Risk

Story Line: Shifty insurance salesman John Kriesky (Brown) takes novice Ben (Long) under his wing, and teaches him the pleasures of money, sex and not-quite-legal selling tactics. Soon after, Kriesky's shady lawyer girlfriend (Karvan) gets involved with Ben, who finds himself in a scheme that spirals out of control.

Bottom Line: This Aussie import offers a sharp, cynical take on the ages-old story of a nice young guy meeting a corrupt old-timer and becoming corrupted himself, until he manages to see the light and save himself. The actors, particularly the always fun to watch Brown, do a nice job of keeping the story moving tightly up to a somewhat surprising finale. As the requisite femme fatale, sexy Karvan also delivers. (She's a well-known face in her native Australia, and American audiences will become more familiar with her this spring since she has a featured role in the upcoming Star Wars installment.) Risk has the potential to be a solid renter, so recommend it to those looking for an intelligent, finance-savvy thriller, but warn wary clients about the thick Australian accents. --Mayna Bergman