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Pauly and David look at ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL
SPOILER ALERT !!
Being the Kevin Spacey fan that I am, I've been awaiting word on this film for quite some time, and getting it from England is an interesting way of hearing about it. Usually we Yanks get all the test screenings, but it's great to hear about the testing in the UK... So here we go... Warning though, they do go into the plot quite a bit, they both like it though Pauly was a bit more mixed on it...
Ordinary Decent Criminal (Miramax) Test Screening - Planet Hollywood, London
Well hello there....let us introduce ourselves as Pauly and David, two long
time AICN
readers with our take on todays (26/05/99) test screening of Kevin Spacey
and Linda
Fiorentinos latest offering from Miramax, Ordinary Decent Criminal. Fist
let me, Pauly
set the scene and give you my view, then David shall no doubt put his
opinions across.
There we were sat in Leicester Square, having just completed a TV interview
regarding our website ‘The Phantom Menace UK’ (www.thephantommenace.co.uk
...there got it in!) surveying the London beauty whilst enjoying the sun
when up ran a
vision of loveliness asking us if we had time to see a film at Planet
Hollywood
Restaurant, just around the corner. Needless to say we volunteered and
followed her
down into the restaurant, past the toilets and into a great little THX
equipped cinema
in the basement. Things got better when ourselves and the other 40 or so
members of
the public there were told we were to see the new Kevin Spacey feature
‘Ordinary
Decent Criminal’.
Unfortunately I can not fill you in on specifics as we went straight into
the feature, all I
can tell you is that it is to be distributed by Miramax, seems to be a UK
production,
and is to be released in ‘3-4 months time’.
The story? Spacey plays Michael Lynch, a Belfast master criminal, and
leader of a
small group of theives who are constantly outwitting the Garda (Irish
police) and any
other gangs who become involved in their handiwork. Fiorentino plays his
wife, who
is in on everything, even the fact that Spacey is having an affair with her
sister, played
by well-known British actress Helen Baxendale....infact it seems that this
love-triangle
has been the norm for them since day one. Why this is we don’t know, but
it adds to
the ‘lovable wide-boy’ image of Spacey’s character and isn’t particularly
important
plot-wise. Despite the unusual relationship home life blossoms and seems
to have
positivley benefitted from the situation with a very stable group of
children present in
many scenes.
The film itself doesn’t really build up to one heist, rather a number of
robberys in
which Lynch and his gang exhibit their proficiency at outwitting their
opposition. We
see the gang stealing gold bullion, a jewelery factory and a priceless
Carravagio
painting from a national art gallery. All the robberies are well executed
in their
simplicity, which means they can be explained by narration as the action
takes place.
All these victories make him enemy number 1 in the Gardas eyes, one of
whom, Noel,
has become obsessed with catching Lynch. They also attract the attention
of the IRA
who claim that Lynch is doing jobs they have had their eye on, and as a
result mid-film
the IRA representative applies pressure to Lynch to hand over the spoils
‘or else’.
Lynch takes the view that the IRA, or any other political faction are too
stupid to have
done such masterful work, and shuns them. Unfortunately members of his
gang are
not so sure and things slowly begin to unravel.
From time to time Lynch is picked up by the law, for questioning or trial,
and by charm
or bribery always seems to get out just in time for the next planned
robbery, whilst
evading the police who are keeping their eye on him. The film builds up to
a situation
whereby the gang is scattered, both in their loyalties and geographically,
and Michael,
by choice, ends up in a bank being held up by the IRA guy. With the bank
surrounded
by armed police, a gunfight ensues, with one individual being shot in the
face, thus
rendering him unreceognisable. Is it Michael? We the audience are in on
Michaels
tricks all the time and therefore are aware that it is the IRA guy, but the
Garda, of
course, think it is and he is laid to rest after being identified by his
wife and sister (who,
by seeing the corpses penis know it is not him). Michael escapes yet again.
