The Hot Rock

Rating:
Summary: Say A Prayer And Maybe God Will Reward You
Review:
I wouldn't say this of a comedy often but... sometimes when you watch them again (and even again), and you notice they keep getting funnier, you know you have a good one. You know that someone's crafted something different. Special. The Hot Rock falls into that category (if there is one).

Redford reteams with William Goldman (who wrote Butch & The Kid). It's a caper film and with a team of characters with names like Dortmunder/Kelp/Greenberg and Murch, you're already in trouble.

The casting is perfect. George Segal, Paul Sands and Ron Liebman round out Redford's team- and they are all priceless. Moses Gunn and Zero Mostel are excellent in their supporting roles.

What I personally think makes this comedy wonderful is, it's written by and American and starring Americans but it's directed by a Brit (Peter Yates). Goldman supplies the lines and I think Yates looked for character traits and the subtle little screw ups in the scenes where they're trying to advance the cause or steal the stone. ie: Murch (with his love of cars), playing a record of the Indy car race on his stereo for his Mom, cracking a beer and they're both in heaven, listening, while in the background- they live right next to the freeway and no one else (who is normal) would be able to hear or notice the difference! " Turn the treble up, Stan! " Funny stuff!

Moses Gunn's face is priceless as they repeatedly hand him the material request needs list, each time they fail. " Will it upset me? " " Yes, " Segal replies, straight faced. " I think it's safe to say so, sir. "

And watch for the priceless sight gag Mostel makes, introducing himself as the lawyer.

It's a film about Murphy's Law and just how funny it can be. We all experience it from time to time, in each of our lives. These poor guys experience it every time they step out the door.

This is witty stuff and a group effort all the way. Redford's the star but you'd never know it. They all shine and they all share. They bounce off of one another (much like he and Newman did in Butch), and it's fun to watch.

If you're looking for a really good caper film that's clever, funny and a good one for some repeat viewings, check out the Hot Rock.


Rating:
Summary: this came first
Review: I watched this movie with my dad, and within about fifteen seconds, I said, "wow, this feels just like Ocean's Eleven." and he said, "really? I was going to say Out of Sight," not realizing that both were directed by the same guy. So if you want to see what was almost certainly one of SS's inspirations, check this out. It's a riot. It would be hard to go wrong with William Goldman writing and Robert Redford starring, but then you add in Zero Mostel and it's just out-of-control funny. An excellent heist flick.

Rating:
Summary: this came first
Review: I watched this movie with my dad, and within about fifteen seconds, I said, "wow, this feels just like Ocean's Eleven." and he said, "really? I was going to say Out of Sight," not realizing that both were directed by the same guy. So if you want to see what was almost certainly one of SS's inspirations, check this out. It's a riot. It would be hard to go wrong with William Goldman writing and Robert Redford starring, but then you add in Zero Mostel and it's just out-of-control funny. An excellent heist flick.

Rating:
Summary: this came first
Review: Many actors have played John (although some have changed the name to protect Donald E. Westlake) including George C. Scott, Paul Lemat, and Martin Lawrence, but Robert Redford did it first and best. I also think some of Quincy Jones best work was done on the soundtrack. William Goldman did a great transfer of the novel to film.

Rating:
Summary: The best Dorkmunder movie!
Review: Many actors have played John (although some have changed the name to protect Donald E. Westlake) including George C. Scott, Paul Lemat, and Martin Lawrence, but Robert Redford did it first and best. I also think some of Quincy Jones best work was done on the soundtrack. William Goldman did a great transfer of the novel to film.

Rating:
Summary: The only good Dortmunder movie
Review: Of the several film versions of Donald E. Westlake's "Dortmunder" novels, this is easily the best. Not perfect, but it has very good acting and the story stays fairly close to the original book.

Rating:
Summary: The only good Dortmunder movie
Review: Of the several film versions of Donald E. Westlake's "Dortmunder" novels, this is easily the best. Not perfect, but it has very good acting and the story stays fairly close to the original book.

Rating:
Summary: Timless Heist Pic for all ages
Review: Okay, I rate movies by what they are aiming to do; THE HOT ROCK aims to entertain, make you smile, and infuse a sense of camaraderie while rooting for crooks. With that in mind, I would think that only Cyclops OD'd on Visine would rate this less than all the stars on a clear summer night

I've watched this film app. eight times, even showed it to my urban HS basketball team I coach a few years ago, and they loved it.

Without revealing any plot lines, this classic rhymer remains with me to this day: Afghanistan banastand. The most famous password since the Marx Bros fiddled around with "swordfish."

Just go get this and then wonder how you never seen or heard of it before.

Rating:
Summary: Timless Heist Pic for all ages
Review: Okay, I rate movies by what they are aiming to do; THE HOT ROCK aims to entertain, make you smile, and infuse a sense of camaraderie while rooting for crooks. With that in mind, I would think that only Cyclops OD'd on Visine would rate this less than all the stars on a clear summer night

I've watched this film app. eight times, even showed it to my urban HS basketball team I coach a few years ago, and they loved it.

Without revealing any plot lines, this classic rhymer remains with me to this day: Afghanistan banastand. The most famous password since the Marx Bros fiddled around with "swordfish."

Just go get this and then wonder how you never seen or heard of it before.

Rating:
Summary: Can't go wrong, all ages, timeless
Review: Okay, I rate movies by what they are aiming to do; THE HOT ROCK aims to entertain, make you smile, and lend a sense of camaraderie while rooting for crooks. With that in mind, only Cyclops on Visine couldn't rate this anything other than a clear summer night sky.

I've watched this film app. eight times, even showed it to my urban HS basketball team I coach a few years ago, and they loved it.

Without revealing any plot lines, this classic rhymer remains with me to this day: Afghanistan banastand. The most famous password since the Marx Bros fiddled around with "swordfish."

Just go get this and then wonder how you never seen it before.