---
title: "Nine Queens"
year: 2000
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/nine-queens"
fi1m_id: "nine-queens"
imdb_id: "tt0247586"
tmdb_id: 18079
wikidata_id: "Q1404323"
fi1m_score: 83
critics_score: 80
critics_reviews: 12
published: "2026-09-26T03:16:22.222972+00:00"
updated: "2026-09-26T03:16:22.795407+00:00"
region: "SI"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Nine Queens (2000)

Directed by Fabián Bielinsky · 1h 54m · Crime, Thriller, Drama

## Identity

Nine Queens

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/nine-queens
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** nine-queens
- **IMDb ID:** tt0247586
- **TMDB ID:** 18079
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1404323
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247586/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/18079, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1404323

**Fi1m score: 83** · Critics 80 from 12 reviews

*In a sentence:* Ricardo Darín could sell us a stolen wallet and make us apologise for checking it

> We recommend Fabián Bielinsky’s clever, funny con-man thriller, with one reservation: its plotting occasionally strains belief. Ricardo Darín and Gastón Pauls make the dishonesty so entertaining that we were happy to forgive it.

## Synopsis

In Buenos Aires, Marcos (Ricardo Darín) and Juan (Gastón Pauls) make their money by conning other people. Small swindles bring them into a more complicated game, with Valéria (Leticia Brédice) among those they must reckon with. Marcos wants the next profitable opportunity, but every deal requires him to decide how much to trust somebody who may also be lying for a living. As the schemes grow more elaborate, the two men have to keep assessing the people around them and each other. Making money depends on telling a convincing story, and recognising when someone else is doing the same.

## Review

Fabián Bielinsky’s *Nine Queens* understands the chief pleasure of a con film: watching someone persuade another person to make a bad decision. The swindles grow more complicated, but our interest stays with the people doing the persuading. We recommend it for its humour, tension and performances, with a reservation about how much its plotting expects us to swallow. The confidence of the cast carries us through some unlikely business.

Ricardo Darín’s Marcos is the main reason to surrender our better judgement. His charm makes dishonesty seem sociable, and the performance lets us enjoy that charm while keeping the greed apparent. Gastón Pauls, as Juan, is an alert partner; their exchanges have the ease that keeps a carefully plotted thriller from sounding rehearsed. We laughed at the small swindles, then felt slightly grubby about enjoying them. Marcos’s readiness to treat another person as a source of cash becomes so agreeable that we briefly stop objecting.

Leticia Brédice gives Valéria enough force to compete with both of them. Whenever attention turns her way, the film becomes less dependent on the next ingenious piece of fraud, and we would have welcomed more of her. A story full of liars can make everyone seem interchangeable, particularly once we start inspecting each person for evidence of a trick. We would gladly watch her even if there were no puzzle to solve.

Marcelo Camorino’s brisk photography suits the quick thinking, and Buenos Aires never feels like a sightseeing obligation. The city gives the fraud somewhere credible to happen, with a suggestion that these men’s habits are hardly exceptional. Daniela Passalaqua’s production design helps that impression without making the surroundings the attraction. The setting allows the actors to get on with the business of being persuasive, and makes the dishonesty seem quite at home.

Sergio Zóttola’s editing keeps the accumulating deceptions readable, an important service in a film that keeps changing what we think we know. Each fresh complication needs to register before we are asked to deal with another, and the cutting generally gives it time. César Lerner’s music makes less impression than the performances, but it suits the intrigue without demanding much attention. Across 114 minutes, there is usually a performance worth watching even when the plotting starts to labour.

The weakness is the familiar one with elaborate con stories: people sometimes seem to behave as the next trick requires. Fabián Bielinsky’s screenplay piles deception onto deception, and a few connections feel too convenient to withstand much thought. We do not need documentary plausibility, but we do need to believe that a person might make the decision on which the next complication depends. Occasionally, the determination to surprise makes that harder.

