Weekly Theme

Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

This one is pretty self explanatory. What's your favorite heist movie. What's your favorite heist scene.

Last week, I watched Melville's Le Cercle Rouge. Which had an incredible jewelry store robbery.

I think the original Thomas Crown Affair had one of the most inventive ideas for a heist ever. The list goes on and on. Guy Ritchie's fist two films, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) , and Snatch both have something to do with elaborate thievery. The Usual Suspects, Ocean's Eleven and Inside Man are some other good examples. And, you can't forget Bottle Rocket as a great example.

Also, filed under the: "Classics I have no excuse for not seeing yet" is Rififi. Most concensus says is the greatest heist film ever. Well, I will be making every attempt to watch this one before the week's over.

This should be a huge list. What I'm most interested in is which actual movie has the most intelligent and elaborate heist. I've read that France actually temporarily banned Rififi because they were concerned that the scene could too easily be used as a "how to" guide. What do you guys think?

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

I really liked that one with Clive Owen. I know that's not very descriptive, but I can't seem to remember the name of this film. I recall it had Denzel Washington in it as well, and I think Jodie Foster who was also good in Contact. Anyway I enjoyed the method that the robbers used to complete their thievery.

I also enjoyed the Italian Job, even if it probably wasn't very good(also a remake). I vaguely recall having an amused feeling about the way they accomplished the heist.

I feel that Mission: Impossible should also be given some credit as a modern remake with some exciting thievery, and one that I remember vividly from my younger years.

I never realised how many movies are rehashed over and over on the big screen until started looking at more films. I should probably watch the originals of some of these films.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

rjsprague:

I really liked that one with Clive Owen. I know that's not very descriptive, but I can't seem to remember the name of this film. I recall it had Denzel Washington in it as well, and I think Jodie Foster who was also good in Contact. Anyway I enjoyed the method that the robbers used to complete their thievery.

 

That's Inside Man - A Spike Lee joint. I really liked this one too. It was a very smart movie.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

Ashpahlt Junlge needs a mention - it is one of the best if not best heist films of all time!

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

   Some of my favorite heist films of all time...

   Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid

   The Sting

   The Train Robbers

   Kelly's Heroes

   Thunderbolt and Lightfoot

  Charley Varrick

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

THE STING

LOCK STOCK AND TWO SMOKING BARRELS

THE USUAL SUSPECTS

THE BLUE-EYED BANDIT

BLOODY PAYROLL

THE EYE OF THE SPIDER

A MAN TO RESPECT

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

I always loved Going in Style. It is a great movie with Art Carney, George Burns and Lee Strasburg as three retirees who decide that they don't want to be the old geezers just sitting on the park bench yelling at the kids anymore. Even though they have never been criminals before, they decide to rob a bank and live off the money.

The joy they get out of plannig and committing the robbery is great. It transforms them from the shadows that they were into fuly realized people again.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

For some good heists gone awry you can't forget White Heat.  And even better The Killing!  Also an inspiration for Reservoir Dogs.

And Sexy Beast is just good fun as well.

I'm not sure if you would consider The Taking of Pelham One Two Three a heist film, or more of an elaborate ransom/getaway situation.  But it has the same excitement as a heist film, and is one of the best.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

One of my favorite heist / robbery scenes has to be in Boogie Nights. The part of the film when Dirk Diggler (Mark Wahlberg) and Reed Rothchild (John C. Reilly) have become desperate cokeheads and follow Todd (Thomas Jane) to a rich guy's (Alfred Molina) home that they are trying to swindle out of a lot of money. Already high, they sit freaking out at the sight of Molina's character running around half naked, a gigantic Nortorious B.I.G. clone bodyguard and a skinny Asian boy throwing firecrackers around the living room. It all culminates with the Night Ranger song "Sister Christian" and bullets flying. Hilarious.

Re:Weekly Theme for September 8: The Heist

I know a lot of people didn't care for it, but I really liked Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks. Sometimes Woody can be a little grating in his films, but teamed up with Tracey Ullman they are incredibly hilarious together. The whole plot has been done a hundred times, but the cast of losers trying to rob a bank by building a tunnel from their fake cookie shop next door is just pure comedy.