Redfoot9681

I cannot believe how many people are ripping this movie a new one. I just caught it on video, and I am already kicking myself for not seeing it in the theater. This was without a doubt one of the wittiest and smartest films of 2001.

Gene Hackman turns in an intense performance as Moore, an aging thief who has to do one last job to ensure the proper division of the loot with slime ball Bergman (Danny DeVito).

The crispness of the plot and dialogue really carries "Heist," and I was entertained for every minute of it. Mamet is the master of witty dialogue and over-the-top situations, and both are on display in full form here. The supporting cast is also top-notch, with Delroy Lindo standing out particularly.

"Heist" was very unfairly overlooked and trashed during its theatrical run, and now is a better time than ever to give it a look.

Grade: A

In the great spirit of "Pulp Fiction" and "Reservoir Dogs" comes "Boondock Saints," a pale shadow of the first two films I just mentioned. There is plenty of violence and bad language to go around here, but it never really materializes past the point of being senseless.

Willem Dafoe is good as Smecker, a cop investigating the "Saints," two brothers who feel they are doing the world good by personally ridding their city of all evil men.

The main problem with the film is the amount of unintentional humor that it elicits, particularly with the Dafoe character. The movie wants to be serious and have a message, but it just never happens. There is also a huge credibility problem with placing porn legend Ron Jeremy in what is a non-porn role. It is unintentionally funny to see him try and act.

The level of violence is so high that the viewer just becomes de-sensitized by about the middle of the film. There is supposedly a director's cut of the film which runs a half hour longer, sure to have even more bloodshed. The violence is done in such a tasteless and sloppy manner that sometimes you wonder if the actors are getting tired of it.

There are many other films in the crime genre that I would recommend before "Boondock Saints." In an effort to be memorable, it really comes off as just being unnecessary.

Grade: C-

Back in the late 90's there was a surge for the "disaster" genre of film. The idea of cities and people facing catastrophic circumstances showed its face again at the movies, mostly thanks to advancements in computer and special effects technology. We saw two volcano films, "Dante's Peak" and this film, "Volcano." To be nice, "Dante's Peak" is Oscar material compared to this rubbish.

"Volcano" does not even actually have a volcano, but rather the notion that the La Brea Tar Pits in California will erupt with lava. Oh, it happens. Sewer lids are blown sky high, and lava flows down the streets like traffic.

Perhaps "Volcano" aimed from day one to be a "B-movie." I am not quite sure, but either way it is a horrid film. Good old Tommy Lee Jones tries his best with a God-awful script, and still manages to feel professional. Anne Heche's role seems to be to simply state the obvious when it needs to be said.

And the special effects, they are awful! The movie never for one instant "feels" real because of the horrible effects and weak acting. The lava looks like orange bubble gum. It is laughable. The movie even milks its very existence by trying to elicit emotion from the audience.

A horribly dreadful film that I never plan on watching again.

Grade: D-