American Heist (2015)

This film actually falls into more the Midnight Cowboy or Taxi Driver genre rather than the typical heist film. It's not slick, sexy gadgety or with any super villain or super cop. That's probably what most people look for: a fast-paced sexy thrill of a heist. But it is again, more comparable to Midnight Cowboy or Taxi Driver, not quite in that class but you get the message. It's about the odd people getting the short stick in life. They may fail because they simply may not grasp what it takes to succeed in this world nor are given any advantages in life. Adrien Brody and Hayden Christiansen play the destitute down-on-luck brothers. Hayden plays James, the more balanced one who tries to lead a normal life. Older brother Frankie is more like the good-for-nothing lowlife career criminal. Quite similar to Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman's (Ratso) characters in Cowboy except Frankie and James served time. In Cowboy, Ratso was the con man bringing Joe Buck for the ride. In the same respect, Frankie takes James for a ride. How ungrounded and unsuccessful Frankie is signified by stealing a yellow lemon of a car. It breaks down. It's almost comical. Frankie raves that no one will notice the yellow car is stolen. But in reality, the audience knows, it is far too conspicuous. Frankie might as well wear prison orange. So the viewer can take note unfortunately such rides don't have basis in reality but only lead to dead ends.American Heist doesn't come close to those masterpieces but it tries. Unfortunately many viewers may miss the point. James tries to lead a normal life, seeks a bank loan and starts a relationship with Emily played by Jordana Brewster. Acting is superb by Brody who doesn't get a nod for a superb performance. Jordana Brewster comes close and Hayden Christiansen (should we take him seriously as an actor?) actually is creditable in his straight role.Problems? For one, the long slow pre-death scene that almost goes nowhere and the Akon soundtrack. It tries to be almost an art-house type heist but also falls a bit short of most people's expectations. But view it for the what it really is: a movie about down-and-outs. Real rating: 7.2-7.5, could be the best crime movie of the year but who notices? I bump it up due to low ratings which this film doesn't deserve. Plenty of good films get missed the first time. It might be a decade before anyone notices.

Although American Heist was shot in Toronto it also is allegedly a remake of The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery one of Steve McQueen's worst films I didn't see that. If it is a remake it's not a great film, but for once it is an improvement of the former by far.Adrien Brody is released from prison taking a rap alone for a job he and his brother Hayden Christensen did together. That time away from prison allowed Christensen to get into a business and even think about marrying Jordana Brewster. But as soon as Brody is out of prison he sucks in Christensen into a convenience store robbery with a pair of his prison running buddies Akon and Tory Kittles. These two are a pair of stone cold killers with any kind of sense of morality gone from their psyches. They've got bigger plans for Brody and Christensen, a bank heist that could be worth millions.It's a decent enough caper film, bloody as all get out when the plan fails. That last half hour has enough violence in it to satisfy any junkie. But what really gives the film life are the scenes with Brody and Christensen, they really connect as brothers. This is one of Brody's best performances since his Oscar for The Pianist, wasted some might say in a routine action film. As for Hayden Christensen the former Annakin Skywalker gives one of his best screen performances.Action fans will like the action. Some of us who want more will appreciate what the two male leads contribute.

Action? Solid, but nothing special. Heist element? Lacking, but enough for fans of non-elaborate larceny. Neither of those things, however, take center stage for long. The movie wants so desperately to focus on the emotional aspect of the story...on the relationships. The problem is, it introduces these connections and backstories one after another without REALLY giving any depth to a single one. Moments that, if developed properly, could be sincere and truly emotional are rather just "out of left field" scenes that just waste screen time with a story that doesn't make a lot of sense. On a more technical note, it almost gives the feeling that the cinematographer got switched out halfway through the movie. The beginning is filled with erratic zooms and cuts, standard cheap action movie stuff, while the mid-to ending is much more characteristic of...well...a GOOD, professional movie.The drama is definitely the focus of the movie, but even some halfway-decent action and a plot twist or two along the way couldn't save this movie from it's nonsensical emotional story, with some awkward dialogue to boot.

After serving ten years in prison in New Orleans, the smalltime criminal Frankie Kelly (Adrien Brody) comes to the house of his younger brother, James Kelly (Hayden Christensen), who is a mechanic in a local workshop. James is dating the gorgeous Emily (Jordana Brewster), who works as operator in the NOLA Police Ddepartment, and lives a honest life. Frankie introduces James to his friends Sugar (Akon) and Ray (Tory Kittles) that helped him in the prison and soon James learns that they are planning a bank heist with the gangster Spoonie (Luis Da Silva Jr.). He tries to recuse to participate but Ray forces him threatening his older brother. What will James do? "American Heist" is a boring and melodramatic heist film. The relationship between Frankie and James is never dramatic but seems to be a soap opera. The awful end of the film without the conclusion of the story is not an intelligent open end, like in many European movies, but simply lack of ending. My vote is three.Title (Brazil): "O Último Golpe" ("The Last Coup")