HeistHeist
Gene Hackman plays the veteran ringleader of a gang of theives (Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay and Rebecca Pigeon as Hackman’s youngish wife) that pulls off complex heists for a despicable fence (Danny DeVito). After stiffing the gang on a jewelry robbery, DeVito forces the gang to go after a Swiss gold shipment and to use his son (Sam Rockwell) in the crime. Mistrust runs rampant as double-crosses threaten the split-second operation. DVD Features: David Mamet’s Heist is–not unlike many of his previous films–amusing, manicured, and fraught with an awkward tension. If you’ve seen The Spanish Prisoner or House of Games, you’re by now familiar with the plot-subverting gambit of the double-cross turned triple- and then quadruple-cross. Heist sticks to the formula. Likewise, the quips and laconic wit that adorn what can most accurately be called “Mametspeak” are again on display: “Cute as a pail full of kittens,” for instance, and “Everybody needs money; that’s why they call it money.” What you haven’t yet seen in a Mamet film is the magisterial charm of Gene Hackman. In the role of Joe Moore, an aging criminal out for one final score before cashing in, Hackman shows us all (Mamet included) how it’s done, embodying tough-but-clever effortlessly. Delroy Lindo, as Joe’s partner Bobby, picks up on Hackman’s ultra-cool and gives plenty in return. While the script and the remaining cast (Danny Devito, Rebecca Pidgeon, Sam Rockwell) are serviceable, Heist is entirely Hackman’s show to steal. –Fionn Meade
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(out of 118 reviews)
Review by Shelley Gammon for Heist
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This has definitely got to be one of the top films I have seen in the past year. I normally don’t get interested in seeing movies that glorify crime or make the hero of the story someone who weilds a gun and steals things that don’t belong to them, but this movie surpassed my expectations.I am a fan of Gene Hackman, and I really enjoyed the entire cast, all of whom were aptly cast for this film… but the best actors, casting and story isn’t enough if all the things aren’t tied together well by the director.Mamet should be proud. The film is forever dated as being pre-Sept. 11 as the big heist of the film takes place at an airport, but if your memory of how things were before 9/11 aren’t too foggy already, you’ll appreciate that this was a well conceived and even plausible plot.The story assumes that the viewer is intelligent and does not insult logic or waste your time. There were a few plot twists I anticipated, but far more that I did not expect.Some gun play and sexually suggestive scenes, but the real draw to this film at the cerebral level… this film will keep you enthralled as you try to figure out who is honest, who is a betrayer and who knows what’s going on. You will be surprised many times during this film.The language is at gutter level and simply is not suitable for kids… but this is an otherwise fantastic motion picture.
Review by Kevin Currie-Knight for Heist
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Whether comedy, drama or suspense, David Mamet films are not just entertainment, they are high art. Truly, they can be looked at in both ways: either truly gripping perfect-for-munching-popcorn stories, or beautifully shot and executed works of sublime art. Rather, I should say that MOST of his films can be looked at in both ways. Although this film was well shot, directed and acted, the story line and tension that is a hallmark of Mamet’s films just wasn’t there. As the reviewer below points out, the cast of this film was great. Gene Hackman, Rebeccas Pidgeon (who DID seem more comfortable here than in other films), Sam Rockwell and Danny DeVito. All did a wonderful job. The problem was, the plot was not cohesive. I felt that when writing, Mamet must not have had any clue where he was going, giving this film many false stops and starts leading to a bumpy ride.
In brief, this film is about a worn-out conman deciding to pull one last job with his crew. Problem is, they brought in a new guy that might threaten to out-con the cons. So this is a story begging to be written and you’d think Mamet was the guy to do it, but instead, I got the sense that it was trying too hard to follow in the footsteps of films like ‘The Usual Suspects’ and ‘Oceans 11′. Unfortunately, Mamet tried to emulate the ‘shoptalk’ and highbrow tension that led to those films success instead of staying true to his film noir type style. The film ends up becoming a cliche. So even though the performances and direction were stellar, the script and plot were mediocre.
Review by for Heist
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I had the pleasure of seeing Heist on October 8th at the 24th Mill Valley Film Festival, when I had first seen the trailer for it I thought it had far to many cute lines and holywood lok to it. I was wrong, the film did contain plenty of not cute lines but smart funny lines that only added to the audiences enjoyement, the film has some hollywood aspects to it but it is a very well made hollywood film it does not neccesarlily keep you on the edge of your seat but the characters and plot twists keep the film great and enjoyable all the way until the end. It is hard to describe it without giving away to much, but Gene Hackman plays an aging thief who is very precise, tricky and smart in his work, Delroy Lindo is his partner and helps him carry out all of the ‘jobs’ they do. Each of these characters ar wonderfully played by the actors. Ricky Jay plays another memeber of thier team and deffenitely adds to the humor of the film, Danny DeVito plays a greedy, sleezy crime lord who is mutual with Gene Hackman on the love of gold and wealth, Rebbeca Pidgeon who plays Gene Hackmans girlfriend as well as a partner in crime also does well in showing uncertainty as to weather Gene Hackman is using her or not, Sam Rockwell plays Danny DeVitos nephew and a younger aspiring criminal who is requested by DeVito to be a part of Gene Hackmans team of thieves, this adds to the tention, because SAmis also a crminal in training. Overall Heist is probably Gene Hackmans best film since the Frenc Connection as well as one of the best crime films Hollywood has produced.
