The Hot Rock
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Movie Reviews of The Hot Rock
Movie Review: An Excellent Classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
This was the first time I have watched this movie, I highly recommend it. You will love the suspense. I think they did a great job. Excellent Plot. Love it.Movie Review: Highly enjoyable diamond heist thriller
Summary: 4 Stars
The Hot Rock is an above average heist movie from the early 1970s that isn't that well known, but it is well worth checking out. John Dortmunder is fresh out of prison when his brother-in-law and partner in crime, Andrew Kelp, approaches him with an idea to steal an African diamond and earn $25,000 in the process. Dortmunder, an expert planner in these situations, and Kelp bring together two other men, because their boss will only pay for four, to pull off the robbery of the diamond in a New York City museum. But when they go to rob the museum, one thing after another keeps preventing them from getting their hands on the Sahara Stone. Their efforts to obtain the diamond include a prison break, a helicopter assault on a NY police station, and hypnotism to get into a bank vault. This heist blends just the right amount of dry humor as the heist team prepares and puts into action their plans to obtaining the diamond. It is a really fun, enjoyable movie to watch, and as well, there's some great shots of NY City, including a now eerie shot of the World Trade Center being built. The Hot Rock is a sure thing for fans of heist movies so don't miss it.
In a very good ensemble cast, Robert Redford is tops as John Dortmunder, the recent parolee and planner of the diamond heist. For much of the movie, Redford plays straight man to those around him, but the script gives him several good chances for some very funny lines. It doesn't hurt that Redford was and is a very likable actor. George Segal is Dortmunder's right hand man Andrew Kelp, his partner in crime. Segal is a safecracker who has lost faith in his ability which makes Dortmunder question whether he can do the job. The rest of the team includes Ron Leibman as Stan Murch, the car crazy mechanic who can drive or fly anything, and Paul Sand as Alan Greenberg, an explosives expert who makes a big mistake in the initial theft. Moses Gunn is perfect as Dr. Amusa, the man who hires Dortmunder and his team and quickly begins to realize he might have picked the wrong guys for the job. Zero Mostel plays Abe Greenberg, Alan's father who unwittingly finds himself as part of the heist and takes full advantage. It's a small part, but Mostel is excellent. The DVD features a pretty-good looking widescreen presentation, a Hot Rock trailer, and trailers for two other Redford movies, Brubaker and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. So for an underrated heist movie with Redford and a great cast, and just the right mix of humor and suspense, check out The Hot Rock!
Movie Review: Redford Rollick
Summary: 4 Stars
"The Hot Rock" is a comical movie based upon one of the funniest novels I have ever read. This tale is not only a humor filled and entertaining rollick, it is an excellent mystery story.
The story begins with John Dortmunder being released from prison. This is quickly followed by an encounter with John's friend Kelp, who decides to surprise Dortmunder and meet him upon his release. As John reaches the public sidewalk, Kelp loses control of the car. As Kelp attempts to regain control, he accidently startles Dortmunder and almost runs him over with the car. These auspicious circumstances are just the first in a long series of Dortmunder plans going awry.
"The Hot Rock" centers around a caper offered to Dortmunder and Kelp by the government of a small African country. The government wants a famous large diamond that is in the custody of another country. To avoid starting a war to retrieve the diamond, they decide to hire professional thieves to steal it.
Dortmunder is famous for his ability to plan and organize criminal activities. He is a master planner who carefully analyzes the situation to learn all possible barriers to the crime. John organizes the execution of a crime like clock work. John's plans function like military missions, always in exquisite detail, activities of his team synchronized to the second. He also tends to have bad luck. Somehow an intervening variable or some random unexpected action affects the outcome.
Dortmunder and crew try numerous plans to capture the diamond each time being thwarted by a humorous interruption. Most of the enjoyment of the movie centers on the thieves ingenious attempts at the theft.
Robert Redford is brilliantly cast as Dortmunder. Redford captures the essence of Dortmunder. George Segal is excellent in his portrayal of Kelp. The film is a careful rendition of the original novel that preserves and sometimes enhances the comedy.
I highly recommend "The Hot Rock". This is an superior, well written story that is highly entertaining.
Movie Review: "Am I Right, Chicken?!"
Summary: 4 Stars
Robert Redford was such a gigantic star in the early 70's that it was decidedly rare for any of his vehicles to fall between the cracks. This one did, though, and it's a crying shame. (Would that "Indecent Proposal and "The Last Castle" had.) He would later dismiss this film, claiming that it didn't work because the director, the Brit Peter Yates, didn't 'get' American humor. I would suggest that he conduct a reappraisal.
"The Hot Rock" inverts the standard heist plot by offering a crew of crooks--Redford, George Segal, Ron Leibman, and Second City's Paul Sand--who aren't super-slick masterminds or bumbling fools. They're fairly ordinary guys who manage to pull off the theft of a diamond, only to find that the original crime begets more and more crimes. As Moses Gunn puts it perfectly at one point, "I've heard of the habitual criminal, but never the habitual crime."
The comedy is played dry, sometimes VERY dry, but once you catch the rhythm it's hilarious. Watch for Leibman and his mother listening to an album of a racetrack--yes, an album of a racetrack--when they live 100 yards from the freeway. And watch especially for the scene on the shore, as Sand demos his various homemade bombs, and a dissatisfied Redford offers a less-than-scientific estimation of how much louder the bomb needs to be. I was rolling on the floor.
Movie Review: The Hot Rock..A Warm Comedy Caper.
Summary: 4 Stars
THE HOT ROCK IS a forgotten comedy gem starring the enigmatic Robert Redford proving he can do light comedy when given the right vehicle. Fans should look for another forgotten gem he did early in his career (No, not BAREFOOT IN THE PARK), SITUATION HOPELESS, BUT NOT SERIOUS... a WWII comedy starring Redford with Mike ("Mannix")Conners and the great Sir Alec (Obi Wan Kenobi)Guinness. THE HOT ROCK is a light caper film about four jewel thieves, lead by Redford, out to heist a rare diamond in Manhatten. The film is mostly a series of hilarious failed attempts to steal the diamond with some twists and turns, and double crossings. One funny scene is when they use a helicopter to land on one of the New York city building rooftops and they end up on the wrong rooftop because from above, everything looks the same. Good ensemble casting with George Segal (tv's JUST SHOOT ME), Ron Leibman (NORMA REA), Paul Sand, Zero Mostel (THE PRODUCERS). The script has good comedic banter (mostly between Redford and Segal), and the New York City locations are a plus. Overall, one of Redford's forgotten comedy films that ranks up there with SNEAKERS. Note: One interesting (if not sad) part of the film is during the helicopter sequence, is that they fly by the World Trade Center still under construction (the movie was filmed back in 1972).