The Con Artist

I was surprised to see only four reviews for this film, as of today, almost three years after the release. I have always loved films by Donald Sutherland. Vince (Rossif Sutherland) is fresh out of the joint, and is told by his parole officer to keep his nose clean. Dad Sutherland plays John Kranski, the local crime boss, and wants Vince back on his team. Meanwhile, a local art critic high-jacks one of his pieces of welded metal, and Vince is accidentally "discovered" as an artist. Along the way, he also has to decide which one of the chicks throwing themselves at him is the one he wants. SO many decisions! Looks like this one made the rounds at some film festivals. The script and the acting are a little uneven, but it's entertaining. Vince's crime-buddies (co-workers ?) are always cracking jokes that usually fall flat. Directed by Risa Garcia.

"How does a guy like me wind up in a place like this?" When Vince is released from prison he thinks he is free. After a run in with crime boss Kranski (Sutherland) he is forced to do one last heist before being allowed to move on with his life. Caught between being an artist and a thief Vince has to decide what life he prefers. This was actually a pretty decent movie, but it did tend to drag in parts and the love story aspect of it seemed unnecessary for the most part. There is not much new in this movie that has not been in hundreds of other movies, the big heist is pretty much a direct rip off of "Gone in 60 seconds". It's not bad but after that movie or "Italian Job" or the Oceans movies this one is a re-hash but not as good. Overall not a bad movie, but nothing you haven't seen before. I give it a B-.

Would I watch again? - I don't think I will

Vince (Rossif Sutherland) is just out of jail and Kranski (Donald Sutherland) forces him back into a life of crime. Working for Kranski as a car thief, Vince finds solace in welding sculptures out of metal and old car parts in Kranski's chop shop. When Vince's sculptures are discovered by the calculating art dealer Belinda (Rebecca Romijn), his chance for a new life as an artist emerges, as well as romantic complications with Belinda's gallery assistant, Kristen (Sarah Roemer).

The movies is really simple and straightforward, that's why I think it's "a mess". The story could have been much more organized. The relations between the characters could have been more explored, but, all in all, it's a really nice movie - it's a really nice "mess".

The casting is nice and so is the direction. Sarah Roemer steals the movie with her funny expressions and lines. Donald Sutherland is >great< as always and his real-life son Rossif Sutherland plays his character in a nice way that makes us, viewers, really like and support him through the movie. Kristen and Vince make a really nice couple. They have a nice chemistry and the credits go exclusively to Rossif Sutherland and Sarah Roemer. If the writers had developed all the characters better, Vince-Kristen relationship would probably be even more cuter . On the other hand, I didn't like Rebecca Romijn in this movie at all. Her character is annoying and dull.

Overall, it's a nice, funny movie... Or maybe I was in a good day.

I had a hard time buying into the whole movie , it never sold me. good movies grab you and suck you in , making you "feel " the story as if you are living it with the actors ,

i could believe that mannequins came to life to write and star in this one.

I saw a 2010 release date , but could not shake the 80's feel of this movie -- think armed and dangerous, or a bad "48 hrs" (48 hrs was good ).

the female lead was really contrived and cardboard.

This one has been done a million times since the 8o's, and it has been done better most of those times.

i am sure this movie has it's fans, however ,i would not watch this again or recommend .

a tired story told badly.

Vince is just out of jail and his crime boss (Real-life father Donald Sutherland) wants him back jacking cars. Vince wants to go straight. He gets discovered as a scrap-artist and the two woman at the gallery want a piece of him for different reasons and so the question is. will crime triumph or will VInce get to be the artist he can be?

All in, this is nicely cast, nicely shot and put together, but the overall effect is such that is pretty lightweight - the romantic interests and the crime interests are, in particular, sketchy, and what we end up with is an easily watchable film with little impact.

If you like the genre you'll like this - but really it's just OK and mainly instantly forgettable.