My opinions? Firstly most of the acting is great. Spacey performs well,
with a pretty
faultless Irish accent (from what little I know) and is solid throughout
exuding charm
and a cheeky grin whenever trouble appears. Fiorentino is also good,
although her less
convincing accent made me wonder why the sisters parts were given to
non-Irish
actresses. Baxendale seems to have little to do, and attractive as she is,
quite why
Michael would go with her when he has a smouldering Linda Fiorentino at
home who
seems quite willing to meet his every sexual request is quite beyond me. The
supporting cast are also convincing from Noel (cannot remember who plays
him...British actor, about 27 I guess) the obsessed policeman, to the gang
themselves
(some familiar faces for viewers of UK TV here).
For me the films weaknesses lay in character development and editing. Key
characters
seemed to change their motivation at key points of the film, without
letting the
audience in on it...which was frustrating as we had been given access to
almost all
other aspects of Michaels life. About two-thirds of the way into the 105
minute film
Spacey displays agression on a Social Security clerk who refuses him his
money. We
never find out why Michaels unemployment benefit is so important and this
event is, on
reflection, just there to show us Michael can be a violent man in
preperation for the
very bloody final heist with graphic shootings. The Garda officer, Noel,
goes from
being obsessed with capturing Michael to suddenly letting him off the hook
and
admiring him in the final 5 minutes of the film.
The editing seems to propell the plot along at a very quick rate, the cost
being that
many scenes are not telegraphed in any way, and I think this is probably
where
character development has suffered.
The very few instances of violence appear without forewarning, with the
previously
mentioned shooting at the films climax being a case in point - from a well
planned bank
robbery we are suddenly shown a guy having his face literally caved in by
bullets,
Saving Private Ryan style, in order that Michael may get off the
hook....although quite
how he knew this guy would be rendered unidentifiable by the police
shooting, thus
leaving him free to escape is pushing the realms of possiblity a little.
What came across as a pretty individual film, for me, was thus spoiled by a
lack of
dynamic characterisation and an acceptance that only Hollywood style
pyrotechnics
and gun play would be the way to get our guy home and dry.
Politically the film walks no particular line - rather like last years ‘The
General’, which
is quite refreshing as noone wants another ‘Devils Own’. The soundtrack was
generally good, although I think it was a temp track, as I cannot believe
they would
accompany a bank robbery scene with The Clash’s ‘Bankrobber’ and a scene of
criminals having fun with ‘Fun Loving Criminals’.
All in all a mixed 6 out of 10.
Pauly
Thank you Pauly, my friend. ditto on most of the points, a thoroughly
enjoyable film
however it was spoiled for me in one major way.
The lights dimmed and up came the fairly inocuous Miramax titles followed
by the
introduction to Spacey’s Michael. It took me a good 20 mins to get Brad
Pitt and Tom
Cruise’s takes on the Irish brogue out of my mind and feel comfortable with
Michael’s
accent. Once this was achieved Michael is reminded by one of his children
that he was
promised a bedtime story(untrue), the child is reprimanded and reminded
that you
never lie to your family and must be loyal, and there unfolds a
gut-wrenchingly
patronising take on Irish family life. Que, flashback involving a permed
Spacey
defending his rundown council house and extended family from the baliffs
through thick
and thin until the town mayor begs him to leave and offers him 2 new houses
“ I won “ was the outcome, thus establishing the kind of family loyalty
that was
inevitably to be abused at some point during the film.
Lo, following the next robbery, gold goes missing and one of the gang
members
is implicated, promptly tracked down and left hanging from a car 10 ft
above the
ground with his fingers slammed in the door. Lovely.
My favourite scene was the stealing of the paintings with Michael and
cohorts
dressed as American tourists entering the gallery. The green light being
signalled by a
kiss to Michael’s cheek in the style of one of the paintings. The ensuing
car chase
through the streets of Belfast with the priceless painting being used as a
shield to
prevent the Garda firing shots was most enjoyable, but what can I say I am
a simple
man etc...
Another, rather obvious scene was after the finale,( following the
identification
by Michaels’ girlfriends, of the faceless IRA members member) involving
Michael
stopping at a remote shop deep in Ireland and not being able to resist
stealing a bar of
chocolate, followed by a ride on a motorcycle off into the cloud-set. This
happens just
as Noel discovers a postcard on his car depicting the Caravaggio painting
and quips
‘you can’t live without us’ Very obvious but enjoyable.
