Quicksand (2003)

Martin Raikes (Michael Keaton) plays an American bank investigator who is framed for murder by ruthless thugs using a Monaco film studio to hide their various crimes. Lela Forin (Judith Godreche) is a naive employee of the crooks, while Jake Mellows (Michael Caine) is a past-his-prime actor they are using to keep up appearances. 

For a direct-to-video thriller, it’s pretty good. The two Michaels both deliver to a reasonable standard. There’s drama and tension, and the plot offers a few surprises. Caine seems underused, but his increased presence in the final quarter adds humour and depth to proceedings. 

Kathleen Wilhoite is strong as Keaton’s pregnant PA. On the down side, the villains weren’t given much in the way of character.

I was hooked throughout, even if there were occasions when it was necessary not to ask too many questions of the plot.