Country Bumpkins..."Logan Lucky"

Logan Lucky (2017)

Rated PG-13

Starring Channing Tatum, Adam Driver, Daniel Craig,

Directed by Steven Soderbergh

The Story:

Jimmy and Clyde Logan (Tatum & Driver) have decided that if they want to succeed in life, they have to stop getting walked on. So they set out to rob Charlotte Motor Speedway, but they need the help of safecracker Joe Bang (Craig). The only catch? He's currently behind bards...

And there you have the setup for an elaborate heist film that is filled with ups and downs, which actually seems to be the curse of the Logan family.

The heist itself is improbable and yet elaborately simple and complex, both at the same time.

The movie ends on a puzzling note, but for this film, that seems spot on.

Daniel Craig seems to be having the most fun of the cast, playing completely against type in this one. Of course when your type seems to be James Bond, it's fairly easy to play anything other than that.

But the role is very comedic in nature, and he seems to be relishing the whole non-leading man part and having a lot of fun while doing it.

If you've got Amazon Prime, this movie is currently available to stream.

Final Grade: C+/B- range

It Takes A Thief..."Precious Cargo"

Precious Cargo (2016)

Rated R

Starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Bruce Willis, Claire Forlani,

Directed by Max Adams

The Story:

Karen (Forlani) has swiped some important information from Eddie Pilosa (Willis) and he wants to make sure she can't use it. As his boys try and track her down, she goes to meet her former lover, Jack (Gosselaar) an exceptional thief in his own right to enlist his assistance in the prize that Eddie is trying to get: millions of dollars worth of gems. But in a world of thieves, who can you trust?

As with all heist movies of any sort, the amount of twists, turns, and betrayals are part of the fun of the movie, so I won't elaborate on anything of the sort here.

For a budget B movie though, they do a very good job of keeping us as entertained as possible. I'm reminded of last year's Heist, both are films that delivered far more interest than other would-be blockbuster films with three times the budget.

The cast does a fine job, and Gosselaar acquits himself nicely in this film as the hero with a heart of gold, but also at least half a brain on knowing who he can and cannot trust.

Bruce Willis delivers a little more than a glorified cameo in this one, and he seems to at least be interested in what's happening in this one compared to some of his other straight to DVD fare.

Not the greatest heist / action caper I've ever seen, but the best one of the year so far.

:)

Final Grade: C+

Can "Point Break" Live Up To Its Name ?

Point Break (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Edgar Ramirez, Luke Bracey, Ray Winstone, Delroy Lindo

Directed by Ericson Core

The Story:

"Utah" (Bracey) is an ex-X-treme athlete who joins the FBI after a horrible accident. When he sees that there have been a series of "robberies" by other extreme sport junkies, he wants to go undercover and become one of them. He meets Bodhi (Ramirez) and quickly ingratiates himself into their midst. But when these eco-terrorists go too far, will Utah stop them, or help them?

"I'll take 'Pointless Remakes for $500, Alex"

This unnecessary update of the Keanu / Swayze masterpiece.

"What is 'Point Break' ?

I mean, wow.

Really?

I suppose if you're going to steal the main idea from a movie, you might as well give them the credit in the title.

But really, there were enough differences between this movie and the original, slap some different names and you could've gotten away with it...

But no.

You had to go Utah and Bodhi.

Even so far as Utah being just a nickname! It could have been ditched at any time.

We have eco-terrorists instead of bank robbers.

Multiple extreme sports, not just surfing (and sky-diving).

This owes as much to xXx as Point Break, so they could have called it X-Treme Green and received the same (or maybe more?) box office returns.

But when you call yourself a movie that in some corners is considered a great movie or cult classic, well, you're the one that invited the comparisons.

To start with:

Luke Bracey is no Keanu Reeves. You can dog Reeves all you want, but Bracey is a cardboard cutout compared to Keanu.

Edgar Ramirez is no Patrick Swayze. However, he's just about the most energetic and charismatic thing in the movie, so he's got potential.

Ray Winstone is no Gary Busey. That's a good thing, as the world can only handle so much Busey. That said, I did like the role of Pappas in this film, and it was again, such a departure from the original that this movie could have survived without the familiar title.

Delroy Lindo is no John McGinley. That's also a good thing, because Lindo brings class and dignity to his role, small as it may be.

But again, there were so many changes, many of them for the better, in this film that it didn't need the familiar title card.

