STARS : Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, Danny Devito, Sam Rockwell, Ricky Jay & Rebecca Pidgeon

Joe Moore (Hackman) wants to retire from the world of crime and to head off into waters unknown, sailing his boat off into the sunset. Joe works with the same gang for every job that he pulls. The rest of his gang consists of his gorgeous young wife Fran (Pidgeon), Bobby (Lindo) and Don (Jay).

After a job that they attempt doesn’t pan out quite the way they envisioned they are forced to accept an offer from their normal “organiser” Bergman (Devito) to rip off millions of dollars in gold. Bergman also insists that his nephew Jimmy (Rockwell) comes along to ensure that all goes according to plan or else Joe still wont be able to retire because he won’t get paid.

What follows is a game of double crossing, betrayal, more double crossing and ultimately murder. There is nothing in this film that is particular insightful or surprising and you are left with a feeling of “been there done that” on several occasions.

Sam Rockwell is head and shoulders above the rest of the cast here and is quickly, along with Colin Farrell, becoming one of my favourite actors and hopefully a big star. Hopefully though he’ll be able to shrug his typecasting problems that he’s currently fighting : He seems to always be cast as the bad guy (Charlie’s Angels, Green Mile etc) which although providing unlimited freedom doesn’t award him the recognition he deserves.

Considering the stellar cast that has been assembled, Heist is ultimately quite the let down. It has no real plot, the actors appear disinterested and David Mamet’s direction lacks originality. For those who don’t know, Mamet has dirtected some excellent films rcently including Glangarry Glen Ross & Ronin so perhaps my expectations were higher than they should have been.

Watch It If You Enjoyed : The Score

Verdict : So-So

THE EXTRAS

* Theatrical Trailer :

CONCLUSION

A strong cast, let down by Danny Devito’s script and Mamet’s lamentable direction, cannot save this stinker of a film.

With thanks to Village Roadshow, Heist is available from September 4th