Foolproof (2003), directed by William Phillips, is a clever Canadian crime thriller that puts a fresh spin on the heist genre. With a focus on strategy, loyalty, and manipulation, the film trades brute force for brainpower and asks what happens when a theoretical game turns dangerously real.
Ryan Reynolds stars as Kevin, part of a tight-knit trio of friends—alongside Sam (Kristin Booth) and Rob (Joris Jarsky)—who spend their free time planning perfect heists. They don’t steal anything; it's just a game. A challenge of who can design the most foolproof break-in, down to the last detail.
But when a real criminal, Leo Gillette (David Suchet), discovers their blueprints and pulls off an actual robbery using one of their plans, the game turns deadly. Leo forces them to commit a real heist—or risk being framed for the first one. Now, what was once a mental exercise becomes a high-stakes mission with lives, freedom, and trust on the line.
Reynolds delivers his trademark wit with an edge of tension, playing a man caught between loyalty and survival. Suchet’s Leo is cold, calculating, and always one step ahead—a perfect foil to the younger crew. The film escalates with each scene, balancing puzzle-like plotting with moments of paranoia and betrayal.
Foolproof is not about explosions or car chases—it’s about outsmarting the opponent, staying one move ahead, and knowing who to trust when everything is at risk. With a modest budget but a sharp script and solid performances, it delivers cerebral thrills with style.
Because every great plan accounts for everything—
Except what happens
When the plan becomes real.
