# Kounterfeit
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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kounterfeit
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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Kounterfeit
| image = Kounterfeit.jpg
| caption =
| director = [John Mallory Asher](/source/John_Mallory_Asher)
| producer =
| writer = [David Chase](/source/David_Chase), [Katherine Fugate](/source/Katherine_Fugate) and Jay Irwin
| starring = [Hilary Swank](/source/Hilary_Swank)
[Bruce Payne](/source/Bruce_Payne)
[Corbin Bernsen](/source/Corbin_Bernsen)
| music =
| cinematography =
| editing =
| distributor = Showcase Entertainment
| released = {{Film date|1996}}
| runtime = 90 minutes
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
}}
'''''Kounterfeit''''' is a 1996 American [direct-to-video](/source/direct-to-video) [crime](/source/crime_film)/[thriller film](/source/thriller_film) starring [Bruce Payne](/source/Bruce_Payne) and [Hilary Swank](/source/Hilary_Swank). ''Kounterfeit'' was [directed](/source/film_director) by [John Mallory Asher](/source/John_Mallory_Asher) and [written](/source/screenwriter) by [David Chase](/source/David_Chase), [Katherine Fugate](/source/Katherine_Fugate) and Jay Irwin.
==Plot summary==
A counterfeiter of money is attacked by two masked men and threatened to reveal where a certain amount of counterfeit money is. The counterfeiter pleads ignorance and is subsequently killed. Tommy 'Hopscotch' Hopkins, who has the money, learns of the death of the counterfeiter and begins to fear for his own safety. Consequently, he asks his friend, the street smart and "seasoned former criminal"[{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/ben-foster-5-things-know-218236 |title=Ben Foster: 5 Things to Know About the Actor |work=Hollywood Reporter |date=2 August 2011 |accessdate=30 August 2011}}] Frankie (who owns a strip club), to assist him in an exchange of the fake money for real money which he has organised with some acquaintances. Frankie reluctantly agrees to assist his friend. During the exchange, an undercover police officer, Danny, is killed in a shootout. The shootout is witnessed by Danny's sister Colleen, who was hiding in the house. Distraught, she mistakenly believes that Frankie killed her brother. Colleen becomes frustrated with her ex-boyfriend, Vic, whose investigation into Danny's murder proceeds slowly, and decides to undertake her own investigation.
==Main cast==
* [Hilary Swank](/source/Hilary_Swank) as Colleen
* [Bruce Payne](/source/Bruce_Payne) as Frankie
* [Corbin Bernsen](/source/Corbin_Bernsen) as Marty Hopkins
* [Mark-Paul Gosselaar](/source/Mark-Paul_Gosselaar) as Paco/Danny
* Gil Bernardy as Counterfeiter
* Andrew Hawkes as Tommy 'Hopscotch' Hopkins
* [Michael Gross](/source/Michael_Gross_(actor)) as Captain Evans
* [Rob Stewart](/source/Rob_Stewart_(actor)) as Vic
* [Elizabeth Gracen](/source/Elizabeth_Gracen) as Bridgette
* [Ben Foster](/source/Ben_Foster_(actor)) as Travis
* [Doug McKeon](/source/Doug_McKeon) as Patron
* Jay Irwin as Contact 1
* Brad James as Contact 2
Bruce Payne and Elizabeth Gracen both played Immortals in the popular Highlander franchise.
==Reception==
The TV Guide website has given the film a rating of 2.5 out of 4.[{{Cite web |url=http://movies.tvguide.com/kounterfeit/review/132356 |title=Kounterfeit |website=tvguide.com |access-date=14 October 2020 |archive-date=31 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131231003509/http://movies.tvguide.com/kounterfeit/review/132356 |url-status=dead }}] A reviewer for the ''[TV Guide](/source/TV_Guide)'' stated that 'Frankie's slablike features and seedy-cool demeanor initially makes him just one outsized thug among many, but [Payne](/source/Bruce_Payne) gradually warms up the protagonist and balances nicely against Hawkes's scenery-chewing [Joe Pesci](/source/Joe_Pesci) act'.[{{Cite web|url=http://www.bulletproofaction.com/2017/05/19/bullet-points-kounterfeit/ |first=Matt |last=Spector |title=Bullet Points: Kounterfeit |website=bulletproofaction.com |date=19 May 2017 |access-date=14 October 2020}}] A different reviewer stated that 'the ungainly script is low on both ideas and excitement'.[{{cite magazine |title=Rental Premiere |date=1 March 1998 |magazine=Sight and Sound |edition=8(3) |pages=60–61 }}] Mick Martin and Marsha Porter described the film as a 'mildly diverting tale of two low life hoods'.[{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=89RwLoiAcOYC&q=kounterfeit+hilary+swank|first1=Mick |last1=Martin |first2=Marsha |last2=Porter |title=DVD and Video Guide 2004 |publisher=Ballantine Books |year=2003 |isbn=9780345449948 |accessdate=23 October 2020}}]
Dragan Antulov stated that 'the plot recycles many obligatory elements of low budget crime movies (vengeance as the prime motive for one of the protagonist, good guys who don't turn out so good at the end) and combines them with [Tarantinoesque](/source/Quentin_Tarantino) portrayal of small time criminals as protagonists'.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.all-reviews.com/videos-5/kounterfeit.htm |first=Dragan |last=Antulov |title=Kounterfeit |website=all-reviews.com |date=2003 |access-date=24 October 2020}}] VPRO Cinema awarded the film 3 out of 5 stars.[{{Cite web|url=https://www.vprogids.nl/cinema/films/film~504487~kounterfeit~.html |title=Kounterfeit |website=vprogids.nl |access-date=24 October 2020}}]
A reviewer for ''[Film Review](/source/Film_Review_(magazine))'' stated that '[Payne](/source/Bruce_Payne) oozes charisma in a film which delivers plenty of cheap thrills but few surprises'.[{{cite magazine |title=Kounterfeit |date=1998 |magazine=[Film Review](/source/Film_Review_(magazine)) |page=73 }}]
Edmond Grant stated that the film's 'involved skullduggery holds few surprises in the end'.[{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nE8OAQAAMAAJ&q=elizabeth+gracen+kounterfeit|first=Edmond |last=Grant |title=The Motion Picture Guide, 1998 Annual: The Films of 1997 |publisher=Cinebooks |year=1998 |isbn=9780933997417 |accessdate=24 October 2020}}] Joe Corey stated that the film 'seems like a cheap ''[Miami Vice](/source/Miami_Vice)'' knock-off minus the golden talents of [Philip Michael Thomas](/source/Philip_Michael_Thomas)'.[{{Cite web|url=https://insidepulse.com/2007/01/30/64248/ |first=Joe |last=Corey |title=Kounterfeit |website=insidepulse.com |date=30 January 2007 |access-date=24 October 2020}}] Nonetheless, Corey praised the acting of [Hilary Swank](/source/Hilary_Swank), stating that she 'is the reason this film deserves to be seen' as 'she does her best to give life to a character that barely reads on the page' and 'seems very calm dealing with a script that over twists itself with the subterfuge'.