9876f7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_f9876f7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_f9876f7e
 Circus / int_fa63f56c
type
Hoist Hero over Head
 Circus / int_fa63f56c
comment
Hoist Hero over Head: Moose hoists Roscoe over his head before tossing him over the roof of the van.
 Circus / int_fa63f56c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_fa63f56c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
hasFeature
Circus / int_fa63f56c
 Circus / int_name
type
ItemName
 Circus / int_name
comment
 Circus / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 Circus / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 Circus
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Circus / int_name
 Circus / int_name
itemName
Circus

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Circus
hasFeature
Blast Out / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Candlelit Bath / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Criminal Procedural / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Ear Ache / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Faking the Dead / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Greasy Spoon / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Heads or Tails? / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Hoist Hero over Head / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
I Want My Beloved to Be Fashionable / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
It Works Better with Bullets / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
London Gangster / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Man Bites Man / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Mexican Standoff / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Naked People Are Funny / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Neck Lift / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Sinister Switchblade / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Slipping a Mickey / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
Staged Shooting / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
The Con Within a Con / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
The Password Is Always "Swordfish" / int_7dbd95ef
 Circus
hasFeature
*Twang* Hello / int_7dbd95ef