Review by Robert P. Beveridge for Heist
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Heist (David Mamet, 2001)Beware: if you go to see a David Mamet film expecting a linear time, you’re going to have problems.The mind that brought us the best con movie ever, _House of Games_, returns to the life of the small-time crook who wants to be big-time with just as much gusto as panache as before. Mantegna has been replace with flavor du jour Gene Hackman, and former Mamet wife Lindsay Crouse has been replaced with Mamet-wife du jour Rebecca Pidgeon, but otherwise, your small time con artists (Hackman, Pidgeon, Delroy Lindo, and Mamet regular Ricky Jay) are shooting for a brass ring well outside their sphere of influence. Nothing unusual. Mamet throws the monkeywrenches into the works in this one with a small-time mob boss (Danny DeVito) and his layabout nephew (Sam Rockwell, late of The Green Mile and Galaxy Quest); mob boss says that nephew must come along on the job, and crime ring leader agrees.Complications ensue.As usual with Mamet, there are many more layers than are let on at any given time. Crosses, double-crosses, and triple-crosses abound. Every character has an angle, and no one is to be trusted. Because of that, it’s a movie that requires excessive attention to detail on the part of the viewer; this is likely to make the majority of the public ignore the film, but, like House of Games, it will develop a following among those who are willing to go back and watch movies four or five times to analyze everything that needs analyzed.Wonderful. Easily one of the ten best of the year. ****
Review by Alex Udvary for Heist
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“My guy is so cool, when he goes to sleep, sheep count him.” So says “Pinky” (Ricky Jay)as he describes his “boss”, Joe Moore (Gene Hackman). The same thing can be said for “Heist”. Here’s a movie that has a razor-sharp script full if wit, style, and excitement. I think it’s fair to say that David Mamet writes some of the best dialogue I’ve ever heard. It’s a known fact that he uses a metronome in order to keep his dialogue to have a certain rhythm to it. There are so many great lines in this movie it’s impossible to recite them all here. I would love it, if this movie got an Osacr nomination for it’s screenplay. I honestly can’t understand why so many people have been as harsh as they have been with this film. I think it’s one of the best films of 2001! Everything seems so perfect in this movie. Who could ask for more from a heist movie. I mean, the directing is great. Mamet knows the genre very well. And has proven this with films like “House of Games”, and “The Spanish Prisoner”. His script as I said before is amazing. The acting by Gene Hackman is the tops. Here’s a guy that is such an old pro he can take any role you give him and turn it into something great. This is not to say that the part of Joe Moore is uninteresting. It most certainly isn’t! Danny De Vito is suprisingly good in this film. At first I thought, this guy is all wrong for this movie. The part he’s playing is an old-fashion tough-guy villian. For the obvious reasons, this doesn’t seem to fit De Vito, or so I thought. I have to admit, he is very entertaining to watch as well. Everyone it seems, has a problem with Rebecca Pidgeon. People tend to think that she’s out of place in a Mamet film. Some think she delivers the lines wrong. Though I’ve never thought this of her, this is her best role! She reminds me of a modern, hip Veronica Lake, Barbara Stanywick type of femme fatale. She is just as good has Hackman in this movie. And would be a great film to prove to those who dislike her, that she is a very good actress, who does work well in Mamet’s style of filmmaking. Delroy Lindo has some great lines as well, but, I can’t reveal them here. He has some good moments on screen and works well with Hackman and the rest fo the cast. “Heist” has a very old-fashion feel to it. It reminds me of Kubrick’s “The Killing” in several ways. This is what I like about the movie. I love that old-fashion feel. I love the acting and the directing and the script. I love all the plot-twist that happen, but, must admit, I took one star off because I felt near the end of the film, I’d say, the last 15-20 minutes of the film, it just tries too hard. It’s one suprise after another only Mamet has too much of a good thing going here.
“Heist” is probably one of the best heist movies I’ve seen this year. And we had a lot of them come out, like “The Score” and “Sexy Beast”. This is a movie I wish the American public would have paid more attention to when it was in wider release. If you still haven’t seen it, please try to find a theatre that’s playing it. I think the American public really missed the mark with this one. It’s an enjoyable film by one of the best and hardest working playwrightscreenwriters we have around today. David Mamet’s “Heist” is a modern classic that all other heist films must now be measured against!