Klepto (2003)

Emily Brown has a problem. She's a kleptomaniac. As is the case with most kleptomaniacs the real reason behind her shoplifting is much more deeply rooted. Nick Ruiz is the problem. He works at a department store as a 'loss prevention specialist'. He has a dream to start his own private security business and gets pulled into a drug deal to make startup cash. He borrows money from a loan shark to purchase the drugs. Nick's and Emily's stories intersect when Emily is caught on tape by Nick. Rather than busting her he becomes obsessed with her and tracks her down. When the drug deal goes bad he pulls Emily in to assist in a theft from a department store leading to a climax where justice is dealt in the most curious fashion.System Requirements:Running Time 82 Mins.Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: DRAMA Rating: NR UPC: 876964000123 Manufacturer No: 10012 Product Description

Has a low budget independant film feel to it.

The actors were sincere, but a distinct "film school" feel to it. Girl steals from dept. stores because she misses her father. Meets scummy security guy, who's in big trouble with a drug dealer he sold crappy drugs to, and he tries to romance her to help him steal rolex watches from the store he works at. Not bad, but not great. June 13, 2007

"Drugstore Cowboy" feel ... ABSORBING !

FRESH AND HIP !!
This film TOTALLY goes inside of real-life-like, and down to earth characters in a way I have never experienced before, except for Drugstore Cowboy , and a rare few others.

It's the story of a young woman who is a kleptomaniac,who is watched on one of her shoplifting sprees , and then pursued by a store detective,who not only is physically attracted to her , but also admires the ease with which she shoplifts.

He works his way into her life simply because she fascinates him, and the chain of events that follow are so well written , directed , and acted out , that the the story just moves along smoothly , and we are fully absorbed.

The detective himself gets in a jam of his own , and he is forced to seek her skills and expertise to help him out of it.
Without giving away too much of the conclusion , I can only say that the events that follow will have you totally captivated.

This movie is a WINNER , possibly one of the top five I have ever seen. The whole FEEL of this movie could be compared to "Drugstore Cowboy" or "Stranger than Paradise"

I will definately buy this one to add to my collection. May 21, 2006

Klepto Is a Gem

I have never bothered to write a review before, but this movie really struck me, and I thought it deserved promotion. What makes this movie unusual is that (1) the editing and sound are extremely clean, clever, and perfect and (2) it is distinctly uncliche in a way that strikes you as so fresh and natural (without any feeling of TRYING to be original) -- for example the climax to the little love scene: delightful, audacious, and perfect. In short, a gem.

April 27, 2006

What I like...

This is exactly the type of movie I find interesting... underground, possibly under-budget, but real. Most mainstream movies are terrible now, and if you look to the independent movies like this, you will find something many movies lack. It goes deep, maybe, without meaning to... and it has a storyline that has been done with the drug thing, but the whole Klepto counter-part makes it really fresh with the concept and inner-ties... I must admit I only downloaded this for Meredith Bishop (Annie Mack) and yes this is the hottest I have ever seen her even with the toga commercials, but I bought it and will appreciate the real copy because the movie is fantastic! April 27, 2006

Terrific debut film

A self-assured debut film from director and co-writer Thomas Trail, Klepto tells the story of Emily, an obsessive-compulsive young woman who shoplifts to escape the drudgery of her temp job, only to become involved with Nick, a department store's head of security, whose criminal past has caught up to him, forcing him to enlist a reluctant Emily in his plan to rob the store where he works.

A deft blend of substance and style, the briskly-paced, consistently engaging dramatic thriller/character study boasts strong, nuanced, sympathetic performances from leads Meredith Bishop (Emily) and Jsu Garcia (Nick), as well as memorable turns from supporting players Leigh Taylor-Young, as Emily's shopaholic mother, Henry Czerny as the oddly-affable, ultimately sinister drug kingpin Ivan, and Michael Nouri as Emily's serene shrink.

Director Trail proves equally adept at staging and shooting his scenes as he does eliciting compelling performances from his actors; the shots are artfully composed and Trail's judicious use of camera movement enhances the narrative drama, particularly in the film's climactic sequence, told mostly via one long, audacious Steadicam shot (that owes as much to Trail's staging as to Bishop's acting).

Klepto's thriller trappings -- theft, drugs, criminals -- belie its complexity; themes of absent parents, mental illness, family dysfunction, surveillance, and consumerism, combine with Trail's well-drawn characters, snappy dialogue, unexpected plot twists, and assured, energetic direction to make a fresh, often funny, and consistently entertaining debut film. March 31, 2006

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