The Heist (1989)

Wily con artist Neal Skinner (a sound and engaging performance by Pierce Brosnan) gets paroled after serving four years in prison. Neal plans to get revenge by robbing the racetrack run by his former partner Ebbet Berens (smoothly played by Tom Skerritt), who set Neal up in order to have complete dibs on the business. Moreover, Nal also wants his feisty old flame Sheila (a nice portrayal by Wendy Hughes) back. Director Stuart Orme, working from a smart and absorbing script by William Irish Jr., relates the tricky story at a steady pace, offers a flavorsome evocation of the racetrack setting, and stages the slick and exciting big gig with considerable aplomb. A strong supporting cast of reliable veteran thespians helps matters a whole lot: Robert Prosky as rascally gambler Dancer, Noble Willingham as crusty security guard Stuckey, and Tom Atkins as gruff ramrod Detective Leland. Ben Mittleman and Nino Surdo are amusing as two thuggish goons who work for Berens. The surprise twist at the very end is a real pip. Both George Tirl's sharp cinematography and Arthur B. Rubinstein's bluesy'n'funky score are up to speed. A neat little movie.

If you liked THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR you'll probably like THE HEIST. In fact the last act of TTCA seems to be lifted directly from this. As it was released on HBO domestically and only made theaters oversees, it's an overlooked gem of a movie. A project worth studying if you're a writer attempting a heist picture, along with RIFFIFI(French), THE HOT ROCK, THIEF, THE GETAWAY and a few others. It's tone is fun and smart. This is not heavy fair and had a limited budget. This is the opposite end of the spectrum from Mann's HEAT, but that doesn't make it any less enjoyable. It clearly falls under the cat & mouse category of heist projects as the hero attempts to simultaneously take down one last big score, win back the girl, and get revenge against his crooked ex-partner (Skerritt) who years earlier double crossed him, stole the girl and sent him to prison. The beauty of the film is everybody knows when and where our Hero is going to attempt his impossible score. They just don'

This an average though slightly entertaining account of an ex-con (Pierce Brosnan) who having served four years in prison for a crime he did not commit, takes his revenge on the man (Tom Skerritt) who put him there. This is Brosnan before his James Bond days but you won't be mistaken if you think he is reprising his 007 or Remington Steele role. He is his usual cool, suave and witty self in a movie tailored specifically for him. Skerritt is hardly convincing as the villain and the main love interest, Wendy Hughes, acts as if her mind was somewhere else throughout. Just look at her dumb and deadpan face! What saves the movie is the fast pacy account of how Brosnan plays the cat-and-mouse game with his potential captors who knows he is robbing the race track but can't figure out how. The actual heist is full of twists and turns and delightfully amusing to follow. This is somewhat predictable but nevertheless entertaining enough. Rent this family if you have the spare lazy afternoon with the family.

Average yarn with Brosnan playing a man who has only one week to pull off a scam to get revenge on former partner Skerritt who had him framed and put behind bars. Wendy Hughes is striking, along with the always dashing Brosnan, who here is as formidable a con man as his 007.