Den of Thieves

If I wanted to be mean, I'd say Den of Thieves is to Heat what the TV movie Gridlock is to Die Hard 2. But then again, it's not that bad. The problem is that DoT is once again a product of the pernicious "gym cinematography (c)", a trend of films (especially action films) getting made by producers, directors, and actors meeting in gyms and fitness centers, as opposed to the 80s/90s where they mostly met at cocaine parties. It's like all these muscular bald guys in tank tops slapping each other's shoulders, walking with their arms a meter away from their bodies and swinging. And they're always sweating. Unlike their predecessors, the two protagonists are not trying to outsmart each other, but instead are constantly comparing cock size. The plot digressions to the families of the two members of the opposing sides are utterly disastrous, as they spend two scenes awkwardly trying to explain how their way of life affects their families. With 50 Cent in particular, we see in the first scene him threatening his daughter's boyfriend and later in the next scene his daughter telling him she loves him and that's it! That’s all it takes. WTF? What kind of puts it over the top (besides my tolerance for movies where people shoot at each other) is Pablo Schreiber, whose minimalist, contained performance really sells the illusion that there's some grand plan going on in his head. What utterly fails, however, is the macho posturing of the spoiled Butler, here playing a completely unrealistic paper moron who is probably supposed to be cool and gritty but instead acts like an eight-year-old in a leather jacket. Scenes where he eats donuts out of a bloody box at a crime scene, forces his way with a crowbar into a bank, presumably occupied by hostage-taking robbers, or his luxurious unleashing of a firefight in a convoy of cars full of civilians are where the whole concept gets buried completely. On the other hand, given that they had to break Gerald's neck for the poster photo, it may have been worth it. (20/06/2018)

We finally know how Heat could have looked like if Michael Mann hadn't directed it. What's missing here is the precision of direction, the plot sweep, the feel of concrete, the neon of LA and above all the depth and fatality of the characters. Macho Butler is over the top and Schreiber as a villain, though contrived, needed a more resonant persona. The most interesting character is 50 Cent, thanks to his family background. The original is the materialised reality of everyday life, but this copy is "just a film" that also tends to repeat the classics in places. For example, in the end, and then in the opening thrilling ambush of the armoured car. (15/04/2018)

In comparison with Butler’s movies in which he plays a Secret Service agent protecting American presidents, Den of Thieves is a revelation. It’s a gritty crime flick with tough cops acting like gangsters and bad guys who, though they look like prison thugs, know how to always stay one step ahead of the law. The main bank robbery (particularly its setting) is a good idea in the screenplay and the shootouts are properly realistic. The film borrows a lot from the classic Heat, but twenty years later. Mainly, however, if it’s a B-movie version of Mann’s classic, then it’s a damn good B-movie version. (24/12/2019)

The script has more holes than a Swiss cheese, which you can see especially during the well narrated heist and then the final twist, which is anything but clever, even though it wanted to be something like The Usual Suspects. And what do we have otherwise? A clash of two strong personalities and a story that relies on atmosphere rather than action, which we only see at the beginning and the very end. So it's a kind of second-rate Heat, and Butler is no Al Pacino, Schreiber is nowhere near a DeNiro-type personality and Gudegast can’t hold a candle to Mann. But if don’t compare, then the emphasis on the characters, the slower pace, the atmospheric realities of L.A., and the ultra-macho Butler as we want to see him, all sat well enough with me and I'll give the four slightly overrated stars, despite the botched twist. (16/05/2018)

A perfect affair after a long time! Gerard Butler plays another great, tough anti-hero, and I don't think he's had a better role since Law Abiding Citizen (it's a shame this dude does comedies, these movies suit him!). There's a great bunch of thieves, all ex-Marines, capable, intelligent, solidly equipped, who plan to rob a bank that no one has ever managed to rob before. There's less action, but when it gets down to it, it's gritty shootouts that with perfect sound, feel gritty and real, and most importantly, strategic. Butler entertained me a lot with his performance and he played the gangster cop brilliantly. Suspenseful, well shot, well thought out with an unexpected twist at the end, with the highlight of course being the bank robbery itself, which left me holding my breath. A proper guy’s flick. 85%. (12/04/2018)