That did not spoil our evening. Too many con films grow pleased with their ability to fool us and forget to make the intervening minutes enjoyable. This one keeps its sense of humour and gives the performers enough freedom to make the crookedness feel human. See it with someone who enjoys a good swindle and will forgive a little overcomplication.

*Fi1m score 83, published 26 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics find Nine Queens a clever, entertaining con thriller, with praise concentrated on its intricate screenplay and lively performances. The escalating swindles sustain tension while leaving space for humour, and Ricardo Darín receives particular attention for his charisma and chemistry with Gastón Pauls. Several reviews also find substance beneath the trickery, pointing to the film’s observations of Argentine society, politics and greed. The direction and photography draw approval for keeping the complicated plotting brisk and clear.

The reservations concern how much that plotting can bear. Some critics accept questionable details as part of the pleasure; others find the deception predictable or overcomplicated. Slant Magazine enjoys the performances but regards the story as derivative, singling out Leticia Brédice for special praise. Eye for Film offers the sharpest dissent, finding energy and intrigue but arguing that the accumulated cleverness feels like a cheat. The spread is fairly wide, though enthusiasm clearly predominates.

## Straight answers

**Is Nine Queens worth watching?**

*Nine Queens* is worth watching for its funny, tense swindles and persuasive performances, and we score it 83 out of 100. We recommend it to anyone who enjoys a con-man thriller, provided a few convenient plot connections will not spoil the evening: Ricardo Darín and Gastón Pauls make the dishonesty unusually entertaining.

**How long is Nine Queens, and what is it rated?**

*Nine Queens* runs 1h 54m. It is a crime and thriller film.

**Where can I watch Nine Queens in Slovenia?**

*Nine Queens* is not on any streaming or rental service in Slovenia at the moment. It is available in 13 other countries; change your country at the top of the page to see where. Availability is checked daily.

**How violent or frightening is Nine Queens, and is it suitable for children?**

*Nine Queens* carries a US R certificate, so we would not recommend it as a children's film. Its con-man story offers tension built around deception and distrust, alongside humour that should not be mistaken for family suitability. The certificate indicates restricted viewing for younger audiences, but alone does not establish how graphic the violence or how strong the scares are.

**How does Nine Queens compare to The Sting?**

*Nine Queens* offers brisker con-man intrigue than the patient comedy of [*The Sting*](https://film.one/film/the-sting), though we find the latter's elaborate plotting more convincing. Both make their swindlers excellent company: Ricardo Darín and Gastón Pauls keep the dishonesty entertaining here, while Paul Newman and Robert Redford make the other film's slower stretches forgivable. Choose *Nine Queens* for quicker exchanges and tension.

