Comments on: Ben Affleck’s Top 11 Heist Movies

By: alechs

alechs — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:31:58 +0000

If we’re talking about Mamet heist films: Glengarry Glen Ross. Yeah it’s a stretch.

Le Cercle Rouge is alright – I really enjoyed the ending.

I think Heat embodies what I want from an urban heist film – neurotic leads, visceral gunfights and the environment of the city being a character in the film.

By: Maopheus

Maopheus — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 20:43:00 +0000

The Killing, what an awesome movie. Almost hard to believe that this was a Kubrick movie but it showed his meticulousness even at that early stage. Probably the most tightly plotted and focused heist movie I’ve seen. I mean in terms of focusing only on one heist and it’s plotting and execution.

By: Kurt the big letter guy

Kurt the big letter guy — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:43:23 +0000

HI I AM KURT. EVERY MOVIE I WRITE HAS TO BE IN BIG LETTERS. YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAH!

By: GfC

GfC — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:42:04 +0000

How the hell is Snatch a heist film? The same goes about Reservoir Dogs (they rob a bank, but this never happens and is only a part of the backstory of the plot).

By: Kurt

Kurt — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 20:57:10 +0000

Not to derail the thread, but absolutely check out RICKY JAY AND HIS 52 ASSISTANTS, a short documentary on Magic and History directed by David Mamet as pretty much a 1-take capture of one of Ricky Jay’s stage-shows. MAGNIFICENT.

Jay is in nearly all of Mamet’s flicks (and TV productions) and can deliver Mamet-dialogue with the best of them. One of my favourite lines. “Beware of all enterprises requiring new clothes” – delivered with gusto in Mamet’s criminally underrated THE SPANISH PRISONER by Jay.

By: Mark In Ottawa

Mark In Ottawa — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 14:17:36 +0000

Wow, Kurt. I think this is the first time I agree with you on something.

Ricky Jay is so cool. He gives us fat guys hope.

Thanks for the suggestion “Fatbologna”, i think it’s on my zip.ca list.

Anything Hackman is in is awesome, well except “Welcome to Mooseport”.

By: Cy-Ed

Cy-Ed — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 06:13:03 +0000

seems like a solid list

By: Fatbologna

Fatbologna — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 00:48:14 +0000

@Sean,
Eddie Coyle is amazing and now you can see just how much it influenced Affleck (AND Chuck Hogan) in making The Town. Although don’t expect the same level of action as Coyle’s a slower character driven film.

@Wintle,
Charley Varrick is FUCKING AWESOME! I wish Matthau had made more crime films as he’s got the perfect look for the schlubby noir character OR the older dude who knows the game. The Laughing Policeman’s another also a great Matthau film that’s anything but funny.

@Mark In Ottawa
The Heist is, indeed, awesome. I recommend you check out the kick ass Night Moves also starring Gene Hackman and a surprisingly hot, young Melanie Griffith!

By: schizopolis

schizopolis — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:31:08 +0000

My mistake…The Killing is on the list.

By: schizopolis

schizopolis — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 21:30:30 +0000

The Killing and Le Cercle Rouge should be on that list.

By: Kurt

Kurt — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:58:14 +0000

@MarkinOttawa, I heart Ricky Jay. You could make a top 10 list out of films where he is simply in them. It’d be a con-man flick list, but still. Heist is sort of a hybrid of a heist and con-artist Flick.

Surprised to see no love for DOG DAY AFTERNOON or INSIDE MAN.

Hell, speaking of Hybrids, How about THREE KINGS (Heist/War/Farce) or MAN ON WIRE (Documentary) or QUICK CHANGE (Comedy)

Furthermore on Walter Matthau, the original TAKING OF PELHAM 1-2-3, The Original Italian Job, and oddly enough, the Heist portions of the Remake of THE THOMAS CROWNE AFFAIR are all top-shelf. As is the very, very short, but very bafflingly sweet heist section of SEXY BEAST.

I could go on about this genre for ever because I love it. I’m glad to see RIFIFFI so high on the list.

By: Mark In Ottawa

Mark In Ottawa — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 20:26:00 +0000

HOW THE HELL IS “HEIST” NOT ON THIS LIST ?

It goes to show Matt Damon is clearly the talented one.

“My motherfucker is so cool, when he goes to bed, sheep count him.”