'Heist' has more twists than Chubby Checker
By Jack Garner
Gannett News Service
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| HEIST (Rated R with strong profanity, violence) Three Stars (Good)
A crime caper with echoes of the earlier "Score," but fueled by David Mamet's distinctive, entertaining writing and fine performances from Gene Hackman and Delroy Lindo. Danny DeVito and Rebecca Pidgeon also co-star. Mamet directs. Warner Bros., 109 mins. |
Both films were even shot in Montreal, though only "Heist" pretends it's somewhere else.
On the surface, the chief difference would appear to be casting: "Heist" offers Gene Hackman instead of Robert De Niro, Danny DeVito instead of Marlon Brando, and Sam Rockwell instead of Edward Norton.
Both casts are superb — with a slight nod to "The Score" for riveting performances by legendary actors. (Though Hackman is slowly approaching legend status himself.)
But, there are more subtle differences between the films.
"Heist," you see, is the latest from writer-director David Mamet, a master of con-artist movies, which means you'll observe more twists than Chubby Checker in his heyday.
You'll also hear distinctive, clever dialogue, by a genius of the terse, biting language and invigorating, jagged speech patterns.
Nobody in "The Score" speaks as entertainingly as the characters in "Heist." (When somebody asks a Hackman underling if the boss ever cracks under pressure, he's told, "He's so cool, when he goes to bed, sheep count him.")
Hackman is Joe Moore, who wants to retire as a thief after a jewelry store security camera captures his face.
His fence, Bergman (DeVito) urges Joe to try just one more score, so he can retire in comfort. In fact, Bergman virtually blackmails Joe into doing the job.
Joe brings along his cohorts, including his clever, mischievous young wife (Rebecca Pidgeon) and the trustworthy Bobby (Delroy Lindo), but he's also forced by Bergman to use Jimmy Silk (Rockwell), a young loose cannon with a trigger finger.
The complicated caper involves the robbery of a gold shipment from a private cargo plane.
Mamet's plot delivers tons of right and left turns; almost too many to follow. (I more enjoyed the more straight-forward robbery machinations in "The Score.")
"Heist" is more satisfying as a character study, thanks to the performances, especially by Hackman and Lindo as wily old veterans. Then there's Mamet's amusing, cutting dialogue.
Whether your taste in capers swings towards "The Score" (now on video) or the more current "Heist," you won't feel robbed by either film.
Rated R, with strong profanity, violence.
