Lying and Stealing

I didn't expect anything from this and I found it watchable. The art thieving all came a little too easily. I liked the bad guy character, the tubby old guy. I've always liked him although I can't recall his name. Maybe it's better not knowing, tat way I always see him for the part he's playing--the mark of a truly good actor.

The story just sort of devolves into silliness and really doen't make much sense. His brother's character never really gets off the ground, but not from lack of trying...or screen time.

I like the whole idea of stealing from rich creeps, most of whom wouldn't know a true masterpiece from a child's painting.

This certainly isn't a film that everyone will be raving about, but hey, filmmakers have to start somewhere right? Considering that point, this film was no too bad to say the least.

This is newb filmmaker Matt Aselton's second writing credit, and third directing credit. Yes there were some flaws in the writing - plot issues and pacing, but the directing (camera work) was actually on point - aside from the few slo-mo scenes, and his inexperience in directing his cast was evident. Otherwise, mad respect for Matt Aselton's final result.

Theo James and Emily Ratajkowski worked well together, and their characters where somewhat convincing, but again, that (somewhat ) was from the lack of experience from the director. Fred Melamed was also decent in his slimy/creepy boss-man role as Dimitri.

I also feel the film could've been edited a little better, and perhaps down from the 100 min length, to about 85-90 mins, with faster pacing.

Nevertheless, for a low budget B-grade film from a newbie filmmaker, I still enjoyed it and was quite impressed with Aselton's third ever film.

It certainly is undeserving of the current low rating... people need to learn how to rate a film based on its merits, and not compare it to big budget Hollywood films with A-list cast and filmmakers. So it's a well deserving 7.5 rounded up to an 8/10 from me. Mad props for the producers to not fill IMDb with fake reviews, as most new low budget films have. And if anyone is questioning my review as being fake, click on my username to see my 600+ reviews and 1000+ ratings - and read my profile on how to properly rate a film.

I usually like these kind of movies, the heist/con genre, but to pull it off you need a good script and, more importantly, charismatic leads to make it all seem cool. The Sting, The Thomas Crown Affair, Ocean's Eleven, they all had that intangible that made them really cool and fun movies to watch. This movie lacks that charisma that makes these classics so much fun. It makes it feel boring to be a thief, and it tries hard to be cool, but, as someone wiser once said, you don't try to be cool, you either are or are not, and, unfortunately, Theo James is no Paul Newman. Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on this film as it still has its charm and some good character actors that I really like, such as Fred Melamed that is always wonderful or Isiah Whitlock Jr. It is an enjoyable watch and I wasn't mad at the screen, but the main flaw is that it is ultimately very forgettable.

Ivan Warding (Theo James) is working off his father's debt to the Greek Dimitri (Fred Melamed) by stealing art works from wealthy art patrons. He teams up with Elyse (Emily Ratajkowski) to help him get out from under the Greek, but an FBI Agent (Isiah Whitlock Jr) appears to be locking in on Ivan. Oh, oh.

Most of the movie is watching Ivan steal and get away with it. This is not a comedy but we do hear some good lines all around. We do watch a good conversation/interview between the FBI Agent (character name not given in the credits) and Ivan in a diner. The FBI Agent knows what Ivan is doing and wants Ivan's boss.

We see good chemistry between Theo James and Emily Ratajkowski and she is pretty and can act too.

However, there are 3-scenes that didn't make any sense to me: (1) The FBI Agent urinates in his partner's desk drawer. Why? (2) Dimitri apparently sends someone to Ivan's apartment to find the Hitler painting which he didn't find, and makes off with a safe. Do we see what was in the safe? No. Why? (3) We see Ivan doing something with a glass of water, we think it was water. What was all that about? Never explained.

Apparently many scenes were cut, but the story needed something more than just watching Ivan steal things and hear some good banter.

Notable: Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Ray, Ivan's bipolar brother.

Even with the questions above, this was still entertaining and was okay to say the least. (5/10)

Violence: Yes. Sex: Yes. Nudity; Yes, brief. Humor: Some good lines are heard. Language: No. Rating: C

Despite not being all that memorable, it does have its own firm legs to stand on and is pretty enjoyable. Cast and crew did a pretty decent job and never once did I feel that my time was stolen throughout the film, which is saying something nowadays. As pointed out by others, pacing could use a bit of tightening but more of a nitpicking point on our viewer-behalf. Solid 6 stars from yours truly.