Robert J. Maxwell
A cast of seasoned professionals. Directed by Peter Yates, who gave us classics like "Robbery" and "Bullet". Screenplay by William Goldman, who gave us "Butch Cassidy" and "Marathon Man." Even the musical score: Ray Brown, Clark Terry, Gerry Mulligan, Frank Rosolino, and Bud Shank.Yet, you put all the elements together and it's only mildly involving. It has its amusing moments but the suspense involved in pursuing a valuable gem through New York City seems to be dragged out. The gang steal it from the Brooklyn Museum. The guy who gets caught has swallowed it. "When did it next appear?" asks their employer, Moses Gunn, in his most dramatic and earnest baritone.It next appeared in a police station and the gang must bust into the station with diverting explosions in the streets. But it's not where it had been hidden. Then it gets complicated as Zero Mostel, as the father of one of the gang, is drawn into the affair and decides to steal the gem and be paid for it all alone. The hell with his son and his son's partners.Redford has never looked more handsome. Many people have remarked on how much he resembles me since he copied my careless-looking hair style. Some people of low taste have hinted that he may even be more handsome than I. Really, I don't mind his being so good looking. I hold no enmity towards him for it, except that I wish his face would melt.Redford is the lead and, unfortunately, his acting style is minimalist. He conveys an awful lot of information with a slight widening of his eyes or the mere hint of a frown. That's not what the role calls for. It's not what this silly movie calls for either. It needs a more expressive, less white bread actor like Robert De Niro, who handles comedy very well.The wisecracks aren't very witty. Some of the acting is overreach. And the gags that should make us laugh out loud -- landing a helicopter on the wrong roof -- don't shoot out the lights. For whatever reason, probably the finest moment in the film is its resolution, a tense scene in which Redford, with the aid of hypnosis, insinuates himself into a bank's vault, retrieves the errant gem from a safe deposit box, and tries to walk slowly, inconspicuously, upstairs, through the bank's lobby, and out its revolving door.He succeeds only seconds before the arrival of Zero Mostel and a bodyguard. As Redford paces along the sidewalk, still deliberately, he realizes that he's finally gotten the prize. The viewer is as relieved and cheerful as Redford, as his pace picks up, he breaks into a smile, and begins to lope through traffic. At this point, the band, which has hitherto been a succession of burps, chirps, and inquisitive whistles, builds into a cheerful Dixieland melody. The end really is a delight.
kenjha
Crooks steal a precious gem from a museum, but complications arise. It appears the filmmakers thought they were making something clever and funny, but the end product is rather anemic. The heist scene is very routine. Subsequent acquisitions of a big rig and a helicopter receive big buildups, suggesting some clever usage of the vehicles, but nothing happens. In fact, about five minutes of screen time is spent on the uneventful helicopter ride. The plot device used to gain access to a safety deposit box is incredibly lame. The film is mildly amusing at times but falls far short of expectations given the initial premise. Redford and Segal try but can't rise above the uninspired script.
Stephen Alfieri
"The Hot Rock" is a pretty good caper film with an excellent cast, terrific musical score by Quincy Jones, and good use of New York City scenery (although during a recent viewing, as a New Yorker, it was difficult to watch the World Trade Center towers being constructed).Redford and Segal are good as a pair of friends who are connected by their work. Redford has no sooner gotten out of jail, when Segal starts telling him about their newest caper. They are to steal a diamond that belongs to one of the tribal nations of Africa.Ron Liebman and Paul Sand are enlisted as their co-conspirators, and both of them are quite good, especially Liebman, who can "drive anything.Naturally, everything goes wrong, and they are thrown one roadblock after another, in an attempt to get the diamond.A good film with moments of both great humor and no humor. Unsteady in its execution, but it still has a charm about it.Worth renting.6 out of 10
