Now You See Me 2 (2016)

Directed by Jon M. Chu
Starred Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, ...
2016, France & United States, English. Mandarin, Cantonese, 129 minutes.

The second part of Now You See Me. The first movie was pretty popular and entertaining, so it wasn`t a surprise to see a second part was filmed. Although - to me - it isn`t as good and entertaining as the first movie, it is still a good one. Combination of heist, magic, and great but great cast gives a good result. The cast is so good that we have a double Oscar winner (Michael Caine), one Oscar winner (Morgan Freeman), 3 Oscar nominees (Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo and Woody Harrelson), one Oscar nominee`s borther (Dave Franco), as well as a Primetime Emmy nominee Lizzy Caplan (Masters of Sex) and one Saturn award nominee Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter movies). 

If you liked the first movie, you have to see this one as well.

To see the whole blog, click here. 

If you look for;

A team work heist
A heist by a group of magician
Fast paced heist movie
A heist movie with an ensemble cast 

then this is your movie.

* * *

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:

(available in the blog)

Inception (2010)
Maverick (1994)
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Ocean's Twelve (2004)
The Art of the Steal (2013)
Now You See Me (2013)


If you liked this movie, imdb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Now You See Me (2013)

* * *

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Information Theft

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

7 cajas / 7 Boxes (2012)

Directed by Juan Carlos Maneglia and Tana Schembori
Starred Celso Franco, Victor Sosa, Lali Gonzalez, Nico Garcia, Paletita, Mario Tananez, Nelly Davalos, Roberto Cardozo, Jin Hyuk Johnny Kim, Luis Gutierrez, ...
2012, Paraguay & Spain, Spanish, Guarani, Korean, 105 minutes.

Paraguayan submission for Oscar`s Best Foreign Language Movie category offers you a rare occasion to see a heist movie from this small South American country. Well, it isn`t exactly a heist movie, but in an alternative format to the genre. It is a face pace action as well as gradually unfolding crime story, where it gets gore from time to time. The performance of the young stars of the movie, who are also lead actors in the film, are pretty good. I enjoyed it while it lasts, but that`s it. I would recommend to the fans who are especially wants to experience of seeing a movie from this less known country.

As a note, there is a projected English re-make based on this movie.

To see the whole blog, click here. 

If you look for;

A fast pace action heist

A heist movie experience from South America

then this is your movie.

* * *

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:

(available in the blog)

Organize Isler / Magic Carpet Ride (2005)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Nicotina (2003) 
Shallow Grave (1994)

* * * 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Cash Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 2/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 2/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 2/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain importan

English Trailer;

The Con Artist (2010)

Directed by Risa Bramon Garcia

Starred Rossif Sutherland, Sarah Roemer, Greg Germann, Russell Peters, Donald Sutherland, Jed Rees, Mac Fyfe, Rebecca Romjin ...

2010, Canada, English, 84 minutes

 

Here we have a Canadian heist movie, with famous Canadian actors, father and son Sutherland, blended with a artistic touch from a female director Risa Bramon Garcia. 

"What happens the thief protagonist happens to be a talented artist soon to be discovered?" is the starting point of this heist movie.

There is not much to say. I have seen it twice. The only things I remember about it that it is  a simple, smooth movie, which has moments tends to wander around the genres such as comedy, crime movie and romantic comedy. 

It was interesting to see Donald Sutherland together with his less known son Rossif. 

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a Canadian heist
a heist tends to be comedy, romantic comedy and crime movie
a simple, smooth heist movie
  
 then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

The Art of the Steal (2013)
Henry's Crime (2010)
My Mom's New Boyfriend (2008)
Organize Isler / Magic Carpet Ride (2005)
  

***  

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Auto Theft

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 1/5

Actors' Performances: 2/5

Excitement Level: 1/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 2/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 2/5

The Art of the Steal (2013)

Directed by Jonathan Sobol

Starred Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, Jary Baruchel, Kenneth Welsh, Chris Diamantopoulos, Katheryn Winnick, Jason Jones, Terence Stamp, Devon Bostick, Dax Ravina, ...

2013, Canada, USA, English

 

Here we have a group of art thieves. Starting point of the movie is very cliche: They want to pull off one last heist. But as Kurt Russell`s character mentions, there is no such thing. Although the movie starts with a cliche promise, it evolves something really fun to watch. 

Seen it three times, I enjoyed each. I feel that the movie is heavily influenced by an Argentine heist movie, Nueve Reinas / Nine Queens (also available in the blog), it follows kind of same formula, but it somehow still succeeds remain original.

The movie makes reference an Italian classic caper movie, I soliti ignoti (`The Big Deal on Madonna Street`, which is also available in the blog), which what a chance I laid my hands on at the same time with this one. When Matt Dillon`s character tries to keep busy, distracted and entertained his business so-called partners, while Kenneth Welsh and Kurt Russell work on executing their plan, he tells a joke about somebody who looks for a Mario. When they tell him there are a thousand Mario live around there, he says `the thief one`and he gets a response this time `then there are then thousand`. It is almost exact dialogue in I soliti ignoti, except for in this Italian caper, one of the movie`s character looks for a Mario and asks the kids in this neneighborhood. When the kids tell him there are a thousand Mario who live there, he says `but this one is a thief`and the kids respond back `There are still a thousand`. 

But interesting thing, when I watched the special features of `The Art of the Steal`, the filmmakers are interviewed and they mention some American heist movies but never mention neither I soliti ignoti, nor Nueve Reinas. Let`s say Nueve Reinas is just a coincidental reference, but the other one is absolutely not.

