The Set Up
After their superior screws them over a deserving reward (R200 000) on their celebrated bust, Chili uses his frustration to join a crime gang following a lead he has been working on because the government doesn't appreciate hardworking policemen, and be on the other side of law.
They serve a corrupt low ranking official and Chili envies a ride on the gravy train too. He has a lot of bills to clear up and no way out of his debts.
The Greedy Cheese Gobblers
The most notorious gang is put together in an unusual set-up. Humor kicks in when Chili joins the team a while after they have started the briefing. Commenting that he didn't know that they were starting on a 'white man's time.' The chemistry between the gobblers flowed through their slangy conversation (which was sprinkled which Afrikaans).
Chili is promised a whooping share of R400 000 for his participation on the 3 million cash heist. For Shoes' help as a lookout he will pay him out a sum of money so he will have the opportunity to take care of his family's financials needs.
Gugu and his prison-tattooed, coloured lover have been plotting against the gang from the beginning. They've had a number of secret meetings.
When Shoes observed that the two lovers were more close than everyone else, he feared that they might surprise them.
Greed was a big undertone. The corrupt officials. Chilli's misguided desire to use his ticket for the gravy train. The inside man named Thulani.
The Rat
South Africa is a democratic country plagued by organized crimes. Crime syndicates run deep within their operations. Cash-in-transit heist security guards are typically part of the heist under mysterious circumstances.
On normal occasions they remain wounded or shot on limbs for show. Internal involvements from staff in most heists is a threat.
Skroef was more than committed when he wanted to prove that there was indeed a culprit among them. All his ideas where quickly calculated with ease. When Chili and his partner orchestrate an infallible plan to get Skroef into custody, it worked against them. This proves Skroef's remarkable street intelligence.
When he presents his 'proof' to the team leader, Mambane, we all wanted to know what it meant. Skroef was so smart and dedicated that after Mambane found the suspect's phone he suggested that they call the numbers on his log.
Donovan placed all his subplots and set pieces in the correct place and they fitted perfectly. Every little set up had to be exactly the way it was for the rest to work. Chili didn't give up his identity because they would be both killed should he try and save his partner. So he took a risk and we saw the story unfold.
When he gets in the dungeon, Chili arms Shoes with a sharp object to free himself - the one that will later save him from a grenade that is thrown in by Skroef to eliminate him. The body count is random and completely unpredictable.
The Heist
Although the plan didn't start as planned out because the spotter failed to inform the crew about the approaching van, and the fact that the decoy was late because Gugu received orders to move later than originally planned and that her car failed to start on the first try - only experienced writers would know how to pull this off by putting an unsympathetic avalanche of obstacles in the character's goals because the tension keeps peeking.
Inside the van the unsuspecting guard named Moses, gives us his back-story before the car is stopped. He explains to the Inside Man (Thulani, which is a verb for isiZulu meaning be quite) that thugs once broke into his home on a robbery and his daughter lost her life due to suffocation caused by a tape that was used to cover her mouth and nose. He even shows him a picture of his deceased kid on his neck chain. This keeps him motivated about the kind of dangerous job he is doing.
Moses explains that the safe is like a grave and he will protect it will whole life because when criminals get their greedy hands on the money - they commit even more crimes. Since he dreads that ever happening on his watch and in order to protect it - they'd rather die trying.
Meanwhile, the Inside Man is quite and barely comments because he knows something horrible is going to happen to Moses and the 'grave' any day now. To prove this, he lets this huge thing walk out first to die for his cause like he swore.
Unbeknownst to him that things have changed on the other side as he was automatically chosen as the Fall Guy, they shoot him down. When the whole plan is dismantled, the actors adapt quickly to the new storyline because we are taken into a brand new set up which changes again and again. Surprise after surprise.
The use of AK's makes the thriller complimentary because it's the ultimate favorite war gun. The stunts are so cheap and possible which makes them surprisingly interesting. The never ending turning of events is overwhelming too. It's a combination of surprise and fear and the action is aesthetically pleasing.
The Dialogue
Skroef is impolite and foul-mouthed. He is the most aggresssive. The dialogue has a funky taste to it. It's clear that using indigenous languages made this film what it is because that's where the humour came from. The dialogue is cheesy and it reeked authenticity and will be forever hard to get over.
