Steam & Schemes
- Tagline
- An empire of crime rises from the ashes of industry.
- Description
- In a smoke-choked dystopian city gripped by the iron fist of the industrial revolution, 'Steam & Schemes' unfolds a playful yet perilous tale of crime and justice. Laurence Olive-ier stars as the charismatic yet ruthless crime boss who has turned the city's underbelly into his personal playground. Windy Chiller is the savvy service worker whose life becomes entangled in a web spun by the criminal mastermind. With a penchant for fine dining, our villain's empire is both sustained and challenged by the intricate dance of sustenance and survival. Charlie Chaplino adds to the ensemble as the mustachioed chef, whose culinary masterpieces serve as a foil to the gritty turmoil that brews outside the kitchen's steamy windows. Under the capable direction of Joel and Ethan Coon, 'Steam & Schemes' serves up a full course of intrigue, betrayal, and unexpected alliances, all seasoned with a dash of humor. Only the cunning will survive in this battle of wits and wills, where every alliance is temporary, and every friendship is a potential betrayal.
- MpaaRating
- R
- PopularityScore
- 7.70
- ReleaseDate
- 10/06/2022
- Genre
- War
- Director(s)
- Cast
Critic Reviews
7.80
Like a well-seasoned stew, 'Steam & Schemes' simmers with a flavor that's equal parts dark and delightful. Our devious maestro, Laurence Olive-ier, delivers a performance that's both buttery smooth and razor sharp, slicing through the narrative like a knife through one of Chaplino's famed filets. Windy Chiller, as our service worker caught in the gears of this crime cogwheel, embodies a blend of cunning and vulnerability that's as intoxicating as the city's omnipresent smog. The Coon brothers have crafted an industrial-age playground where the soot-stained sets become a character in their own right, lending a grime-coated authenticity to the film's aesthetic. While some may hiccup at the occasionally indulgent side dish of humor, the movie's alchemy of danger and laughs creates an effervescent concoction as addictive as the crime boss's illicit empire. Viewers should be warned: the 'R' rating isn't just for the billowing steam, and this film is certainly not one's average meat-and-potatoes period piece. It's a full-course meal, with unexpected spices that make the cinematic experience an intriguing game of taste-test. In 'Steam & Schemes', everyone has their fingers in the pie, and the result is a robust repast, savored with a playful wink that'll tempt you to lick your plate clean.