#LifeOfCrime, Hollywood English Film Movie Review, #JohnsonThomas Rating: * * 1/2

#LifeOfCrime, Hollywood English Film Movie Review, #JohnsonThomas Rating: * * 1/2

                                      

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 #LifeOfCrime(English)Rating: * * ½ Ripping Tarantino but without the accompanying excitement. This movie version of Elmore Leonard's "The Switch"- story of a semi-botched kidnapping of a rich land developer's wife by ragtag shysters lacks style. It’s also a little too light-weight to be taken seriously.  Period sharp but flimsy on bite. #PVRPictures #JenniferAniston #Isla Fisher #TimRobbins #DanielSchechter #John Hawkes #YasiinBey #AshokAmritrajProductions #GothamGroup

English film review

Johnson Thomas

Period heavy Rip-off

Film: Life of crime       

Cast: John Hawkes, Yasiin Bey, Jennifer Aniston, Isla Fisher,Will Forte, Tim Robbins

Director: Daniel Schechter

Rating: * * 1/2

Running Time: 94 min.

Synopsis:Two criminals (John Hawkes and Yasiin Bey) help a woman (Jennifer Aniston) take revenge on her husband after he refuses to pay a ransom fee when they kidnap her in this adaptation of the Elmore Leonard book, Switch. Dan Schechter directs from his own adapted script. The story features two of the same characters from the book that  Tarantino’s ‘Jackie Brown’ was based on

Review

Paying homage to popular films and writers is never easy- especially when you have nothing new to show for it. Daniel Schechter nevertheless, attempts to fashion a befitting memorial to Elmore Leonard’s 1978 novel ‘The Switch’ with script adaptation by Schechter himself.  Though eye-pleasing , this one doesn’t have the wherewithal to stir your senses. Frankly, you won’t be much disappointed if you don’t expect the smart humor of Leonard driven successes like  ‘Get Shorty’ or ‘Jackie Brown.’

It’s depression in Motor City of the 70’s  and Ordell Robbie (Bey) has just discovered a new vein of hope in successful suburban businessman Frank Dawson (Tim Robbins)’s less-than-legal additional assets secreted away in the Bahamas, along with much younger mistress Melanie (Isla Fisher). His trophy wife Mickey (Aniston), who Ordell and team mates,Louis (John Hawkes), Richard(Mark Boone Jr) kidnap for the booty, has absolutely no knowledge of her boorish husband’s illicit activities. Ponce she discovers the truth, comes the Switch.

The narrative plays on economically but without much energy or action. Schechter blends in a gritty, realistic feel that appears a little absurdist and a trifle jokey keeping the atmosphere slow to boil and never really achieving it’s potential punch. The period design is bang on while the original background score by the Newton Brothers’ manages to rekindle memories from yore. The understated treatment makes the involvement difficult to attain while the performances, though exacting, lack the power to hold your attention. Though the trademark Tarantino fetishes are visible, it does nothing to up the enjoyment or the thrills. Even the action is severely botched-up by the killjoy editing.  The lesson to be learnt here- too much restraint is not always a good thing!

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