Rating: 
Summary: Just a head's up . . .
Review: . . .more than a review. This is a good movie. To me, Kevin Spacey opens a film. His performances make even a mediocre film worth watching (and owning on DVD). The story is good, and not everything can be another "Se7en" or "American Beauty." Nevertheless, if you are a Spacey fan, check it out. But my real reason for posting a review was to give the head's up to any Colin Farrell fans out there . . . he's been getting a following lately, and the DVD tries to jump on that by putting him on its cover. If that entices you to pick it up as you are fresh from seeing his stellar performance in "The Recruit" or want more of his hometown accent that was offered as Bullseye, you will be sorely displeased. Mr. Farrell has no more than 5 lines in the film.
Rating:
Summary: Just a head's up . . .
Review: . . .more than a review. This is a good movie. To me, Kevin Spacey opens a film. His performances make even a mediocre film worth watching (and owning on DVD). The story is good, and not everything can be another "Se7en" or "American Beauty." Nevertheless, if you are a Spacey fan, check it out. But my real reason for posting a review was to give the head's up to any Colin Farrell fans out there . . . he's been getting a following lately, and the DVD tries to jump on that by putting him on its cover. If that entices you to pick it up as you are fresh from seeing his stellar performance in "The Recruit" or want more of his hometown accent that was offered as Bullseye, you will be sorely displeased. Mr. Farrell has no more than 5 lines in the film.
Rating: 
Summary: TOTALLY MISSED THE POINT
Review: Before I get started here, let me just point out to some of the other reviewers that this is a work of fiction "based on (not recreating) a true story" and that Kevin Spacey played Michael (not David) Lynch. That said, I was happy to find this little gem last night and surprised that I'd never heard of it. With a cast that includes Spacey, Linda Fiorentino, Peter Mullan, and Colin Farrell to go along with the beautiful Irish scenery, this movie tells it's quirky little tale in just 94 minutes. Short, sweet, and to the point. It's a shame that more movies (and reviewers) can't do the same but instead totally miss the point.
Rating:
Summary: TOTALLY MISSED THE POINT
Review: Before I get started here, let me just point out to some of the other reviewers that this is a work of fiction "based on (not recreating) a true story" and that Kevin Spacey played Michael (not David) Lynch. That said, I was happy to find this little gem last night and surprised that I'd never heard of it. With a cast that includes Spacey, Linda Fiorentino, Peter Mullan, and Colin Farrell to go along with the beautiful Irish scenery, this movie tells it's quirky little tale in just 94 minutes. Short, sweet, and to the point. It's a shame that more movies (and reviewers) can't do the same but instead totally miss the point.
Rating:
Summary: great entertainment
Review: Have just seen this dvd and was thoroughtly entertained. Kevin Spacey is one of today's greatest screen actors and this in itself was enough to make the experience good. However I really liked the way the director played the story out and the supporting cast was good too.
Rating:
Summary: Ehh, whatever.
Review: I got my hands on a copy of this film last year after months of hunting and persistence. I was a little disappointed after seeing it. There were quirky parts and typical Kevin-Spacey-good-times. But the result left me in a question mark stage. Not sure if this film is for the average Joe looking to see a flick, but it is semi-pleasing for any Spacey fan.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, normally Kevin Spacey guarantees a good movie
Review: I viewed this movie just waiting for the usual Kevin Spacey twist. It was there; kind of. However, there was not enough of it and in too convoluted of a movie. The story line is of a two-bit criminal David Lynch (Kevin Spacey) who plays just outside the line of the law. Due to antiquated rules and laws in Ireland, not only can he avoid prison, but he can also receive his unemployment check while being a happy well paid citizen who just happens to be a crook, hence the title; "Ordinary decent criminal". David Lynch at one time, a happy beatnik living in subsidized housing gained notoriety for standing up to an eviction notice on this housing prior to its demolition and in order to leave was granted a free home for his cooperation. Learning from this success he continued thumbing his nose at local law enforcement and just steals enough to support his and his cronies lifestyle. However, as an aging crook and being recently enamored with this "fame" on TV, he decides to overreach his limit and gains not only attention by the local authorities, but by members of the IRA that want a cut of his proceeds. Now things get complicated. There are several other well-known stars supporting such as Linda Fiorentino and Colin Farrell. They are never really used to their best advantage. Kevin Spacey's blissful nose thumbing attitude also comes across as a modern day twisted Leprechaun as well. It never really sets the right mood. This movie could have been so much more. I felt it was slow, poorly crafted and a waste of some spectacular actors.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing, normally Kevin Spacey guarantees a good movie
Review: I viewed this movie just waiting for the usual Kevin Spacey twist. It was there; kind of. However, there was not enough of it and in too convoluted of a movie. The story line is of a two-bit criminal David Lynch (Kevin Spacey) who plays just outside the line of the law. Due to antiquated rules and laws in Ireland, not only can he avoid prison, but he can also receive his unemployment check while being a happy well paid citizen who just happens to be a crook, hence the title; "Ordinary decent criminal". David Lynch at one time, a happy beatnik living in subsidized housing gained notoriety for standing up to an eviction notice on this housing prior to its demolition and in order to leave was granted a free home for his cooperation. Learning from this success he continued thumbing his nose at local law enforcement and just steals enough to support his and his cronies lifestyle. However, as an aging crook and being recently enamored with this "fame" on TV, he decides to overreach his limit and gains not only attention by the local authorities, but by members of the IRA that want a cut of his proceeds. Now things get complicated. There are several other well-known stars supporting such as Linda Fiorentino and Colin Farrell. They are never really used to their best advantage. Kevin Spacey's blissful nose thumbing attitude also comes across as a modern day twisted Leprechaun as well. It never really sets the right mood. This movie could have been so much more. I felt it was slow, poorly crafted and a waste of some spectacular actors.
