Although American Heist was shot in Toronto it also is allegedly a remake of The Great St. Louis Bank Robbery one of Steve McQueen's worst films I didn't see that. If it is a remake it's not a great film, but for once it is an improvement of the former by far.
Adrien Brody is released from prison taking a rap alone for a job he and his brother Hayden Christensen did together. That time away from prison allowed Christensen to get into a business and even think about marrying Jordana Brewster.
But as soon as Brody is out of prison he sucks in Christensen into a convenience store robbery with a pair of his prison running buddies Akon and Tory Kittles. These two are a pair of stone cold killers with any kind of sense of morality gone from their psyches. They've got bigger plans for Brody and Christensen, a bank heist that could be worth millions.
It's a decent enough caper film, bloody as all get out when the plan fails. That last half hour has enough violence in it to satisfy any junkie. But what really gives the film life are the scenes with Brody and Christensen, they really connect as brothers. This is one of Brody's best performances since his Oscar for The Pianist, wasted some might say in a routine action film. As for Hayden Christensen the former Annakin Skywalker gives one of his best screen performances.
Action fans will like the action. Some of us who want more will appreciate what the two male leads contribute.
Adrien Brody is released from prison taking a rap alone for a job he and his brother Hayden Christensen did together. That time away from prison allowed Christensen to get into a business and even think about marrying Jordana Brewster.
But as soon as Brody is out of prison he sucks in Christensen into a convenience store robbery with a pair of his prison running buddies Akon and Tory Kittles. These two are a pair of stone cold killers with any kind of sense of morality gone from their psyches. They've got bigger plans for Brody and Christensen, a bank heist that could be worth millions.
It's a decent enough caper film, bloody as all get out when the plan fails. That last half hour has enough violence in it to satisfy any junkie. But what really gives the film life are the scenes with Brody and Christensen, they really connect as brothers. This is one of Brody's best performances since his Oscar for The Pianist, wasted some might say in a routine action film. As for Hayden Christensen the former Annakin Skywalker gives one of his best screen performances.
Action fans will like the action. Some of us who want more will appreciate what the two male leads contribute.