Apart from these minor gripes the scripting was fast, funny and held my
attention throughout, get past the lack of Irish born actors and you’ll
enjoy another
great Spacey film.
7 out of 10.
David.
-
+ Expand All
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Yeah, baby!
-
This sounds almost like a dead ringer of "The General"...anyone know which film was put into production first?
-
but the Boorman film was shot and released first. They are both based on the life of the infamous Dublin drug dealer and robber Martin Cahill, who eluded the Irish police long enough to get clipped by the IRA in broad daylight. The General was an awesome but overlooked film, gorgeous cinematography and a splendid lead performance by Brendan Gleeson (soon to be seen in MI2), a dead ringer for the real gangster. This "Ordinary Decent Criminal" sounds like they pulled a GoodFellas/Casino and changed the names but not much of the actual storyline. Rent the General when it comes out on video!!
-
May 27, 1999 3:39:03 PM CDT
God, I hate Linda Fioretino. Why is she allowed to act? It's cri
by paragonian
I love Kevin Spacey and crime genre films though so it'll be a toss up. It sounds like they should've hired real Irish actresses though. Another thing I was wondering was with all these American movies set in Ireland and all having to do with the IRA it sounds like the IRA runs the fucking country or is the only crime organization. Over in America however, we can take our pick from about twenty major crime organizations. Irish people, what is the truth?
-
I am sick of every US film made/set in Ireland, and the great majority of Irish films, being about the IRA. I excuse Michael Collins from this list as it is about an important historical figure and about an IRA not often portrayed on film and seriously different from the IRA of today. There are so many more important stories to tell than IRA ones. As an aspiring screenwriter, a son of an Irish immigrant and a man who lived back there as a boy, there are far more interesting and entertaining films to make about Ireland than stories about either fucking leprechauns or IRA killings. As for the Irish crime scene, Cahill/Lynch was NOT involved in the IRA and had actually double-crossed them so that is why he was clipped. The IRA didn't like that he was a drug dealer and wanted a cut from his art heists to fund their campaigns. When he balked, he set himself up for a bloody end.
-
I am sick of every US film made/set in Ireland, and the great majority of Irish films, being about the IRA. I excuse Michael Collins from this list as it is about an important historical figure and about an IRA not often portrayed on film and seriously different from the IRA of today. There are so many more important stories to tell than IRA ones. As an aspiring screenwriter, a son of an Irish immigrant and a man who lived back there as a boy, there are far more interesting and entertaining films to make about Ireland than stories about either fucking leprechauns or IRA killings. As for the Irish crime scene, Cahill/Lynch was NOT involved in the IRA and had actually double-crossed them so that is why he was clipped. The IRA didn't like that he was a drug dealer and wanted a cut from his art heists to fund their campaigns. When he balked, he set himself up for a bloody end.
-
Ireland doesn't have a Mafia. Organised crime, though it's been here for years, is only making it to the headlines now. To be honest, since the peace process began in '94, nobody cares about the IRa in this country.
-
The general is based on the life of Irish criminal Martin Cahill.
Ordinary Decent Criminal is also based of the life of Martin Cahill however its a more Hollywood basterdized version(no offence on spacey, he rocks)
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Jun 09, 1999 8:46:57 AM CDT
Spacey Sex Antics ?- Ordinary Decent Criminal and Pauly/David's
by tinsel
' Fiorentino is also good, although her less convincing accent made me wonder why the sisters parts were given to non-Irish actresses.
Baxendale seems to have little to do, and attractive as she is, quite why Michael would go with
her when he has a smouldering Linda Fiorentino at home who
seems quite willing to meet his every sexual request is quite
beyond me. .................'
Pauly !! David !!!
Are you trying to kid us that this time around we get to see
Kevin Spacey. ...?....gasp ...?
There's clinches, smoochin ....or just a lot of gun play ?
Come ON .. dish. Spacey's on screen sexual debut....? An historic cinema moment ? Or just another'Kiss Me Quick there's a fellah in a uniform after me again ?'
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