The special effects and stuntwork were phenomenal. The scenery and locations were beautiful, and if it was green screen/CGI, it was very good and not obviously fake.

But then you have shot for shot homages to the original, the most glaringly awful example is Utah chasing Bodhi, he falls, hurts his leg, and fires the gun in anger...

Why?

In this universe, Utah never hurts his knee, so there is no reason for that bit of a leap to hurt him.

Booooo.........

So yes, perhaps I've been overly critical.

After all, I don't even have 25 years of love for Point Break, I literally saw it a few days before the remake.

But come on.

Use better judgment when you remake these films.

Or just write something original, and avoid the comparisons.

Final Grade: C  

The Twists And Turns Of "Criminal Activities"

Criminal Activities (2015)

Unrated

Starring Michael Pitt, Dan Stevens, Christopher Abbott, Rob Brown, Jackie Earle Haley, John Travolta

Directed by Jackie Earle Haley

The Story:

Four men come together to remember one of their classmates who passed away recently. As they talk, a sure-fire get rich quick scheme is uncovered. However, when it falls through, it turns out that a chunk of that money is owed to the mob, and now Eddie (Travolta) is coming to collect. Unless they are willing to do a job for him, in which case he will completely forgive their debt.

Let the games begin.

This is a bit of a roller-coaster movie.

To explain the plot much further than what I did would spoil much of the film as it falls within the heist or mob family of films.

It's got its ups and downs, but overall, when it's all said and done, you're glad you went on the ride.

Just know that when Travolta and Jackie Earle Haley are on the screen, things usually pick up tremendously.

Which gives you the ups, and the downs happen when the rest of the cast takes center stage, because they just don't quite have the presence or sense of character that the other two veteran actors bring to the screen.

But for a B-movie with a lot of young, relatively unknown talent, it's not too bad at all.

So, no rush to move this to the top of your queue, but one that if you get around to seeing it, you'll probably be glad you did.

Final Grade:  C+

I'm Always Up For A "Heist" Film

Heist (2015)

Rated R

Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Gina Carano, Dave Bautista, Robert DeNiro, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, Morris Chestnut, Kate Bosworth, D.B. Sweeney, Stephen Sepher

Directed by Scott Mann

The Story:

Vaughn (Morgan) needs a ton of money to save his little girl. So he goes to see his old boss, The Pope (DeNiro) who feels bad, but not bad enough to compromise on his principles to never give money to charity. Vaughn then turns to Cox (Bautista) who works at the casino and they hatch a plan to rob the casino. When the driver bails on them, the criminals end up hijacking a bus and taking the passengers hostage. Now it's a high stakes game of cat and mouse as they must elude the authorities and The Pope's men for a clean getaway.

Okay, so if you're going to make a heist film and call it Heist, it better be good.

From my point of view, it was.

: )

Your mileage may vary of course, but I quite liked this one from start to finish.

It starts with a strong cast, and there isn't much of a problem with that in this film. DeNiro can do the tough mob boss in his sleep, but he puts just enough heart and remorse to his character that you can understand why he makes the decisions that he does as the film moves forward.

Morgan is the emotional anchor and focal point of the film. Faced with the prospect of losing his daughter, he is determined to do whatever it takes, by any means necessary. Bautista doesn't get to do much acting like he did in Guardians of the Galaxy, here he mostly yells and spits a lot.

While this would be typecasting or typical of most WWE wrestlers turned actors, Dave has already shown much potential and heart as an actor and it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.

That said, he will grate on your nerves in this film, and that is both intentional, and necessary, to the overall narrative.

As you'll notice by the cast listed above, they all have numerous parts which all play pivotal roles in the film.

But remember, this is a heist film, so any plot twists and turns that you're expecting, or not expecting, are best enjoyed as spoiler-free as possible.

A few tweaks here and there, this movie could have been in contention for best of the year honors.

That said, it's a solid movie and I'd be willing to own it or watch it again in the future.

Final Grade: B

If They Would Have Just Used A Bit More "Focus" On The Script

Focus (2015)

Rated R

Starring Will Smith, Margot Robbie, Adrian Martinez, Gerald McRaney, Rodrigo Santoro,

Written and Directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa

The Story:

Nicky (Smith) is a really smooth con man with a great network of hustlers that help him work really big jobs. He takes a green rookie named Jess (Robbie) under his wing because she's a natural talent that just needs some...

focus.

