Criminal Review
by David N. Butterworth (dnb AT dca DOT net)September 20th, 2004
CRIMINAL
A film review by David N. Butterworth
Copyright 2004 David N. Butterworth
*** (out of ****)
Everybody loves a good con movie--I know I do--and "Criminal" delivers, a decently crafted, finely acted tale about a professional con man who takes a fledgling grifter under his tutelage, showing him (and we the palpitating audience) the tricks of his trade. It’s reminiscent of P.T. Anderson’s sterling
debut "Hard Eight" (retitled as "Sydney") with crooks doubling for croupiers and loan sharks for card sharks, with Anderson regular John C. Reilly ("Boogie Nights," "Magnolia") having nicely matured into the role of knowledgeable teacher
from novice student.
Reilly's Richard Gaddis first observes Rodrigo (Diego Luna) pulling a change-for-a-coke
scam in a downtown casino, stepping in and flashing a fake badge when the cocktail
waitress suspects foul play. Richard is a polished and professional thief but can only do so much alone; he's currently looking for a new partner to replace his previous one (whom he unceremoniously refers to as "The Jew"). The innocent-looking
Rodrigo, whom Richard quickly Anglicizes as "Brian," appears to have the necessary
bravado but not the technique. Not yet anyway.
Since Rodrigo needs "seventy" to keep the Russian heavies off his diabetic
father's case, he semi-reluctantly signs on, watching with a combination of awe and glee as the master, for his first trick, talks an elderly woman out of $200 over her apartment's security intercom. Proving he’s the right stuff, Rodrigo bets Richard he can talk a random woman on the street into handing over
her pocketbook for 20% of Richard’s next big score. And he does!
"Criminal" starts out as a minor con, fun to watch as pro and trainee go about their nefarious business (it’s an Americanization of the Argentinian film
"Nine Queens"). It's a little "written" and doesn't quite have that David Mamet-esque
bite to it, but it's a pleasant diversion and Reilly is really good as usual--Richard
is a confident, smooth operator with some exceedingly creative angles on crime.
Luna, too, brings credibility to his role as the wet-behind-the-ears swindler.
Things take a turn for the better, movie-wise, when Richard gets a call from his sister Valerie ("Secretary"'s Maggie Gyllenhaal, slinky and seductive in a sexy satin suit), the concierge at the swank Biltmore hotel, and we learn of the bitter feud between the siblings involving lawsuits, a younger brother, and a family estate.
It's at this point in the film that the stakes get higher, with director Gregory Jacobs upping the ante, introducing a sweaty Treasury note forger and a crooked wealthy industrialist into the mix.
At one point Richard tells his protégé that you're only truly screwed in this business when you're face down on the sidewalk with your hands 'cuffed behind your back and when that finally happens you should exit the theater, because if you stay for the final scene, you'll witness a denouement that stretches
the limits of credibility. Sure, if you think about the associations long and hard enough it might all fit together but I didn't want to. I was happy with the way it *should* have ended. As presented the ending just seemed a little too pat to me.
It's contrived and unnecessary finale aside, the enjoyable "Criminal" is nevertheless a rock solid entrant into the con game with John C. Reilly seemingly
enjoying his switch from the back burner to the fore.
--
David N. Butterworth
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Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
