Heist

Broke, betrayed and blackmailed, Joe Moore (Gene Hackman) has to do one last big job. And this is after the one last big job that opens the film, during which he's caught on camera. His fence, Mikey Bergman (Danny DeVito), sends his twitchy, trigger-happy nephew (Sam Rockwell) to keep an eye on things, but he seems more intent on seducing Moore's wife (Rebecca Pigeon) and getting them all thrown in jail.

Heist is a con movie and a caper movie, featuring enough double- and triple-crosses that in the hands of a lesser director would be confusing. David Mamet handles them all with ease, and gives the film a post-Tarantino hipness. Quotable lines abound - "Cute as a bucketful of kittens"; "He's so cool, when he goes to sleep, the sheep count him." Best of all is DeVito's vicious, greedy crook; when particularly irate he yells, "Everybody needs money! That's they call it money!"

DeVito is probably the best reason for seeing this movie. Hackman's grizzled, put-upon veteran is one of his stock roles, and while Delroy Lindo challenges Samuel L. Jackson for coolness, DeVito shines in a rare non-comedy role. The other supporting actors are above-average for Hollywood; Pidgeon always looks untrustworthy, but at the same time we understand why Moore married her, and Rockwell is the kind of character you love to hate. (And before you drive yourself crazy wondering where you've seen him before, I'll tell you - you'll never work it out: Charlie's Angels.)

Far more convincingly real than most crime thrillers, Heist passes nearly two hours in the blink of an eye. Slick, assured and always fun, it'll have you on the edge of your seat more than once.

Augusta Ballinger