Braquage à New York

I went to see this movie yesterday and I have been positively surprised.

Keanu Reeves has given a great performance as Henry, the main character. The chemistry between Reeves and his counterparts (Vera Farmiga and James Caan) was really good and palpable.

The story was convincing, well written and from start to finish I actually believed in what was happening on the screen. Vera Farmiga, who plays the female lead character, is superb, credible and bitter enough to give convincing diva acting in the Checov's Cherry orchard play, which is crucial for the dynamic development of the movie itself.

I left the theatre thinking I wanted to see it again.

Highly recommended.

Time Out described it as a "Quiet Triumph" and I tend to agree. It's not the best movie ever made but is clever, multi-layered (stories within stories within...) and an interesting, often tongue in cheek, look at acting as a process. It is enjoyable, although slightly uncomfortable in places as Farmiga plays self reliant/involved diva and ego-above-her-status-actress very well and with great aplomb. Caan's comic relief as the wannabe lifer adds some one liners and fun to a film that has an old-fashioned serious classic quality both in style and direction (something to do with dimensions of camera angles/screen apparently), and the soundtrack is brilliant. Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard lends a certain gravitas to the proceedings, and a backdrop for the real-life storyline, as does Reeves' deliberate delivery and method metamorphosis from downtrodden bored/boring-but-nice average Joe to cavalier passionate lovestruck criminal-mastermind, which is impressive! I think this film is a slow burner... after watching it, it stayed in my mind and I want to see it again, sure there will be more layers and nuances that I missed.

Yep, this is a fun movie with great actors acting as actors. Henry (Keanu Reeves), a tollbooth worker in Buffalo is falsely convicted of a bank robbery. While in prison he meets a lifer (James Caan) and learns about life and having a dream. Once released from prison Henry hatches a plan of his own. Why not rob the bank that he was already sent to prison for?

Little did he think that love (Vera Farmiga,) greed (Fisher Stevens,) and fate may change his objective?

The acting is good. The pacing is good. The only annoying thing was the loud irritating irrelevant background music if you can call it that.

Unfortunately, there is no end, so if you want one, do not start this movie.

I understand why some people did not like this very good film - it is slower, and it is not The Matrix, or Konstantin. This is a very good work, and yes, Keanu's character is a bit slow, silent and detached - but here is what he is like. His role is balanced perfectly by fiery and very funny James Caan who did a very, very excellent job. His part of a con-man is a great plus, and his part is almost The best in here. Vera Farmiga is another great plus of the movie, her part of a Russian theater actress is very cool, too. She does a perfect Diva here, and does it extremely convincing way. Well, yes, the movie is not a fast and furious action one, but this was not the intent. The very theater style of the film is obvious, and the nice link to the Chekhov's play is a warm heart-thawing welcome for all Russian viewers. Keanu is a very good Lopakhin and Vera is a very sweet Ranevskaya. And then, yeah, here is excellent Peter Stormare as a choleric and very short-tempered theater director with all his idiosyncrasies and craze. Casting was done very well, and this stellar ensemble of actors is a mighty element for the great movie.

Malcolm Venville's 'Henry's Crime' is a delightfully lowkey heist/ romantic comedy. By romantic comedy I don't mean those sugarcoated typically Hollywood rom-coms that are set in New York or that star Julia Roberts. This is nothing like that. The humour is quite dry and subtle and the romance is depicted effectively through non-verbal expressions rather than words. Then there's the heist angle which is depicted very simply. The director and writer don't attempt to build tension (as is done in most other heist flicks) because the primary focus is on the characters and 'Henry's Crime' has some fascinating ones.

The production values are modest and the execution is pretty good. The sets are quite appealing without having to be lavish. Several instrumental tracks in the score are brilliant. Silence is effectively used as the quietness brings out a certain charm.

Keanu Reeves plays the title character and his performance here is better than most of what he's done. He is overshadowed by Vera Farmiga, Judy Greer and James Caan. Greer has a very small role but she wonderfully conveys the layers of her character. Farmiga is superb as the feisty yet bitter but soft-hearted Juñie Ivanova. She plays the part very naturally. Caan provides some excellent comic relief. The supporting cast is very good even though Stormare's caricature director does occasionally get on one's nerves.

To sum it up, 'Henry's Crime' is a simple and splendid heist rom-com. The symbolic ending has various layers and it doesn't desperately try too hard to tie things up.