Intriguing if low-key, this is a film by David Mamet in similar style to House of Games. Boffin Joe (Campbell Scott) invents a formula for a money-spinning 'process', but finds it hard to get his hands on a cash reward for his work, even when his evasive boss (Ben Gazzara) invites him on a tropical island weekend. Joe connects with various people there, but, this being a Mamet puzzle picture, few of them are what they purport to be, or even what they might seem. Wealthy Dell (Steve Martin) seems the most suspicious character, but can Joe even trust the FBI (Felicity Huffman), the cops, his boss or even his protective girlfriend, company secretary (Rebecca Pidgeon)? Packages are given for transportation and Joe is drawn into a web of intrigue that, not surprisingly, ends with him on the run both from the law and those after the 'process'. This is all diverting enough, although Mamet's own direction is less than dynamic and tends to show up the many holes in the plot.

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