"The Art of the Steal" with Kurt Russell and Matt Dillon (2013)

Crunch Calhoun, a semi-reformed art thief, agrees to get his old gang back together to pull off one last heist. The film is loosely based upon the documentary “The Art of the Steal” from 2009. That film follows the struggle for control of Dr. Albert C. Barnes' $25 billion dollar collection of modern and post-impressionist art. This film deals with a rare and legendary manuscript, the Lost Gospel of James; who was Jesus’ brother.

The plot centers around a group of misfits who plan to heist a rare book known as the “Gospel According to James”; who was Jesus’ half-brother. In reality the book is considered to have been written sometime in the 2nd century A.D. The earliest reference I could find to it; I actually look these things up;  is by Origen of Alexandria in the early 3rd century A.D.  Well, so much for the history lesson.

In a film reminiscent of “Boondock Saints”; “Snatch”, and a bit of “The Usual Suspects”, the cast of characters is varied and they are all flawed in one way or another. The cast is headed by Kurt Russell, who plays a semi-retired art thief named Crunch Calhoun. He is now self-employed as a stunt motorcycle rider. He excels at crashing his bike in spectacular ways; and is often referred to as “Aren’t you the guy who tried to jump those 6 minivans in Vegas?” His estranged brother; and all of their friends; are of this same mold.

When Calhoun’s brother Nicky, played by Matt Dillon begins to plot the theft of the James Gospel he includes Crunch in the plan without telling him. This sets off a chain of events that involves a crew of thieves who are as clueless as the ones in “Snatch”, and as inept as the killers in “Pulp Fiction”.

Along the way you will meet them all, Jay Baruchel as Francie and Tobin Kenneth Welsh as "Uncle" Paddy MacCarthy; his role may be one of the best in the film. Chris Diamantopoulos gives his all as Guy de Cornet, while Katheryn Winnick is absolutely charming in her own way as Lola.  Jason Jones is notable as the uproariously inept Interpol Agent Bick who is stymied at every turn by criminals who are even more inept than he is. There are Border Guards, Priests,  a stoned ice cream truck driver; played by Jon Steinberg; a belly dancer and a whole slew of other wild and zany characters, too numerous to mention.

With an ending that even surprises this group of misfits, this is a movie which will have you scratching your head from time to time as you try and figure out all the twists in this unusual plot. And, when you finally figure it out you’ll go, “Wait a minute…” and want to watch it again just to be sure you got that right. It’s kind of like “The Usual Suspects”, only funny. This is one of Kurt Russell’s best movies in years. 

"Atlantic City" with Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon

This is the 1981 masterpiece from Director Louis Malle. The flavor of the opening scenes, in which the old hotels are being demolished to make way for the new corporate ones, can be found in "Casino", the blockbuster hit film by Martin Scorsese which was made over a decade later.

This film is largely about people and their dreams. Burt Lancaster plays Lou, an aging man who has been a low level numbers runner in Atlantic City for decades. He has been everyone's errand boy, but never made that one big score for himself. He wants to be like his old boss, the man on top. That's his dream.

Then there is the dream of Grace, the long suffering ex gun moll, and widow of Lou's old boss. She still pays Lou to "protect" her. She first came to Atlantic City in the 1940's for a Betty Grable look-a-like contest and never went home. She dreams of a man like the one she had, one she does not have to pay to protect her, someone she can be proud to walk down the board walk with again, a Princess in her own mind.

Susan Sarandon is Sally, a divorced young woman who waits on patrons at an oyster bar in the casino, but is also going to school to learn how to be a dealer. Her dream is to go to France and work in the casinos of Monte Carlo. She just doesn't have the money.

When Sally's ex shows up with his pregnant girlfriend and a stash that doesn't belong to him, things change. And that's all I will tell you about this remarkable film, which was about 15 years ahead of it's time, both in it's direction by Mr. Malle and the subject matter itself. Set against the backdrop of Atlantic City during the late 1970's, when the town was turning from a family resort to a mob run gambling town, lends tension and a seedy quality to the film, which was largely shot on location.

As for the acting, all I can say is that Burt Lancaster and Susan Sarandon are both outstanding as people who get caught on the edge of life. Mr. Lancaster is especially great in this breakout role as a sensitive man with the desire to rise up and be more, both for himself, and those around him. This is a sharp, well made film.