Crime Spree (2003)

Directed by Brad Mirman
Starred Gérard Depardieu, Harvey Keitel, Johnny Hallyday, Renaud, Said Taghmaoui, Stéphane Freiss, Albert Dray, Shawn Lawrence, Joanne Kelly, Richard Bohringer, Abe Vigoda, ...
2003, United Kingdom, Canada, English, French, 105 minutes.

A comedy heist with French sauce. This caper movie brings big names together like Gérard Depardieu and Harvey Keitel as well as big musical names like Johnny Hallyday and Renaud. It is about a group of dumb thieves trying to pull some robberies on the order of their employer, but the things get increasingly complicated and funny once they are given a new job at overseas, in America.

I can't give more information than this to avoid spoilers, but especially if you like comedies, you might really enjoy it. You can take it as a satire to heist movies genre, as well. As a person who is more distant to comedies than other genres, I enjoyed it while it lasted.

The movie won Audience Award in Commonwealth Film Festival.

To see the whole blog, click here. 

If you look for;

A comedy heist movie with French sauce
A heist movie with big names



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)
The Ladykillers (1955)

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Flypaper (2011)
The Ladykillers (2004)


* * *

Degree: Caper Movie

Sub-Category: Burglary, Safe Robbery, Art Theft

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 2/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 4/5

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 important spoilers.

Le Dernier Tunnel (2004)

Directed by Erik Canuel

Starred Michel Côté, Jean Lapointe, Christopher Heyerdahl, Nicolas Canuel, Marie-France Marcotte, Céline Bonnier...

2004, Canada, French, 109 minutes.

 

Based on a true story, 'Le Dernier Tunnel', also known as 'The Last Tunnel', is a good quality heist movie from Canada, more precisely from Quebec. An old convict, Marcel Talon plans to rob Bank of Montreal after his release from jail by digging up this tunnel which give the movie its name. 

Although the movie uses general pattern of heist movies, since it is based on a true story, it is still somehow little different maybe due to the French touch. 

Michel Côté is one of Quebec's most popular movie actor  with several wins and nominations in his career, including winning a Genie - known as Canadian Oscars - and a Jutra - known as Quebecois Oscars - and Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for his acting in famous C.R.A.Z.Y, and a Lifetime Achievement Jutra 2 years later 'Le dernier tunnel' was released. He does a great job as well as his partner, Christopher Heyerdahl.

This Quebecois heist won a Genie in Best Supporting Actor (Jean Lapointe) and Best Achievement in Overall Sound categories, while received 6 other nominations including Best Actor (Michel Côté) in the same awards. 

Jean Lapointe won the same award in Jutra, as well, where the movie was nominated in 6 more categories.


 

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a heist based on a true story

a heist movie from World Cinema

a heist with good quality heist scenes    
 then this is your movie.

***

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

The Score (2011)

Henry's Crime (2010)

  

***  

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 2/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Bande à part / Band of Outsiders (1964)

Directed by Jean-Luc Godard

Starred Anna Karina, Sami Frey, Claude Brasseur ...

1964, France, French with some English dialogues

 

A different approach to heist movies from legendary French film director, Jean-Luc Godard. Godard is considered as one of the most influential and greatest director alive according to many sources, often the greatest. French New Wave`s most celebrated director offers a much deeper social look on the topic. Slow in the pace, sophisticated in the character study, it isn`t for everybody although it is considered one of the most notable movies of Godard. To be honest, it wasn`t for me, although I am very into World Cinema and sophisticated movies, more than pop-culture movies actually.

'Bande à part' was rated No 79 in Empire magazine's "The 100 Best Films of World Cinema".

As a Tarantino fan, I found it very interesting that Tarantino named his production company (A Band Apart) after this move.

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a World Cinema classic

a sophisticated look on heist genre

a heist from a legendary filmmaker

a slow pace, character study on small time crooks

 then this is your movie.