### Reviews we read (12)

- **Variety**, Todd McCarthy (95/100, inferred): McCarthy praises the film as a clever, superbly acted suspenser with an exceptionally engaging plot. He singles out the screenplay’s escalating swindles and Darin’s charismatic performance as Marcos. [Read](https://variety.com/2001/film/reviews/nine-queens-1200469988/)
- **Empire**, Matthew Turner (90/100, inferred): Turner gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, calling it one of the year's most enjoyable films. He especially praises its performances, snappy photography and razor-sharp, twist-filled script. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/nine-queens-review/)
- **Evening Standard** (90/100, inferred): The critic calls it an exceptionally entertaining, clever film. They single out its suspenseful con-game plotting and unobtrusive direction against an unfamiliar Buenos Aires backdrop. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/stinging-look-at-argentina-7432998.html)
- **IndieWire**, Brandon Judell (90/100, inferred): The critic gives the film a strongly positive verdict, finding it even more compelling on a second viewing. They praise its intricate plotting, lively performances, and sharp observations of Argentine society. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/culture/review-argentina-undercover-bielinskys-clever-nine-queens-80440/)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Kevin Thomas (90/100, inferred): Thomas gives the film an enthusiastic verdict, praising its clever, funny con-man story and sustained tension. He especially singles out Ricardo Darin’s performance and the lively chemistry between him and Gaston Pauls. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-apr-19-et-queens19-story.html)
- **The Guardian**, Peter Bradshaw (90/100, inferred): Bradshaw calls the film outstanding, praising its deliciously cynical double-dealing and enduring questions about greed. He singles out the final-credits payoff as an amusing finish. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/jul/10/nine-queens-review-fabian-bielinskys-brilliant-grifter-classic-offers-masterclass-in-double-dealing)
- **Total Film**, Total Film (4/5): The review is strongly positive, calling the film smart and propulsive. It singles out the nimble performances and the political dimension beneath the caper plot. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/nine-queens-review/)
- **The AV Club**, Keith Phipps (75/100, inferred): Phipps regards the film as a fine con picture whose poetic logic makes up for plot details that do not always stand to reason. He praises its portrayal of con artistry as a lifestyle with existential implications. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/nine-queens-1798196431)
- **Time Out**, NB (75/100, inferred): The review presents the film as accomplished, highly entertaining thriller fare. It singles out the film’s tricksy construction and sting-in-the-tail payoff. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/nine-queens)
- **The New York Times** (65/100, inferred): The headline identifies this as a film-festival review of Nine Queens. The blocked page provides no critic verdict or specific praise to summarize. [Read](https://www.nytimes.com/2001/03/31/movies/film-festival-review-well-who-s-the-joker-now.html)
- **Slant Magazine**, Ed Gonzalez (2.5/4): Gonzalez finds the film entertaining but overly derivative, with little at stake beyond an easily anticipated double-cross. He praises Ricardo Darín and Gastón Pauls, while singling out Leticia Brédice as the film’s true star. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/nine-queens/)
- **Eye for Film**, Angus Wolfe Murray (45/100, inferred): The critic finds the film energetic and intriguing, but says its cleverness eventually becomes convoluted and feels like a cheat. The layered deception is singled out as the source of its intrigue, though the characters’ early scams are not especially enthralling. [Read](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/nine-queens-film-review-by-angus-wolfe-murray)

## Details

- **Director:** Fabián Bielinsky
- **Director:** Fabián Bielinsky
- **Screenplay:** Fabián Bielinsky
- **Cinematography:** Marcelo Camorino
- **Editor:** Sergio Zóttola
- **Music:** César Lerner, César Lerner
- **Production design:** Daniela Passalaqua
- **Costume design:** Mónica Toschi
- **Producer:** Pablo Bossi
- **Cast:** Ricardo Darín as Marcos; Gastón Pauls as Juan; Leticia Brédice as Valéria; Gabo Correa as Convenience Store Manager; Pochi Ducasse as Aunt; Jorge Noya as Aníbal; María Mercedes Villagra as Convenience Store Employee 2; José Ignacio Abadal as Vidal Gandolfo
- **Runtime:** 1h 54m
- **First release (Argentina):** 31 August 2000
- **Genres:** Crime, Thriller, Drama
- **Budget:** $1 million
- **Box office:** $12 million

## Where to watch in Slovenia

Not streaming, renting or buying in Slovenia at the last check.

Also available in: AR, BR, CA, CL, CO, EC, ES, GB, IE, MX, PA, PE, US. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *The Sting* (1973), Fi1m 85: Patient swindlers, excellent company and the pleasure of seeing a complicated plan assembled. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-sting.md)
- *House of Games* (1987): Confidence tricks become a study of appetite, with considerably less warmth.
- *The Swindle* (1997): A quarrelling criminal partnership gives the elaborate fraud a welcome human scale.
- *The Aura* (2005): A quieter, more troubling crime story about imagining control and losing it.
- *A Hard Day* (2014): Escalating criminal trouble, brisk reversals and humour that arrives at particularly inconvenient moments.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/nine-queens