Rating: 
Summary: What a RIP OFF!!
Review: I waited for over three years for this movie to show up in the United States. It never made it to US theaters, so that should give you a clue. Miramax knew it was terrible, and made a wise choice to not release it here. It has to be the worst movie Kevin Spacey ever made. His Irish accent was almost non existant. It looked like he didn't even try to sound Irish (My wife is from Ireland and I lived there for over a year and a half). We have over 30 Irish movies, and this is the worst, BY FAR! The cover of the DVD says that it is based on a true story. If it was, it was VERY LOOSLY based on the life of Dublin gang leader Martin Cahill. I read the book The General, and also saw the wonderful movie with the same title, starring Brendon Gleeson and Jon Voight, and both were very realistic versions of Cahill's life, and I highly recommend them! This movie, however, is very far removed from what actually happened to Cahill and his gang. Without giving away any of the plot, I will say that much of what takes place in this movie, never could have happened, in real-life Dublin. For one thing, the police (Garda) in this movie, all wore civilian clothing, which makes it hard to distinguish police from crooks or IRA members, who also wore civilian clothing. Very confusing, to say the least, as there were other gangs involved, in addition to The General's. The crimes, which is where the title comes from, as Cahill (called Michael Lynch in this movie, but WHY?)tries to commit all the crimes, with as little violence as possible. However, some of them actually involved very tricky, well-thought-out plans, which would make him, something of a genius. In Ordinary Decent Criminal, they are not adequately explained, or portrayed, at all. Linda Fiorentino plays Lynch's wife, and does a fair job with the Dublin accent, and Colin Farrell, who IS Irish, doesn't have an accent problem, but his part is so small, you hardly notice him. His name and photo, does appear on the cover, but is only there for drawing power. The only people who should buy this DVD, are die-hard Spacey fans, who will spend any amount of money to to see Kevin in ANYTHING, no matter how bad it is.
Rating:
Summary: What a RIP OFF!!
Review: I waited for over three years for this movie to show up in the United States. It never made it to US theaters, so that should give you a clue. Miramax knew it was terrible, and made a wise choice to not release it here. It has to be the worst movie Kevin Spacey ever made. His Irish accent was almost non existant. It looked like he didn't even try to sound Irish (My wife is from Ireland and I lived there for over a year and a half). We have over 30 Irish movies, and this is the worst, BY FAR! The cover of the DVD says that it is based on a true story. If it was, it was VERY LOOSLY based on the life of Dublin gang leader Martin Cahill. I read the book The General, and also saw the wonderful movie with the same title, starring Brendon Gleeson and Jon Voight, and both were very realistic versions of Cahill's life, and I highly recommend them! This movie, however, is very far removed from what actually happened to Cahill and his gang. Without giving away any of the plot, I will say that much of what takes place in this movie, never could have happened, in real-life Dublin. For one thing, the police (Garda) in this movie, all wore civilian clothing, which makes it hard to distinguish police from crooks or IRA members, who also wore civilian clothing. Very confusing, to say the least, as there were other gangs involved, in addition to The General's. The crimes, which is where the title comes from, as Cahill (called Michael Lynch in this movie, but WHY?)tries to commit all the crimes, with as little violence as possible. However, some of them actually involved very tricky, well-thought-out plans, which would make him, something of a genius. In Ordinary Decent Criminal, they are not adequately explained, or portrayed, at all. Linda Fiorentino plays Lynch's wife, and does a fair job with the Dublin accent, and Colin Farrell, who IS Irish, doesn't have an accent problem, but his part is so small, you hardly notice him. His name and photo, does appear on the cover, but is only there for drawing power. The only people who should buy this DVD, are die-hard Spacey fans, who will spend any amount of money to to see Kevin in ANYTHING, no matter how bad it is.
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