The Good Thief
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Movie Reviews of The Good Thief
Movie Review: smooth, satisfying caper film
Summary: 3 Stars
***1/2 Set on the scenic French Riviera, Neil Jordan's "The Good Thief" is a remake of 1955's "Bob Le Flambeur," a Gallic film that enjoyed a successful re-release in this country a few years back. This new version is a stylish caper film about an aging master criminal who comes out of retirement to help lift some priceless paintings from a Monte Carlo casino. In terms of plotting, there is little that we haven't seen in this type of film before. First, there's the idea for the heist, then the wooing of the reluctant "reformed" criminal, then the gathering of the other participants, then the intricate planning and rehearsing for the job, followed by the inevitable double dealing and double crosses, and ending with the sly turnabout ending to set our heads spinning and make us question everything we have seen heretofore. But Jordan has a knack for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary, and this he accomplishes with a complex screenplay, a strong sense of atmosphere, a host of well-developed characters, a sly sense of humor and an assortment of first-rate performances from a talented cast. Nick Nolte is superb as Bob, a shrewd, world-weary thief who is also a compulsive gambler and drug addict. Needless to say, the role seems tailor made for the star. Most of the rest of the cast is made up of French or Eastern European actors, all of whom do a fine job in their assorted roles.
Actually, the only complaint I have about the film is a direct result of that largely international cast. Much of the film's dialogue is hard to understand due in large part to the very thick accents emanating from most of the actors. Even the one native English speaker, Nolte, is difficult to comprehend at times, but that's just because Nolte is simply being Nolte and we expect to miss half of what he is saying anyway.
Apart from that, "The Good Thief," less polished and slick than movies like "Ocean's Eleven," offers top-notch entertainment for the hardcore heist film aficionado.
Movie Review: Not bad but neither memorable...
Summary: 3 Stars
Another movie another heist as some critic once said. Is it just that really? After all, this being a N. Jordan film and with N. Nolte in the driving seat in the cast, a high class European setting and other smaller aces up the director's sleeve it should be a definite winner.It's not though. By the time the elaborate and concocted plot finally reveals its twist in the end, it's not a sure bet whether you'd have cared enough to stay along for the ride.
Contrary to earlier Jordan films which have always been rich character movies this one rather lacks in that direction. To be more precise, the Nolte character (a big time gambler and junkie living the high life in the French riviera) is yes, very developed but everyone around him is paper-thin at best.
This is exactly why the "Good thief" can be watched with ease assuming you're spending a night in with nothing better to do but it's no movie that will scar your mind and which you'll never forget. Far from.
It's pop corn stuff for the more advanced viewers (and pop corn consumers) if i may put it that way.
Sure, Nolte is a treat to watch as he takes on his role with particular comfort (no doubt aided by the experience in his own life) but that doesnt come out enough in the end. The plot weaves and unravels constantly but since the other characters will leave you totally indifferent it wont be easy for the plot to keep you gripped.
Not one of Jordan's strongest efforts and yet this is by no means a bad film. Still, it's one destined to rather gather dust in video-store shelves in the not so distant future.
Movie Review: Watch This With Subtitles And You'll Be Pleased
Summary: 3 Stars
This was a re-make of the 1955 film noir, "Bob LeFlambeur," which I also own. That was black-and-white and made in France while this is 2002 movie in color with English-speaking actors.
Usually I'll take the original over the re-make but not in this case....with one major consideration. In order to like this film, I had to play the DVD with the English subtitles on because many of the accents were just too tough to decipher and if you can't understand the dialog, it gets a bit frustrating. The story is confusing enough as it is, so, if you have a similar problem as I had, play this with the subtitles.
If there is such a thing as colorful film noir, this would be it, with many splashes of the neon nightlife of France, inside and outside. Story-wise, if you're confused you are not alone. After two viewings, I still haven't totally figured out the twist at the end. The dialog tries to be snappy mid-40s Raymond Chandler stuff and sometimes it's great, other times it's affected. Overall, however, it 's fun. Nick Nolte delivers most of the clever lines. The young girl in here, Nutsa Kukhianidze, is intriguing new face, as was the case with Isabelle Corey in "Bob."
This movie gets a lot of negative reviews from professional critics. Don't trust them; give this a look....and remember the subtitles.
Movie Review: Finishes up strong
Summary: 3 Stars
The Good Thief falls flat on many levels, but the ending was strong enough that I can almost let that slide. Nick Nolte and Tcheky Kayro both turn in strong performances, but Neil Jordan, under pressure, it seems, to justify his rendition of Bob Le Flambeur, throws in too many directorial bells and whistles. But these only serve to distract from the more gentle and amusing eccentricities of the film (such as the performances of the Polish brothers). Nutsa Kukhianidze is the requisite girl, and is particularly grating, like a sissified Luc Besson heroine.Whatever problems I had with the film, the last reel at least partially succeeded in winning me back. The climax in Monte Carlo is subdued, but there's an energy in the air. Anyone (it probably helps if you're a degenerate gambler like myself) whose pulse quickens at the thought of donning an Italian suit and playing for high stakes in the salons of Monte Carlo. Nolte initiating Kukhianidze in this foreign world, the quiet, dignified panic always just underneath the pit crew's bored facade, flop sweat on the upper lip. This was sufficient payout for me.
Movie Review: Heist Film with a Thin Streak of Dark
Summary: 3 Stars
Nolte is always a joy to watch, and he doesn't let you down with his performance here. This movie is head and shoulders above Soderberg's version of "Ocean's Eleven", but it could have been better. The story becomes unforgiveably lame in the third act, as the plans unravel and coincedentally fix themselves in unlikely and silly ways that have nothing to do with the actions of the protagonist, as he is busy getting very, very lucky at the casino while everyone else does the interesting stuff. Worth a rent for the cinematography alone, but not one destined for my permanent collection.