***

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

Bob le Flambeur (1956)

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Le Premiere Cercle (2009)

Small Time Crooks (2000)

Stander (2003)

***  

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Burglary

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 2/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 1/5

Surprise Level: 1/5

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 important spoilers.

To Catch A Thief (1955)

Directed by Alfred Hitchcock

Starred Cary Grant, Grace Kelly, Jessie Royce Landis, John Williams, Charles Vanel, Brigitte Auber, Jean Martinelli, Georgette Anys ...

1955, United States, English with some French dialogues

 

A cat burglar is being framed by another cat burglar. The police is after wrong guy, thus the cat burglar chases after the other cat burglar to catch before the cops catches him. This is the main plot of Hitchcock movie `To Catch A Thief`.

Although I like Hitchcock cinema very much, and despite the big names in the cast like Cary Grant and Grace Kelly, I never enjoyed this movie much. I guess, I have seen it 2 or 3 times, and the movie had a hard time to keep my attention awake every time I have seen it.

This is the very last movie of Hitchcock - Grace Kelly collaboration. Cary Grant had been convinced that nobody wanted to see him in the movies any longer, but this movie had been kind of a turning point for him to continue his long career. A tragic note from the movie is Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly died in a car accident 27 years later from the movie supposedly on the very same road where her famous chase scene in this film takes place.

The movie won Best Cinematography in Oscars and was nominated for Best Art Direction & Set Decoration and Best Costume in color movies categories.

Alfred Hitchcock was nominated for Golden Lion in Venice Film Festival, while John Michael Hayes received a nomination for Best Written American Comedy in Writers Guild of America awards with this movie.

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

If you look for;

a heist movie considered as classic
an award winner heist movie
a nostalgic robbery movie
a heist movie with a great cast

then this is your movie.

***

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

Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
Pink Panther (1963)
Rififi / Du Rififi Chez des Hommes (1955)
Seven Thieves (1960)
The Maltese Falcon (1941)

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

Rififi / Du Rififi Chez Des Hommes (1955)

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Jewelry Robbery, Character Study / Thieves

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 2/5

Actors' Performances: 2/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 2/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 2/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Le Cercle Rouge (1970)

Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
Starred Alain Delon, Bourvil, Gian Maria Volonte, Yves Montand, Paul Crauhcet,  ...

1970, France & Italy, French.

A European classic by Melville with great French actor Alain Delon. Another Melville's heist movie, Bob La Flambeur, often is compared with this one and there is a huge debate over which one is better.

Le Cercle Rouge  means 'The Red Circle', however the movie has been always released with its original French title in US and many other countries.

The movie is often listed as one of the best heist from World Cinema. According to the director, the movie was already written but had to wait to be shot because of then's big heist hit movie, Asphalt Jungle, and then had to wait again because of Rififi this time. If all of these movies are in your favorites list, then don't wait any longer to see Le Cercle Rouge.

The famous heist scene lasts full 25 minutes without a single word being spoken. Enjoy!

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a slow pace heist
nostalgia
a European classic
a famous heist movie

then this is your movie.

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

Rififi (1955)
The Score (2001)
Bob Le Flambeur (1956)
To Catch A Thief (1955)

***

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

Rififi (1955)
Bob Le Flambeur (1956)
  
***
 

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Jewelry Robbery
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 0/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Rififi / Du Rififi Chez Des Hommes (1955)

Directed by Jules Dassin

Starred Jean Servais, Carl Mochner, Robert Manuel, Janine Darcey, Pierre Grasset, Magali Noel, Marie Sabouret, Claude Sylvain, Jules Dassin ...

1955, France, French with some Italian and English dialogues.

Here is a movie accepted one of the heist classics. You can see Rififi as the best robbery movie ever made in many listings.

Du Rififi Chez Des Hommes, also known as Rififi is a French production by black listed director Jules Dassin. It is a heist movie with flavor of film-noire for many critics. Although I like the movie, it didn't really hit me. My most favorite character was Italian safe specialist without knowing he is nobody else than director himself, Jules Dassin.