Ooo.

See what I did there?

: )

Anyway, they work on the gig, and then go their separate ways.

They run into each other a few years later, each working on different cons that are both targeting the same guy.

Will their feelings for each other ruin an otherwise extremely elaborate ruse and wind up getting someone killed?

I try and avoid talking too much about the plots of heist/con man movies because that often takes out any or all the fun of watching them.

Ficarra and Requa have teamed again to bring another dramatic comedy to the screen.

My problem, here comes the soapbox, is this film would have played perfectly, and perhaps better, with a PG-13 tag. I don't think there's a line of dialogue that a writer has to write using Carlin's list of words you can't say on television, and not still convey the message you're trying to get across.

Take out the language, the film softens to a PG-13, more people go, even families, and more people turns this into a box office hit instead of a financial flop.

The heists and scams are always enjoyable to see orchestrated on the big screen, and this film tries to up the ante on what Nicky can, and will, be able to pull off.

Could've been better, still wasn't that bad.

Final Grade: B-

Little Hero. Big Heart. "Ant-Man"

Ant-Man (2015)

Rated PG-13

Starring Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Corey Stoll, Bobby Cannavale, Michael Pena, Judy Greer

Directed by Peyton Reed

The Story:

Scott Lang (Rudd) is an extraordinary burglar who gets out of prison and needs to go straight so that he can be the hero that his daughter believes him to be.  However, going straight is tough when your best friend (Pena) knows people that know things and offers Scott a chance to make a huge score so that he can provide for his daughter. The job is quite simple: rob an old man's safe while he's away from home. What Scott finds inside that safe changes his life, forever!

I don't know what the beef between Edgar Wright and and Marvel Studios was, but I am quite content with the latest installment of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

It's a heist film... with superheroes!

It's also a film about love and what a father would do for their family...their daughters...

It's good stuff!

Rudd is his usual everyman charmer, and that pays off in the likeability of the character.

Surrounded with Luis and his friends, this is the most fun you've had at a Marvel film since Guardians of the Galaxy.

This time though, all the action takes place right here on Earth.

It was a perfect way to incorporate Hank Pym (Douglas) into the Marvel Universe and truly know that the film universe can, and will, exist on its own merits and upend everything you think you know with new versions of familiar characters, and you won't really mind any of the changes.

Do you miss seeing the winsome Wasp?

Maybe, but the promise of things to come looms large, and it's an exciting future not knowing what is in store for these characters.

Great storyline, and a thrilling, funny final act confrontation.

The biggest fear with this, and all Marvel movies, they're really using up their supervillains quickly!

Hopefully they don't hold the box office results against this film, I'd happily pony up to watch Ant-Man 2!

Final Grade: A

More Like A Sucker Punch... "The Love Punch"

The Love Punch (2013)

Rated PG-13

Starring Pierce Brosnan, Emma Thompson

Directed by Joel Hopkins

The Story:

Richard (Brosnan) and Kate (Thompson) are divorced, but still get along.  When Richard is set to retire from his company, he discovers that the company is under investigation and all assets are frozen.  Looks like the boss put all of that money into a priceless diamond. So Richard and Kate decide to get the money back to the company by stealing the diamond.

It's a romantic comedy heist film.

The problem, the heist is too easy, the romance is barely there, and it simply isn't that funny.

Both Brosnan and Thompson get to flex their comic muscles in roles that are departures from their typical roles.

That would work if the situations weren't overly cliche or just poorly conceived.  Plus, the film is sorely lacking a straight man in much of the film.

You can't have both Brosnan and Thompson being the comic alone and then thrusting them together and expecting one to become the straight man role immediately.

It, like most of this movie, just doesn't work.


Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I barely got through it once, I can't do it again.

Misleading Movie Poster In 3...2...1... "Stand Off"

Stand Off (2011)

Rated R for language

Starring Brendan Fraser, Colm Meaney, Martin McCann, David O'Hara

Directed by Terry George

The Story:

Jimbo (McCann) owes a mobster (O'Hara) a large sum of money.  Figuring the best way to repay the debt is to knock over the local fish market, he plans his scheme, never realizing that the same market belongs to the mobster and there is something really, really valuable in the safe there.  On the run from the law (Meaney) and the mob, he holes up in an antiques shop being watched by Joe (Fraser) and realizes he may have also discovered his long-lost father!