This Canada-US co-production was nominated to Directors Guild of Canada and Genie Awards (also a Canadian movie awards) in Production Designing, Editing, Sound Editing, and Original Screenplay. Jay Baruchel, who I also enjoy his acting, also received a nomination in Genie Awards in Supporting Actor category.

A last note on the movie is this little short movie in the movie called `Theft of Mona Lisa`. I really really enjoyed it both in the movie and in special featurettes, where they show how it was actually filmed in blue-screen and then how the computer effects were added. If you see this one on DVD, make sure not to miss it.

If you crave for a heist movie follows its genre patterns strictly and doesn`t take any chance to explore anything new, then this one wouldn`t disappoint you.

 

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

If you look for;

a heist movie follows its genre`s pattern strictly
a little funny, a little serious
a heist movie with good quality heist scenes
a well planned heist
 
 then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Now You See Me (2013)

Nine Queens / Nueve Reinas (2000)

The Sting (1973)

Italian Job (2003) 
Crime Spree (2003)

Ocean`s Eleven (2001)
The Con Artist (2010)

  

***  

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Art Theft, Grifting/Fraud

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 5/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 4/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 4/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Cop Car (2015)

Directed by Jon Watts
Starred Kevin Bacon, James Freedson-Jackson, Hays Wellford, Shea Whigham, Camryn Manheim, ...

2015, United States, English, 86 minutes.

I saw this one in Montreal Fantasia Film Festival with the presence of great actor Kevin Bacon, and director-writer Jon Watts before and after the movie. The movie is about a joy ride of two boys, but to me the whole experience was a real joy ride. Not only I really enjoyed this small and entertaining movie, but also savored the personal participation of Bacon and Watts in the movie theater where it made its North American premiere.
The story of the movie is built on the idea of having and realizing a boyhood fantasy; stealing (or borrowing) a cop car, playing with cop guns, handcuffs, and other things you would find in a cop car; cop toys :)  and having a joy ride with it. Many of us would have enjoyed it a lot when were teenagers, right? The movie takes it as a starting point, and shows what might have happened, if two boys realized this sympathetic fantasy. Especially when borrowing a corrupted cop`s car, who has so many to hide and lose.
The story is simple but very enjoyable, the movie is with full of little moments make you laugh out hard and make you sit on the edge of your seat, and fits both the concept of the Festival (fantasy) and this blog.
Kevin Bacon once again plays a villain impressively. He looks totally opposite, a very kind gentleman in person. :) He is also executive producer of Cop Car.
Same goes with Watts. And he wrote, produced and directed Cop Car.
I also find the performances of young actors impressive, especially Freedson-Jackson, and actor Shea Whigham who I know mainly from Martin Scorsese TV Show `Boardwalk Empire`. Well, this was almost the entire cast of the movie :)
The movie is very recent, but already received a nomination for Audience Award Category in Edinburgh International Film Festival. And probably one of the biggest highlights of Montreal Fantasia Film Festival, if not the biggest.
Don`t have high expectations, but I believe it would be a nice and original addition in your `theft movies`repertoire.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a small and warm movie on a childhood fantasy
an innocent addition to your `theft movies`repertoire
a theft movie with lots of laughs and tensed moments

then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Armored (2009)
Flypaper (2011)
Maverick (1994)
Tower Heist (2011)
  

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Auto Theft
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 4/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 2/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Cop Car - Official Trailer
He's here to serve and protect. Watch the trailer for Cop Car starring Kevin Bacon now!In Theaters August 7. On Demand August 14.
Posted by Cop Car on Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Now You See Me (2013)

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Directed by Louis Leterrier
Starred Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, ...

2013, France & United States, English with some French dialogues, 115 minute.

What happens when a group of magicians decide to pull a heist? This is the starting point of the movie. The magicians, illusionists, mentalists, Las Vegas, heist. Sounds very promising for entertainment cinema. Letterier secures the promising plot with a very intriguing cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Melanie Laurent,  Morgan Freeman and Michael Cane. A mixture of young talents and golden experiences. Just like team of protagonists. Now You See Me might disappoint some audiences, but delivers what it promises for many. In general, the movie deserves 'very entertaining' tag 100% especially for heist movie fans. I highly recommend it!

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a heist movie where magic, illusion and heist meet

a heist movie with a great cast

a team work heist

a very entertaining heist movie

then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Inception (2010)
Maverick (1994)
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Ocean's Twelve (2004)
The Art of the Steal (2013) 
Now You See Me 2 (2016)

If you liked this movie, imdb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Man on a Ledge (2012)

***

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Armored Car Robbery, Vault Robbery, Bank Robbery, Grifting/Fraud
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 5/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 5/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 4/5

Surprise Level: 4/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 4/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Man on a Ledge (2012)

Directed by Asger Leth

Starred Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, William Sadler, Anthony Mackie, Genesis Rodriguez, Edward Burns, Ed Harris ...

2012, United States, English.

'We have a man on a ledge'. He is about to throw himself from a Manhattan hotel rooftop. How can this story be linked to one of the biggest diamond heist is about to be pulled in the same hours somewhere else? Well, watch and discover for yourself.

A very new heist movie, pure adrenaline, with a modest but good cast. Yes, maybe it doesn't offer something new. At least not much. But it will capture your attention from start to the end. It won't disappoint you.

Although the movie is brand new, it has already won a nomination: Genesis Rodriguez, breathtakingly beautiful Latina, was nominated for Favorite Movie Actress in a Supporting Role in ALMA Awards.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a heist packed with adrenaline
a nice team work heist
a modern and up to date heist

then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Inside Man (2006)
The Score (2001)
 
If you liked this movie, imdb believes you might like also:
(available in the blog)

 Now You See Me (2013)

***
 

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Diamond Theft
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.