Den of Thieves

For a movie that's basically just _Heat_, _Heat_ this ain't. _Final rating:★★½ - Had a lot that appealed to me, didn’t quite work as a whole._

I've always wondered why nobody ever thought of pinching the banknotes that were about to be shredded or incinerated and making a killing! Well "Merrimen" (Pablo Schreiber) has alighted on just such a plan - and he aims to relieve the Federal Reserve of $30 million in a daring heist. Unfortunately for him, local cop "Nick" (Gerard Butler) has been following him for an while, and when one of his other would-be raids results in his leaving with nothing but dead policemen in his wake, "Nick" apprehends his suspected associate "Donnie" (O'Shea Jackson Jr), learns of the plan and determines to both thwart it and to apprehend his nemesis. So far, it's all quite interesting and the first half hour is pretty action packed. Thereafter, though, the whole thing sort of grinds to an halt. The planning and execution of their robbery is interspersed with the police counter-plan in a dialogue heavy - frequently peppered with some unedifying homophobic language - and clunkily delivered fashion. There are just too many characters; most people who have a gun couldn't hit a barn door with a shovel and the two leading characters do little, if anything, to engage the audience. I actually found myself wanting "Merrimen" to succeed, and Butler just hasn't the gravitas to carry this for what seemed like an endless 2¼ hours of relentless chases, misses, more chases and more misses before an ending that had a touch of chivalry to it, but that I found not worth the wait.

Alright, let's talk "Den of Thieves." This cops-and-robbers story is a solid ride, even if it takes its sweet time getting there. The plot's your standard cops versus robbers, but with a twist that tries to keep you guessing. It's a heist movie, so you've got the planning, the execution, and the inevitable double-crosses. It's not reinventing the genre, but it's got enough action to keep you engaged. The directing is solid, nothing flashy, but it gets the job done. They went for that raw, street-level feel, and the cinematography does a decent job of capturing the urban landscape. Those wide shots of LA? Yeah, they work. Now, let's get to the performances. Gerard Butler's in his element here, playing that rough-around-the-edges cop with a serious attitude. He brings that intensity you expect from him. There's a scene where his personal life intrudes on his work in a way that really highlights his character's flaws, and it's a powerful moment. Pablo Schreiber nails the hardened criminal role, no surprises there. The supporting cast does its part, and there are a few standout scenes, like the one where a younger character is introduced to the world of crime in a way that's both shocking and oddly compelling. The script is functional, it moves the plot along, but it's not exactly Shakespeare. The dialogue is there to serve the action, not to win awards. The score and sound? They're present, they amplify the action, but they don't really stand out. It's the kind of soundtrack that blends into the background, doing its job without drawing too much attention. Basically, "Den of Thieves" is a solid action flick if you're in the mood for something straightforward and entertaining. It's not going to blow your mind with originality, but it delivers on the action and the tough-guy performances. It's a good choice for a night when you just want to turn off your brain and enjoy the ride. Just don't expect any deep philosophical insights, and you'll be fine. It's a decent rental, and you'll get your fill of shootouts and tense standoffs.