To be perfectly fair, this is a heist film that wants to please, but can't quite figure out how to get from Point A to Point B at every turn of the script.

That said, there are some pretty funny bits sprinkled throughout this little caper.

The setup is what drags, the payoff is pretty good.

Brendan Fraser returns to the screen in seemingly the first time in a long time.

Perhaps it was all of his family friendly roles that seemingly ended his leading man career, but he proves that he's still a serviceable actor in any role.

Worth a spin if you're up to the challenge.

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Again, aside from the slow beginning, there's an enjoyable caper flick buried in here.

Bait And Switch... "Gambit"

Gambit (2012)

Rated PG-13 for language and partial nudity

Starring Colin Firth, Cameron Diaz, Tom Courtenay, Alan Rickman

Directed by Michael Hoffman

The Story:

Harry Deane (Firth) is an art curator who is sick of his boss (Rickman).  So he decides to conspire with The Major (Courtenay) to dupe him into buying a fake Monet painting.  Their plan hinges on the cooperation of a Texas rodeo queen (Diaz).  But with all good heists... things never quite go as planned.

This is a fun little heist caper, written by the Coen brothers.

It starts off with a perfect retelling of what is supposed to happen with the heist as imagined by Harry.

Naturally, as soon as the wheels are set in motion...

Everything falls apart!

As with most heist films, I don't want to divulge too much.

The cast did a great job, and there's a couple of inspired scenes in the movie.

I would have liked a little more like those scenes with word-play or character actions/reactions/interactions.

That said, it wasn't too bad, and Firth and Rickman are both great in their roles, as usual.

Final Grade: B-...maybe a B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I don't think I'd buy it, but I wouldn't mind seeing it again in the future.

The Wave Of Underwhelming Animation Continues..."The Nut Job"

The Nut Job (2014)
Rated PG

Starring Will Arnett, Brendan Fraser, Liam Neeson, Katherine Heigl

Directed by Peter Lepeniotis

The Story:

Things are looking bleak in the City Park as the animals were unable to store enough food for winter.  Raccoon (Neeson) the leader, sends Grayson (Fraser) and Andie (Heigl), two of the smartest squirrels out to get the nuts from a local peanut vendor.  However Surly (Arnett) and his mouse pal Remy...no wait...Buddy... are already casing the joint.  Things get complicated when the nut vendors turn out to be bank robbers planning a heist.

Ooo!

An animated heist film.

And you all know what a fan of heist films I am.

I will also give credit, the heist that the humans are planning is pretty ingenious.

It's just a lot of tediousness of getting to the heist that bogs this one down for me.

There's not a whole lot to the main story, so there's a romantic entanglement between Andie and Surly and the treachery of one of their own from the park.

I know... the horror!

The animation is okay.  This is a throwback to the 50s, and that works really well.

The animals themselves though... eh ... I've seen better designs.

Like I said at the beginning, take a look at the mouse best pal.  He's a cross between Pinky and Remy from Ratatouille.

Again, I hate to be overly harsh as I think this is the first feature from this studio.

It's an okay first effort, and hopefully they can build on it.

Final Grade: C-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I would pass on both of these options.

All-Star Heist Action... "The Art Of The Steal"

The Art of the Steal (2013)

Rated R for language

Starring Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel, Kenneth Welsh, Chris Diamantopoulos, Katheryn Winnick, Jason Jones, Terence Stamp

Directed by Johnathan Sobol

The Story:

Crunch Calhoun (Russell) has finally gotten out of jail after his last art theft scam got him caught.  His half-brother Nicky (Dillon) comes to Crunch to try and pull off another heist, and hopes that the whole doing time in jail thing is water under the bridge.  They bring in Crunch's old crew and begin scheming to pull of their next heist.  However, hot on their trail is Interpol Agent Bick (Jones) and with him is convicted art thief Samuel Winter (Stamp) who can vouch for art being real or fake just by looking at it.  Is Crunch going back to prison, or is he going to get away with the biggest score of his life.

Yes indeed, a heist movie!  One of my favorite genres, and this, a direct to DVD offering with a pretty decent cast to it, so it must really suck, right?

Not so fast...

Indeed, the movie starts a little slow, but it's still interesting and keeps you connected to the characters.

Then it builds, and with the final act, you are treated to a payoff that you may, or may not, have seen coming.

