Watch The Great Chameleon

The Great Chameleon is a 2012 Canadian independent film directed, produced and written by Victor Altomare featuring Stacy Keach, Robert Davi and many other stars. Set in New York, the movie presents itself as a gripping crime thriller that revolves around an FBI agent who teams up with a career thief to bag a high-profile crime boss.

The story starts with the Central Bank heist which is one of the largest robberies in US history. A powerful crime lord, Paul Serlino, seems to have orchestrated the heist and is suspected by the FBI for all of his other possible criminal activities. FBI Special Agent Frank Carbone, played by Victor Altomare himself, is determined to bring him to justice but is struggling with the evidence.

To track Serlino down, Carbone seeks help from a renowned thief, Richard Flence, played by Robert Davi. Flence is an expert in his field and is known as the “Great Chameleon” for his ability to change his personality and blend in with any environment. Serlino is connected to some powerful people who can suppress any evidence put forth by Carbone, making it almost impossible for the FBI to catch him without the help of a master thief like Flence.

After some initial reluctance, Flence agrees to help and offers his inside knowledge of the criminal world in order to break the case. They both, along with a few other FBI agents, secretly plan a heist and stage it, so that they can lure Serlino out of his hiding place. This sets the stage for a dramatic interrogation scene, where Serlino is brought face-to-face with Carbone and Flence, with each of them trying to outsmart the other.

The Great Chameleon is not just a simple bank heist or a cat-and-mouse game between a thief and an FBI agent. There are several subplots that keep the viewers engaged throughout the movie. For instance, Carbone has a troubled past that includes the death of his wife at the hands of some unnamed criminals. This backstory lends some emotional depth to the character, making him more relatable to the audience. Also, Flence is shown to be struggling with his own personal issues, such as his son who is in prison and a budding romance with Carbone's subordinate, Amanda.

The film's execution, in terms of cinematography, editing and direction, is well-done for the most part. The stylized cinematography in particular adds to the gritty and raw nature of the story. The director turns up the tension by using various cinematic techniques like quick cuts, fast-paced editing and dramatic music. The story is unpredictable and keeps you hooked till the end.

One of the best aspects of The Great Chameleon is the performances delivered by the lead actors in the movie. Altomare, who also produced and directed the film, gives a strong and controlled performance as FBI Agent Frank Carbone. Stacy Keach is as always fantastic, portraying his role with ease and charm. Robert Davi, known for his roles in Licence to Kill (1989) and Die Hard (1988), is perfect in the role of Flence, giving it the right amount of sophistication and cunning.

Overall, The Great Chameleon is an exciting and well-made crime thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the end. It is a suspenseful and entertaining movie that deserves a place in the list of noteworthy indie films.

The Great Chameleon is a 2013 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 37 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.1.