The Art of the Steal Review

Posted 10 years ago by myetvmedia

Niagara Falls native, writer/director Jonathan Sobol (A Beginners Guide to Endings) brings us his latest comedy, a Canadian heist movie. Part Ocean’s 11, part Thomas Crown Affair, The Art of the Steal stars Kurt Russell, Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel, Kenneth Welsh, Jason Jones, Terence Stamp, Katheryn Winnick and Chris Diamantopoulos.

Kurt Russell plays Crunch Calhoun, a reformed art thief, fresh out of prison, trying to make a go of it as an motorcycle daredevil when the man who put him there—half-brother Nicky (Matt Dillon)—persuades him to do one last big job. A one-of-a-kind book has been confiscated by border control, and needs to be stolen back before customs realises the book is a stolen item and where it is from. Thus Crunch and Nicky go about assembling the old gang, with a couple additions. Once an elaborate plan has been concocted the plot is thickened by investigation from an incompetent interpol agent (Jason Jones) aided by one of the world’s best art thieves (Terence Stamp). What follows is a convoluted maze of double and triple crossing set in and around the Niagara Falls area.

Sobel appears to have confused convoluted plot lines with originality in the heist genre, but otherwise The Art of the Steal will have appeal to Kurt Russell fans who love a good on screen caper. It was obvious the cast had a good time making this movie and Matt Dillon, Jay Baruchel, Kenneth Welsh, Jason Jones, Terence Stamp share many good comedic lines. It is an enjoyable watch if not thoroughly original.

– Astrid Handling

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