And even if you did, it's quite doubtful that you thought of every plot piece that this movie works out perfectly.

That's what brings a "C" movie into the "B" range right there.

In fact, aside from the slow-ish start, once again I'll give the rant:

This movie is Rated R for language.  Which is overused throughout the film. 

Cut it back, widen your audience.

Then again, with one of the pieces of art in the film, and the joke that accompanies it, well, I can almost forgive the rating.

:)

All of the actors are great, and Kurt Russell plays the aging action hero to perfection.

However, the interplay between Jones and Stamp is downright hilarious every time they are on screen and bickering with each other.

Worth a look if you've never seen or heard of it.

Rumor has it, this film should be streaming on Netflix before the month of June is over.

** Update:  Now Streaming As of June 8th **

Final Grade: Solid B

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Would've gone for a B+ and put it on my Purchase list, but again, the language hampers replayability in a house full of kids.  I need family friendlier heist films like Fast 5 or The Italian Job.  But yes, I could certainly watch it again in the future.

A Fun Little Heist Film... "After The Sunset"

After the Sunset (2004)
Rated PG-13 for language

Starring Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Woody Harrelson, Don Cheadle
Directed by Brett Ratner

The Story:

Max (Brosnan) and Lola (Hayek) are jewel thieves.  Really good ones.  They've been chased by FBI Agent Lloyd (Harrelson) but never caught. He knows they are guilty, but can never prove it.  When they retire to a tropical island paradise to get married, Lloyd shows up on their doorstep to let Max know that he knows the real reason Max is there is to steal the one diamond he never got his hands on.  Then local mobster Henri (Cheadle) tells Max he better steal the diamond for him.  What's poor Max going to do?

Ah yes, the heist film.

I love them.

This one is also a lot of fun.

It plays up the humorous aspect, which is something you should expect from a Brett Ratner film.

As I am an unabashed fan of Ratner's films, I have no problem with that.

The movie barrels along nicely, very little drag at all through the proceedings.

The scenery is stunning, and all of the actors seem to be having a great time with the movie.  Some great chemistry between the three leads makes for a very engaging story.

Like the gem Max is coveting, this film is an overlooked gem that has aged gracefully over the last decade.

Final Grade: B+ maybe even A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I do own it, and sadly it's been out of circulation for far too long.  I forgot how fun it was.

Relive The Heist Heard Round The World..."Empire State"

Empire State (2013)
Rated R for language and violence

Starring: Liam Hemsworth, Michael Angarano, Dwayne Johnson

The Story:

Chris (Hemsworth) starts working as a security guard for the Empire State armored car company.  Shortly after starting, he is involved in a robbery attempt.  At that point, he mentions to his friend Eddie (Angarano) that the security is pretty lax and the millions they store in the vault would be easy pickings.  Well, Eddie talks... wheels get set in motion, and suddenly the company is robbed.  Detective Ransone (Johnson) begins investigating and all signs point to the robbery being an inside job.

Did I mention that this was a real story?

The actual Chris involved wrote the script and produced the film.

Guess where he got the money?

:)

You'll find out at the end that some of the money that went missing was never recovered. 

Things that make you go...hmm...


Overall, not a bad film, though Hemsworth could use a shot of charisma.  He's definitely not his brother, but come on, between this and Paranoia, I'm finding it hard to take him seriously as the star of a film.


Don't let the cover fool you, Emma Roberts is nothing more than a glorified cameo.

Even The Rock...sorry, Dwayne Johnson, only is in the film for less than half the runtime.  His parts are well used to bridge the movie together.

But this is all Hemsworth, all the time.

As Heist Films go, it's okay.  Considering they got away with it, to some extent, way to go guys.


Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.


Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Not a purchase, but I could watch it again if it was on and I couldn't find the remote. ;)

Need For Speed Weekend: "Getaway"

Getaway (2013)
Rated PG-13 - Language

Starring: Ethan Hawke, Selena Gomez, Jon Voight

Directed by: Courtney Solomon

The Story:

Brent Magna (Hawke) is an ex-race car driver.  He lives in Bulgaria now with his wife.  He comes home to find she's been kidnapped and he must steal a car and follow instructions to complete several tasks if he hopes to see her alive again.  When the kid (Gomez) that owns the car tracks him down, she becomes his unwilling accomplice, putting her computer hacker skills to good use to try and save them both from their mysterious captor.  Will they succeed and save the abducted wife, or will they all wind up dead?

