HTF REVIEW: "Heist" (with screenshots) (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Link Removed

Heist

Love makes the world go 'round... Love of Gold.
I just love movies that not only explore
the "perfect" crime, but go into all the intricate
details and backup plans that make that crime
"perfect".
Such is the case with Heist, the newest
film by renowned screenwriter David Mamet (Hannibal,
Ronin, Wag The Dog, The Edge), who tells the story
of a group of thieves who find that getting away
from a life of crime is the hardest escape of all.

Joe (Gene Hackman) is pulling off a jewelry heist
with his long-time sidekick, Bobby (Delroy Lindo).
The heist goes somewhat wrong when Joe gets his face
caught on a security camera. Joe decides it's time
quit the business and sail down south and retire.

There's only one problem with retirement -- you
can't do it without money. When manipulative
fence man, Bergman (Danny DeVito) shortchanges
Joe and Bobby, one final job is offered to them.
The offer is an elaborate heist of gold nuggets
that will allow everyone to retire forever.

Along the way, however, the story becomes filled
with double-cross and triple-cross, keeping you
guessing about who's zooming who right up until
the end of the film.
How is the transfer?
I suppose I don't need to really say much about
a new film transfer from Warner Brothers. All
their transfers look top-notch, and this anamorphic
(1.85:1) "matted" transfer looks just great.
This DVD has all the elements that make it a
more than acceptable transfer: smooth picture,
lack of grain, and dead-on colors -- especially
in the flesh tones. I saw no flaws with this
transfer.
The 5.1 Dolby Digital soundtrack is also very
good. Sound across the front speakers sounds
strong and clean. There isn't too much use of
the surrounds, which surprised me for a film like
this. The surrounds seemed to be used more for
enhancement of the film's music score.
Special Features
A few small surprises with this DVD. First of
all, I was surprised to see that although a Warner
release, the DVD begins with a new MORGAN CREEK DVD
logo that is rather snazzy. I suppose that Morgan
Creek wanted their own label for their product.

Another surprise is that this DVD doesn't really
have any Special Features to it. I had read that
there was to be a running audio commentary by
Director David Mamet. Read the press releases and
website vendors, and this is exactly what we are
lead to believe. However, look at the box itself
and there is no mention of a commentary. Look in
the SPECIAL FEATURES area and there's no such
selection. It is therefor my belief that there is
no audio commentary.
What you do get is a measly Theatrical Trailer
and Cast and Crew filmographies.
That's it!
Final Thoughts
I would have loved Heist to be as "perfect"
as the crime it portrayed. However, the crime wasn't
exactly perfect at all when you take into account
that a crime like this just couldn't happen. The
film is also plagued with dialogue that is just so
overly witty for anyone in real life to constantly
blurb.
Nonetheless, the film survives well because of
it's stars. Gene Hackman, Danny Devito and my
favorite character actor, Delroy Lindo, are just
fun to watch in action. The film does remain
extremely entertaining throughout -- especially
with the multitude of plot twists.
Rent it for sure. Buying it isn't much of a
gamble either.
Release Date: March 15, 2002

 

[Jussi Tarvainen]

Thanks for the good review, Ron. It's a shame about the lack of commentary track, but anything Mamet makes deserves my utmost attention. I can't wait to see this one.

Now, if only MGM could put out a proper edition of "House Of Games"...

 

[Michael Dueppen]

Thanks for the review, Ron. Might just have to rent this and see for myself if I like the movie.

 

[Matt_Wizall]

Excellent review. I've heard similiar things from people who saw this, especially about over-the-top dialogue. I'll be adding this to my Netflicks rental queue.

-matt

 

[Robert Crawford]

Well, I've seen this film during it's theatrical run and I loved the cool dialogue. Also, I don't believe the film's ending is as cut and dry as most were lead to believe.

Crawdaddy

 

[RobertCharlotte]

Now, if only MGM could put out a proper edition of "House Of Games"...

Amen!

 

[Scott-C]

Ron,

Thanks for a nice review. This one's on my "To-Rent" list. I really enjoy almost any film with Gene Hackman, so I'm anxious to see this one.

 

[josh4040]

I was really looking forward to this when it was in theaters and have to say I was really disappointed. I dont walk out of movies but I was so bored with this movie that I left half way thru it.

 

[Justin Doring]

Thanks for the review on the transfer, sound, and the extras (as few as they are). Since this is a Mamet film, that I'll be picking it up is a given.

As far as the dialog is concerned, that's just Mamet's style, and I find it to be simultaneously realistic and artificial. And Robert Crawford is 100% correct regarding the ending. Pity, though, about the lack of a commentary, as The Winslow Boy's was excellent.

 

[Paul E. Fox II]

Some of this movie was shot right here in the TINY little community in which I live. In fact, last year while they were shooting, it was a constant pain in the a** to get out of my driveway and get to work (there were using a field directly across from my Mother and Father In-Law's house to park)
Also, there were some shots on the grand New River Gorge Bridge (they had traffic there snarled as well!)
Now, whether any of this stuff made it to the film remains to be seen, but they were here! Who woulda ever thought Hollywood would invade Edmond West Virginia!!

 

[Matt Pasant]

With Mamet its all about the words and thats what I love about the guys work. I think I heard an actor on Inside the Actors Studio say that Mamet is almost if not inflexible on his words being changed.

The Heist was no different, I loved the words and the sytle. Escpecially about being "burned".. I loved that. Or the line "my man is so cool that when he sleeps sheep count him".

Off topic: When I was in english literature in college we read Glengary Glen Ross and I had to read a scene with my professor between Shelly and his boss. My professor was 71 or 72 I think, and BOY was I nervous and uncomfortable uttering the f-bomb so many times along with a C word here and there to someone who at the time was my grandparents age.

 

[Michael Reuben]

Also, I don't believe the film's ending is as cut and dry as most were lead to believe.

Crawdaddy, you are so right. On the second viewing, it was even more obvious that all is not as it seems.
M.

 

[Josh_Hill]

I will probably pick this disc up, but one question: It comes out on March 15th? Or is it the 19th?

 

[Matt Pasant]

It came out on Tuesday the 15th.

Again, to the Mamet fan, its a must.

 

[Marty Lockstead]

I also really enjoyed this film. I saw it at the theater and couldn't wait for the dvd. Although I enjoyed "THE SCORE" a little more, it's like saying that "this donut is a little sweeter than this donut, but they are both sweet".

It's a shame about the lack of features, but at least it wasn't too expensive.

 

[Greg_Y]

It came out on Tuesday the 15th.

Actually it came out on Tuesday the 12th. Regardless, it should be available at any and all of your local B&M stores and favorite e-tailers.

 

[Matt Pasant]

Actually it came out on Tuesday the 12th

I can tell I was posting after my bedtime.

 

[Alex Spindler]

Watched this last night after picking it up, and was again impressed, both with the dialogue and the intricate characters and their apparent alliances.

One thing I noticed while watching the trailer after a viewing of the film. There are a number of quick scenes in the trailer that suggest that there was a great deal more violence during the entrance to the airport. There are some scenes where Patii Lupone sees Gene Hackman beating up someone and then she gets hit with the van door pretty hard. I like the theatrical version much more, but it would have been interesting to see that alternative entrance.

 

[RobertCharlotte]

My motherf***er is so cool, when he goes to bed sheep count him.

You know, I got a piece of spam today with the subject line "What do sheep count?" and I thought of that line.

 

[Brian Harnish]

This sounds like another winner I can add to my collection.