The Best Oddball Heist Movies You’ve Never Seen
By Rob Hunter/April 5, 2017 8:00 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. (Welcome to The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, a series that takes a look at slightly more obscure, under-the-radar, or simply under-appreciated movies. In this edition: some of the best oddball heist/robbery movies you’ve never seen.)You’d be forgiven for not knowing this as it’s hardly being used as a marketing point, but Zach Braff has a new film hitting theaters this week. I already knew this, as I’m both a professional film critic and a card-carrying member of the “Braff is a Pretty Good Director” club. (No, those two things don’t cancel each other out.)Braff’s latest is a notable departure from his two more personal dramedies about how angsty your twenties and thirties can be, and to prove it he’s not even starring this time around. Going In Style is instead a remake of Martin Brest’s 1979 classic which starred George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg as old friends, well past the prime of their lives, who decide to rob a bank. Braff’s redo features Alan Arkin, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman as the threesome, and we’re hoping that together they can create an entertaining and affecting film that finds the same blend of laughs and pathos.Inspired by this rogue’s gallery of octanagarian thieves, I’ve put together a list of six great movies about elaborate and/or odd thefts, robberies, and heists.
Killer Fish (1979)
A group of Americans in Brazil sneak into a water plant/dam facility and steal a fortune in emeralds and other gems before barely eluding the authorities with the loot. Knowing the heat is on, they submerge the haul into a nearby lake for safekeeping for sixty days, but unbeknownst to the others, the leader of the group takes a precautionary step of filling the lake with piranha to prevent early withdrawals. The plan goes less well than you’d expect.Look, this is one of those movies that’s admittedly better in premise than execution, but there’s still plenty of ridiculous fun to be had. The crew includes James Franciscus, Lee Majors, and Karen Black, who, along with three others, enter into a game of backstabbing and double-crosses leading to some very well-fed piranha. Director Antonio Margheriti also gifted the world with films as beautifully-titled as Mr. Hercules Against Karate and Yor, the Hunter from the Future, but this is writer Michael Rogers’ sole IMDB credit. Make of that what you will.The traditional heist element opens the film, and it closes with the surviving team members trying once again to secure their treasure, but in between we get all manner of other goodies. Margaux Hemingway appears as a model who takes a shine to Majors’ habit of wearing shirts open to his belt buckle, a brief and non-condescending conversation about bisexuality appears somewhat ahead of its time, and a storm comes along that damages the dam (complete with exploding miniature model sets) sending the thousands of hungry fish towards the resort below. Finally, and this is a move that deserves some respect, Majors – whose production company with then-wife Farrah Fawcett made the film – actually finds a way to work “Farrah” into his final line of dialogue.[Buy Killer Fish on Blu-ray/DVD]
Loophole (1981)
An American architect (Martin Sheen) living in London with his family struggles to make ends meet after losing his job. He finds a new opportunity when he’s brought on for a high-paying freelance gig by a stranger (Albert Finney). It seems too good to be true, and then the other shoe drops when he discovers they need his help to rob one of the city’s biggest banks.Director John Quested’s second and last feature is a slick and entertaining heist film featuring two rock-solid lead performances and a classic embrace of the sub-genre’s format. The team comes together, the pieces fall into place, and the heist itself becomes a tense, nail-biting affair as things start going wrong the closer they get to the end. Jonathan Hales’ (High Road to China) script keeps the plot tight while allowing the characters room to breathe and grow making for a suspenseful third act.Sheen gives a far more subdued performance than those he’s best known for, but his calm demeanor works well to create a family man with principles who’s blindsided by the situation. He makes a great straight man for the criminal shenanigans heading his way. Finney is equally strong in the flashier role and has fun as a confident crook with a sense of humor. Fans of either actor and heist flick aficionados in general should make a point of giving this one a spin.[Buy Loophole on Blu-ray/DVD]
The Best Oddball Heist Movies You’ve Never Seen
By Rob Hunter/April 5, 2017 8:00 am EST
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. (Welcome to The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, a series that takes a look at slightly more obscure, under-the-radar, or simply under-appreciated movies. In this edition: some of the best oddball heist/robbery movies you’ve never seen.)You’d be forgiven for not knowing this as it’s hardly being used as a marketing point, but Zach Braff has a new film hitting theaters this week. I already knew this, as I’m both a professional film critic and a card-carrying member of the “Braff is a Pretty Good Director” club. (No, those two things don’t cancel each other out.)Braff’s latest is a notable departure from his two more personal dramedies about how angsty your twenties and thirties can be, and to prove it he’s not even starring this time around. Going In Style is instead a remake of Martin Brest’s 1979 classic which starred George Burns, Art Carney, and Lee Strasberg as old friends, well past the prime of their lives, who decide to rob a bank. Braff’s redo features Alan Arkin, Michael Caine, and Morgan Freeman as the threesome, and we’re hoping that together they can create an entertaining and affecting film that finds the same blend of laughs and pathos.Inspired by this rogue’s gallery of octanagarian thieves, I’ve put together a list of six great movies about elaborate and/or odd thefts, robberies, and heists.