The heist sequence lasts 32 minutes and although the scene contains not even a single dialogue or music, it is memorable.

It is a simple heist movie with a quality for sure. The movie fans who like old movies wouldn't be disappointed at all, but can't guarantee for the ones mainly interested in new movies.

Jules Dassin won the Best Director Award in Cannes Film Festival with Rififi, also nominated for Palme D'Or.

As an interesting note, it is said that Mexican authorities pulled Rififi from theaters, since several burglaries were committed by applying similar methods shown in the movie.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a heist movie with flavor of film-noire
a heist movie from world cinema
a heist movie with cinematically challenging heist sequence
an organized heist
a heist movie accepted as classic

then this is your movie.

***

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

Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
Seven Thieves (1960) 
I soliti ignori / Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)
The Asphalt Jungle (1950) 
The First Great Train Robbery (1978) 

***


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

Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
Bob le flambeur (1956)
To Catch A Thief (1955)

***

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Jewelry Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 1/5

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.

 

Le Premier Cercle/Inside Ring/Ultimate Heist (2009)

Directed by Lauren Tuel

Starred Jean Reno, Gaspard Ulliel, Vahina Giocante, Sami Bouajila, Isaac Sharry...

2009, France & Italy, French with some Armenian dialogues

Another French heist movie. Again uncommon. In Hollywood heist movies, while the robbers generally are glorified, in this European one, they are shown as ruthless, bad, virtueless, cruel types. While we sympathize with the thieves in Hollywood movies because they steal from more corrupted, meaner people, we feel no sympathy for the thieves in that European heist movie, because they steal from normal people. A general approach difference between World Cinema and Hollywood Cinema.  

A simple, low tempo heist movie, which generally focuses on characters while not ignoring heist action. If you dislike the movies whose pace and action dose different than mainstream Hollywood heist, you may probably get bored while watching this one until you see the action. I would recommend it for a little more patient cinema fans.

To see the whole blog, please click here.

If you look for;

a heist movie from World Cinema

a heist movie focuses on characters as well as heist

a low tempo heist movie

 

then this is your movie.

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

Inside Man (2006)

Italian Job (2003)
Point Break (1991)
Ronin (1998)
The Town (2010)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
The Lookout (2007) 
Bob Le Flambeur (1956)
Armored (2009) 
Bande à part / Band of Outsiders (1964)

If you liked this movie, IMDb believes you might like also:

(available in the blog)

The Town (2010)
Inside Man (2006)

Trespass (2011)

Armored (2009)

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Auto Theft, Burglary, Cash Theft
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 0/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

 

Bob Le Flambeur (1956)

Directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
Starred Roger Duchesne, Isabelle Corey, Daniel Cauchy ...
1956, France, French

A French heist from an infamous heist movie director, Jean-Pierre Melville. You can see this movie listed in some of Top Robbery Movies lists. The movie focuses on its protagonists more than the heist itself, and we sail for a very different heist movie experience. This time, the mastermind of the robbery is a gambler.  I, of course, can`t say if you will like it very much or not, but I guarantee that the movie will gain a unique place in your robbery / heist movie experience. Especially, if you are a heist movies amateur, you cannot pass Melville.

To see the whole blog, please click here.

 

If you look for;

a serious robbery movie

surprises

a movie mainly focuses on the characters

a different approach on the genre

then this is your movie.

***

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

(available in the blog)

Henry`s Crime (2010)

The Italian Job (2013)

Le Premier Cercle (2009)

The Maltese Falcon (1941)
Le Cercle Rouge (1970)
Bande à part / Band of Outsiders (1964) 
I soliti ignori / Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)
The Asphalt Jungle (1950)  

***

If you liked this move, IMDb believes you might also like;

(available in the blog)

Rififi (1955)
Le Cercle Rouge (1970) 

***

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Casino Robbery
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 5/5

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: 4/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.