High Heels and Low Lifes – 2001 | 86 mins | Comedy, Thriller | Colour

Plot Synopsis

When reading the production credits for High Heels And Low Lifes you might justifiably be concerned at what sort of film the director of Bean and writer of Spice World: The Movie would create, mercifully it’s a genuinely funny crime caper. The pace of the film never lets up as the plot invariably becomes increasingly implausible, but this impressively acted bit of escapism is great fun and thoroughly enjoyable.

Set in London, this is the story of overworked nurse Shannon (Minnie Driver) and struggling American actress Frances (Mary McCormack). After a drinking binge to celebrate Shannon’s birthday, the two best friends stumble back to Shannon’s flat, and using her boyfriend’s radio scanning apparatus, eavesdrop on the mobile phone conversation of bank robber Danny (Danny Dyer), who describes the plan for a bank robbery taking place nearby. They report it to the police, who fail to follow up their information.

Frustrated with the way their lives are going, this inspires the girls to blackmail the crooks out of the stolen money in exchange for their silence. Our charismatic twosome’s plan gets out-of-hand when the gangs gay boss aka The Poof (Michael Gambon) orders ruthless hood Mason (Kevin McNally), to deal with the girls. The girls must also keep one step ahead of two inept detectives (Kevin Eldon and Mark Williams) who are on their trail.