I couldn't put my finger on where I've seen this movie before.

Then about halfway through, it hit me: 12 Rounds.  Or 12 Rounds-Reloaded.

It's True...it's True!

:)

When you start remaking WWE Studios projects, you know you're reaching for artistic heights.

;)

However, this movie is purely speaking, a B movie that knows it, and lives it.

Heck, when the movie takes place solely in the car as they race from the cops to try and pull off the next caper, the movie is rather engaging.

Part of that would be due to the fact that they strap mini cameras all over the inside/outside of the car, so you really get some good car chase footage through the streets.

Plus, many of the stunts are very well done and keep you riveted to the screen.

What Are The Odds For An Academy Award?

It's when the dialogue focuses on the two captives that the movie is just silly.

It's a quick 90 minutes of fluff that goes down easy.

Final Grade: C+
Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I could watch it again someday, no time soon, but if I was channel surfing on a slow weekend someday, I could let it ride.

"2 Guns" Are Better Than One.

2 Guns (2013)
Rated R - Violence/Language/Nudity

Starring: Denzel Washington, Mark Wahlberg

Directed by: Baltasar Kormakur

The Story:

A DEA Agent (Washington) and an undercover Naval intelligence officer (Wahlberg) are working together to take down a drug lord (Edward James Olmos).  Neither realizes the other is an undercover agent until after they rob a bank they think contains his money.  It turns out it holds a lot of money from the CIA, and they want it back.  Can the two put their differences aside and work together to save their own lives?

I remember watching the trailer for this movie and thinking, "that looks like it will be a pretty fun movie."

Yay!

I was right.

The chemistry between Washington and Wahlberg makes this film an enjoyable buddy cop/action flick.

Someone Is Going To Be Shot

They play very well off of one another, and I have to admit that I really enjoy seeing Denzel Washington play a little more humor with his character than he normally does.  Wahlberg coasts through his part with a wink and a smile, literally, and both are engaging throughout.

As each of their single stories unfolds, the mystery and intrigue to the plot deepens.  Layers of who do you trust? are revealed as both men find out that they cannot trust the people they work for any longer.  However, it's when they are onscreen together that the movie really shines, and the film wisely keeps them partnered up through most of the screen time.

Plus, with the bank robbery and the shenanigans that ensue with double and triple crosses, it's a heist film.

I think I've been pretty clear on my love for the heist film.

:)

Let's Play A Game...

The layers of bad guys includes the Navy (James Marsden) and the sinister head of the CIA (Bill Paxton) who want the money that has been stolen.

Based on a Boom! Studios graphic novel, it does play very much like a well-made comic book.

I approve!

Final Grade: B+

Would I Watch It Again? Yes, I would happily watch this one again.

Would I Buy This Movie? Yes, I'm adding it to the Christmas List of 2014.

Underrated Gem of the Year? "Now You See Me" Fits The Bill!

Look closer...

The Story:

Four magicians (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco) all receive a mysterious summons.  One year later, the group, now known as the Four Horsemen are about to pull off an amazing trick in Vegas:  They're going to rob a bank.  Naturally, when they succeed, they incur the interest of the FBI (Mark Ruffalo) and Interpol (Melanie Laurent).  If that wasn't enough, a former magician, now magic debunker (Morgan Freeman) is watching to see how they do it, and to prove that it's fake.

Got all that?

Good.

Sorry, this movie is flat out fun and entertaining.

I will not reveal much more than I already have, because what's the point of spoiling a movie about magicians?  Then you would lose all of the magic.  ;)

I was sold when the answer to the first magic trick in the movie was the same answer I said outloud.

I knew it was going to be fun after that.

All of the actors in the film do a great job.  Eisenberg and Harrelson take top honors as two of the Horsemen, but don't overlook the fine performance of Ruffalo as the one step behind FBI guy who is determined to solve the puzzle before the last act.

Also, don't underestimate the joy of having Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman working together in a non-Batman film either.  Both actors are in fine form and have some rather pivotal scenes throughout the movie.

I'll mark this one down as one of the more fun and enjoyable movies I've seen this year.

Let's hope the recently announced sequel is just as good, or better.

Final Grade: A-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  At it's heart, it's a heist film.  I love a good heist film.  I hope to add this one to the collection!