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Heist (2001)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:125
Fresh:82
Rotten:43
Average Rating:6.2/10
Consensus: Heist didn't cover any new ground, but the cast and Mamet's expertise with witty banter make it worthwhile.
Theatrical Release:Nov 9, 2001 Wide
Box Office: $23,287,872
Synopsis: Written and directed by David Mamet, HEIST is a crime thriller that follows aging master thief Joe Moore (Gene Hackman) as he plans one last robbery before literally sailing off into the sunset.... Written and directed by David Mamet, HEIST is a crime thriller that follows aging master thief Joe Moore (Gene Hackman) as he plans one last robbery before literally sailing off into the sunset. What seems like the perfect heist gets complicated, however, when Joe's "business" partner, Bergman (Danny DeVito), insists that his shifty nephew, Jimmy Silk (Sam Rockwell), join the crew--consisting of Joe's young wife, Fran (Rebecca Pidgeon), and longtime associates Bobby Blane (Delroy Lindo) and Don "Pinky" Pincus (Ricky Jay). A tense battle of wits and wills ensues, leading to plenty of twists and turns before the grand finale. HEIST works wonderfully as a fast-paced, slight-of-hand caper flick. By focusing on dialogue over violence, Mamet allows his excellent script and remarkable cast to shine. Hackman (who seems incapable of giving a bad performance) and Lindo are particularly outstanding and carry the film as deftly as their characters plot their crime. Although the one-last-robbery tale has been told hundreds of times before, it's rarely been told better than this. [More]
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay
Starring: Gene Hackman, Danny DeVito, Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay, Sam Rockwell, Rebecca Pidgeon, Patti LuPone
Director: David Mamet
Director: David Mamet
Screenwriter: David Mamet
Producer: Art Linson, Andrew Stevens, Elie Samaha
Studio: Warner Bros.
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Reviews for Heist
The movie is super fun, even if some of its tricks seem to strain credulity.
The film noir that Mamet strives for is lost in the many twists and turns of plot manipulation that make up the bulk of “Heist.”
There's something offensive about how Mamet continues to win praise as a serious filmmaker with such a joyless picture, a picture that -- intentionally -- gives the audience so little.
"Heist" is a smartly-written caper movie with sparkling dialogue. While it is too cute to be believable, it is still a very classy bit of filmmaking.
The story is like a bad mountain road: full of twists, turns, and huge potholes, with Mamet driving through it about ten miles an hour, his direction too slack and lackadaisical to build much tension or suspense.
Mamet's cerebral thriller is a joy to watch -- this is easily the director's toughest, grittiest drama to date.
As a caper movie, Heist is as good as any you'll see. As a David Mamet movie, it leaves something to be desired.
A satisfying caper written and directed by a masterful craftsman and starring a perfect cast of leads and supporters.
Despite Mamet’s extensive experience, it is both sloppily written and surprisingly unpolished.
The robbery is intriguing enough, but a pity that the film lacks David Mamet's signature dialogue.
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 36% 36% | Angels & Demons |
| 25% 25% | Four Christmases |
| 68% 68% | Funny People |
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| 14% 14% | The Ugly Truth |
| Tomatometer Percentage | Movie |
|---|---|
| 32% 32% | Terminator Salvation |
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| 86% 86% | A Christmas Tale |
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