Save your money for something good and enjoyable

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Before watching this movie, I had never seen a movie made by Kazakhstani filmmakers before. After watching it, I have no desire to see another effort, at least any time in the near future. This movie goes wrong in just about every area you can think of. The only positive things I can about it is that it's decently shot, has (mostly) decent production values for what clearly wasn't a mega budget, and it has a one in a lifetime cast (though most of these well known actors are wasted in very small roles.) However, the movie is for the most part such a mess, it's hard to get any enjoyment out of those positive features. The story is extremely confusing, as if something went terribly wrong when it was translated into English. None of the characters are particularly sympathetic or interesting, with the only interest being how badly a lot of them are dubbed into English. Also, the movie doesn't know what it wants to be. Sometimes it's an action flick, other times it's a suspense thriller, and other times it plays like a very black comedy. With no constant tone, it's hard to keep your mind focused on what's happening, so much so that you'll start to forget the few coherent story details minutes after they unfold.... and you'll forget the entire movie minutes after the end credits start to unfold. I usually love B movies, but this particular one is really bad, even for my low standards.

DIAMOND CARTEL is one of the worst films I've seen in a while, and I've seen a lot of them. It also happens to be the first film I've seen from Kazakhstan, which doesn't bode too well. This is a messy thriller with barely any kind of plot, just various 'good' and 'bad' characters chasing each other around, before finally coming together for a big shoot-out at the climax. The Kazakh leads are terrible and wooden in the extreme and the whole film has a too-bright look to it, with CGI backdrops throughout; even the main actress looks constantly airbrushed.Literally the only thing this mess of a movie has going for it is the cast, with lots of old-time faces showing up for cameos. The worst of these is poor old Peter O'Toole, whose swansong this is; his voice is dubbed over in a very insulting way. Michael Madsen shows up for five minutes and Don "The Dragon" Wilson sits at a table alongside Olivier Gruner and Tommy 'Tiny' Lister, perhaps remembering their '90s heydays. Armand Assante chews the scenery horribly as the villain of the piece, while Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa does his usual thing. Best of all is the great Bolo Yeung, who at least gets one (brief) fight scene. Other than the cameos and the fun ending, this film's terrible, so you have been warned.

I order to qualify for a worst movie award we should start with quality actors. I don't know how they convince Armand Assante and Peter O'Toole to play parts in this. Even aging action stars like Don Wilson and Bolo Yeung should have known to stay clear of this movie. Next, you have to fail at some of the components of a movie. The plot, script, acting, action, special effects, stunts and most any other component of a good film were all disappointing. There were completely pointless cut scenes to their childhood and romance as if building up to something, but went nowhere. I couldn't figure out why the voices were dubbed over the entire film, regardless of who was speaking what language. I rarely find myself wishing I could get my time reimbursed after watching a movie for an hour and a half, but this is definitely one of those times. I will have to admit that Armand made the most of his role. His scenes almost convince you that the movie might go somewhere, but ultimately they only led to more disappointment.

It's a shame this was Peter O'Toole's last movie. Fortunately he's not in it much. We may have to question his sanity in accepting this role. If your'e a fan of the gold medallion wearing 80's crowd then this badly written cheesy B-Movie is for you. What ever happened to Armand Assante?...this movie is what happened to Armand Assante. All Hollywood producers and directors know Michael Madsen is the kiss-of-death to any movie he's been in since Reservoir Dogs. You'd have to be living in Kazakhstan not to know this...It's bad, really bad.