Spent (stylized as $pent) is a 2000 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by Gil Cates Jr. and starring

Jason London Jason Paul London (born November 7, 1972) is an American actor, known for his roles as Randall "Pink" Floyd in director Richard Linklater's film '' Dazed and Confused'' (1993), Jesse in '' The Rage: Carrie 2'' (1999), and Rick Rambis in '' Out Co ...

, Charlie Spradling, and Gil Cates Jr.

Plot

Max is a struggling actor in Los Angeles whose career has stalled and debts have mounted beyond his ability to pay. Facing eviction and financial ruin, he makes the desperate decision to use his acting skills to deceive those closest to him rather than pursue legitimate employment. Max begins by approaching friends with seemingly innocent requests for small loans, claiming temporary setbacks and promising quick repayment. His first target is his girlfriend Brigette, whom he manipulates with fabricated stories about delayed paychecks and urgent expenses. Emboldened by his initial success, Max expands his operation to include family members, acquaintances, and even casual friends like Doug. As his financial desperation deepens, Max's cons become increasingly elaborate and psychologically manipulative. He crafts detailed backstories for each mark, tailoring his approach to their individual weaknesses and relationships with him. Some victims receive sob stories about medical emergencies, while others are pitched fake investment opportunities or told tales of career breakthroughs that require immediate funding. The weight of maintaining multiple deceptions begins to take its toll on Max as he struggles to keep his various lies from intersecting. His relationships deteriorate as friends and family members begin to suspect his motives, forcing him to become more creative and ruthless in his manipulations. The film culminates as Max's elaborate house of cards begins to collapse, leaving him to face the consequences of betraying everyone who cared about him in his single-minded pursuit of financial survival.

Cast

as Max * Charlie Spradling as Brigette *

Phill Lewis Phillip David Lewis (born February 14, 1968) is an American actor, comedian, and director. He is best known for playing hotel manager Mr. Moseby on the Disney Channel series ''The Suite Life of Zack & Cody'' and its spin-off, ''The Suite Life ...

as Doug *Erin Beaux as Nathan * James Parks as Grant *Richmond Arquette as Jay *

Barbara Barrie Barbara Barrie (born Barbara Ann Berman; May 23, 1931) is an American actress and author. Her film breakthrough came in 1964 with her performance as Julie in the landmark film '' One Potato, Two Potato'', for which she won the Best Actress Awa ...

as Mrs. Walsh *

Gilbert Cates Gilbert Cates ( né Katz; June 6, 1934 – October 31, 2011) was an American film director and television producer, director of the Geffen Playhouse, a member of Cates/Doty Productions, and founding dean of the UCLA School of Theater, Film an ...

as Mr. Walsh *

Rain Phoenix Rain Joan of Arc Phoenix ( Bottom; born November 21, 1972) is an American actress, musician, and singer. She is the older sister of Joaquin, Liberty and Summer Phoenix and younger sister of River Phoenix. Early life Phoenix was born Rain Joan ...

as Kimberly *Kaela Dobkin as Jessica

Reception

The film received generally unfavorable reviews on Metacritic.com, getting 34/100 based on 8 critics.

References

External links

* * * 2000 films 2000 drama films American drama films Films directed by Gil Cates Jr. 2000s English-language films 2000s American films English-language drama films {{2000s-drama-film-stub