We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.
Harry and Walter Go to New York (1976)
The Silent Partner (1978)
Killer Fish (1979)
A group of Americans in Brazil sneak into a water plant/dam facility and steal a fortune in emeralds and other gems before barely eluding the authorities with the loot. Knowing the heat is on, they submerge the haul into a nearby lake for safekeeping for sixty days, but unbeknownst to the others, the leader of the group takes a precautionary step of filling the lake with piranha to prevent early withdrawals. The plan goes less well than you’d expect.Look, this is one of those movies that’s admittedly better in premise than execution, but there’s still plenty of ridiculous fun to be had. The crew includes James Franciscus, Lee Majors, and Karen Black, who, along with three others, enter into a game of backstabbing and double-crosses leading to some very well-fed piranha. Director Antonio Margheriti also gifted the world with films as beautifully-titled as Mr. Hercules Against Karate and Yor, the Hunter from the Future, but this is writer Michael Rogers’ sole IMDB credit. Make of that what you will.The traditional heist element opens the film, and it closes with the surviving team members trying once again to secure their treasure, but in between we get all manner of other goodies. Margaux Hemingway appears as a model who takes a shine to Majors’ habit of wearing shirts open to his belt buckle, a brief and non-condescending conversation about bisexuality appears somewhat ahead of its time, and a storm comes along that damages the dam (complete with exploding miniature model sets) sending the thousands of hungry fish towards the resort below. Finally, and this is a move that deserves some respect, Majors – whose production company with then-wife Farrah Fawcett made the film – actually finds a way to work “Farrah” into his final line of dialogue.[Buy Killer Fish on Blu-ray/DVD]
Loophole (1981)
An American architect (Martin Sheen) living in London with his family struggles to make ends meet after losing his job. He finds a new opportunity when he’s brought on for a high-paying freelance gig by a stranger (Albert Finney). It seems too good to be true, and then the other shoe drops when he discovers they need his help to rob one of the city’s biggest banks.Director John Quested’s second and last feature is a slick and entertaining heist film featuring two rock-solid lead performances and a classic embrace of the sub-genre’s format. The team comes together, the pieces fall into place, and the heist itself becomes a tense, nail-biting affair as things start going wrong the closer they get to the end. Jonathan Hales’ (High Road to China) script keeps the plot tight while allowing the characters room to breathe and grow making for a suspenseful third act.Sheen gives a far more subdued performance than those he’s best known for, but his calm demeanor works well to create a family man with principles who’s blindsided by the situation. He makes a great straight man for the criminal shenanigans heading his way. Finney is equally strong in the flashier role and has fun as a confident crook with a sense of humor. Fans of either actor and heist flick aficionados in general should make a point of giving this one a spin.[Buy Loophole on Blu-ray/DVD]