Skroef's spearheading involvement in the dialogue workshop had a major and charismatic influence on the characters' speech. The story is composed with an astonishing total number of 5 South African official languages backed with an additional tsotsi taal.
Says Mambane:
"Sesisele ngeviki ukuthi sithele amakati ngebisi."
Character Background
Chili Ngcobo
Chili appears to be a decorated member of the police force for over a decade. He specializes as an undercover cop. That's where he crossed paths with Skroef on a successful police case. Chili feels undermined by the State that he has put his life on the line for.
He can't cope with the current cop salary and this morally eats him up. Chilli gets a tip about a criminal mission underway and collects his once-in-a-life-time ticket to the speeding Gravy Train.
Sello 'Shoes' Moshoeshoe
Nicknamed Shoes. He has been partnering with Chili for most of the cases assigned to them. He is lawfully upright and very stubborn to persuade. His wife is pregnant with their first child and they take care of themselves by means of a vegetable garden when things are tough.
Osbourne 'Mambane' Zulu
Mambane is a bold, raging bull of a man, and big time crime lord with a lot of respect among peers alike. He is the head of this criminal enterprise.
He gathers his own daughter for the multi-million rand heist because she can offer a lot of value. Mambane is the architecture of the mission and the team leader. The brains of all.
Mambane gained his entry into the heist by buying an Executive Transport employee to be his inside man. With him on their side, he got access to the van routes, dates and the safe combinations.
Gugu 'Cheesegirl' Zulu
Cheesegirl joins the heist in order to settle the score with her abusive father who has been molesting her for years. She teams up with her undercover boyfriend to snatch the loot.
Mandla 'Skroef' Senzangakhona
Skroef is a infamous and ruthless criminal all over South Africa adding ATM bombings to his CV. He makes a good addition to Mambane's team. With his expertise and criminal knowledge he provides good aid. Really is a mean-spirited and cutting remark blabbermouth.
Skroef's strong nose goes off on Mambane's diverse team. He recognizes Chili from a previous bust and calls out his suspicions. Next he believes that Warren might be working an assignment on them. Just after their kick-off meeting he experiences a very terrible dream. Someone is watching them.
Skroef's performance was truly iconic. He had this intense burning desire to sniff out any problems and he always backed it up. A bunch of raw talent. Skroef has so much presence and bodied his role. He was unapologetic and showed commitment throughout the story. His performance was electric and credible. Extraordinary.
His suspicions aided him by means of a dream. The quick thinking street intellect.
Ratshidi 'G8' Kgabi
G8 stands for Group of Eight, known as the 8 leading industrial countries in the world. He is a familiar face to Skroef. He is well connected in the high ranks of government. Ratshidi has an unpleasant history with Warren which he later sorts out.
Warren Fourie
Warren is a mercenary. Hardly speaks. Times are hard also for him. He has served time with Mambane in prison so they bonded. He must have supplied the military grade weapons for the score.
Stevland 'Stakes' Daniels
Hardcore tattooed gangsters who is also a member of an elite prison gang known as 28. He's originally from the Cape Flats. Makes a lot of sense for him to be the one dating Gugu. An individual who speaks isiXhosa.
Kenny 'Dex' Baloi
Famous television soap opera star who has a technical skill in explosives. The guys undermine him because of his lousy TV character, which is honestly irrelevant. He yearns for an opportunity to prove them wrong. But a grenade ends his life. Excellent use of irony.
Jabu 'Slim' Dlamini
Slim is the least smartest of the crew. The most naive. That's why he was the first one killed by the enemy. And that's why Mambane initially gave him a spotter position.
Moses 'Mose' Mangcotshwa
Police take no prisoners to curb crime. They have been ordered to shoot to kill by their Commissioner. Moses is one of the crime victims. He has sworn on his life to eradicate unlawful acts at all cost.
Police Captain
Corrupt as they come. Refuses to sign off the cash reward for Chili and Shoes. It seems he will claim it for himself later on.
Thulani
Executive Transport new hire. A two-faced employee who is looking for a quick buck. On his very first month he joins a heist gang. Chili sacrifices his life to save Shoes'.
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