Python Hyena Heist (2001): Dir: David Mamet / Cast: Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, Danny De Vito, Rebecca Pidgeon, Sam Rockwell: Action film about the overtaking of difficult tasks. Gene Hackman plays a professional thief who believes that he is growing less effective with age when he is accidentally caught on camera during a crime. He wants out but his greedy boss pushes for another task. Frustrated Hackman plans a double-cross that will result in a brutally violent climax. Plot and structure are detailed with director David Mamet playing the plot twists off motives. He previously directed The Spanish Prisoner, which also dealt with themes of betrayal and crime. Here Mamet delivers a more violence yet just as clever action film. Hackman is excellent as an individual with age yet skill. Delroy Lindo appears as Hackman's right hand man who will join him in his fight for freedom. Danny De Vito is superb as the double-crossing boss in a role that is quite against type and he pulls it off with great consequence. Rebecca Pidgeon plays a seductive villainess who steals her scenes. Sam Rockwell effectively plays the villain who will betray everyone until his greed is conquered. Well crafted yet extremely violent examination of crime and its masterminds but it also demonstrates the consequences to such a lifestyle and how freedom comes with a great price tag. Score: 8 / 10

seymourblack-1 Written and directed by David Mamet, this superior crime thriller begins with a brilliantly choreographed jewellery-store robbery that demonstrates just how professional and skilled the team of thieves are. The obviously high level of trust and understanding that they share, enable them to cope when things don't go exactly as planned and to improvise well whenever the need arises. The pace and precision of what happens in these opening scenes is impressive and intriguing and sets the tone for everything that follows. Numerous plot twists, double-crosses and humorous moments then add to the fun as the plot becomes increasingly complicated and the gang have to cope with some unexpected challenges.When veteran thief and gang-leader Joe Moore (Gene Hackman) accidentally has his picture captured on a security camera during a high-value jewellery robbery, he knows that the most sensible course of action is to retire immediately and head south on his boat with his much younger wife Fran (Rebecca Pidgeon). He encounters a problem, however, when his fence and financial backer Mickey Bergman (Danny DeVito) opposes the plan because he's already invested a large sum of money in setting up the gang's next job. Bergman isn't willing to make any concessions and withholds the gang's share of the proceeds of the robbery to force them into carrying out "the Swiss thing"."The Swiss thing" turns out to be an extremely dangerous but highly lucrative robbery of a huge shipment of gold from a Swiss cargo plane. To make matters worse, however, the distrustful Bergman stipulates that his nephew Jimmy Silk (Sam Rockwell) has to go along as one of the gang to ensure that they go ahead with the heist exactly as planned. Silk is young, inexperienced and impulsive and also has designs on Fran. He sees Joe as an old guy who's losing his grip and soon starts to think of how he could get away with both the gold and the girl.Joe feels compelled to go ahead with the gold heist and although he has complete faith in the loyalty and professionalism of his right-hand man Bobby Blane (Delroy Lindo) and his diversionary expert Pinky (Ricky Jay), the on-going presence of Jimmy Silk continues to be a source of great concern even after the ambitious heist has been successfully carried out.David Mamet's style of direction is perfect for this material as he brings great coherence and momentum to the intricate plot and his dialogue, as usual, is sharp, witty and quite unique. Some clever quips and brilliant banter illuminate the exchanges between the main characters but the usual formality and stilted nature of Mamet's lines are less apparent in this movie, possibly due to the presence of Gene Hackman. His skillful delivery is so warm and natural that it makes even the most contrived phrases sound quite spontaneous and his interactions with Delroy Lindo are a real highlight. Both actors excel in this movie as do Ricky Jay and Danny DeVito who also make their characters very real.The high quality of the direction, the writing and the acting ensure that a higher-then-average rating is merited but what's probably even more impressive is the way in which Mamet has taken a very simple and familiar plot and developed it into an enjoyable thriller that actually gets better with each repeat viewing. In the case of "Heist", once is definitely not enough.

kai ringler this wasn't a bad movie,, my main problem with it one or two many twists,, if they would have kept it to one or two twists,, but three or four,, made it very hard to follow,, that being said otherwise it was a decent film,,, Gene Hackman once again does not disappoint,, and it's always a pleasure to watch Delroy Lindo in action,, Danny DeVito is funny as ever,, after one heist,, the crew figures they are going to cash in.. wrong,, the mastermind has another job for them,, a retirement job.. well things don't go exactly as planned and double and triple crosses abound,, constant plot twists abound in this one . not a bad watch just better be one you're toes and pay attention if you want to follow along. .

innerboyka David Mamet writes slick,psychologically dense drama. GlenGary GlenRoss, Redbelt, House of Games, etc. Heist is in the same vein as his other movies: complicated plots with even more complicated characters in them, in which nobody's motives are what they seem and nothing is as it appears. Slight spoiler The movie is about a robbery gone somewhat south. Gene Hackman, who is in charge of the crew, has to do another assignment for a crooked low-life played beautifully by Danny Devito (they should have a separate Oscars category for him called "Sarcasm"). Crosses, double crosses, and triple crosses ensue, laced with the cool witty dialogue and psychological insights for which Mamet is so well known. The casting is perfect: everyone is spot on although I thought the character that played Jimmy Silk was a bit thin. The ending will stay with you, and as Gene Hackman drives away you'll realize that he really "isn't a man who ties his shoes w/o a backup plan." It is the type of movie you almost need to see twice and even then you'll wonder who knew what and who did what intentionally.