Movie Review: Life of Crime

The first thing that came to mind when I heard of this movie was that John Kiriamiti’s classic book had been turned into a movie. ‘I must see this,’ I told myself. However after watching it, one feels like it leans more towards ‘My life with a criminal’ by the same author.

The movie is about two small-time criminals, Louis and Yasiin Bey, who in 1978 Detroit decide to kidnap a wealthy housewife Mickey Dawson (Jennifer Aniston). Her drunken husband, Frank, is initially miserable that the thugs are threatening to kill Mickey if they do not get the ransom money.

Unfortunately as this happens, Frank’s cunning and malicious side dish, Melanie, points out that he was planning to divorce Mickey anyway and there is no point in giving the thugs the ransom yet he no longer loves her.

Does he really want to spend all his money on ransom and child support? Or is it possible that the kidnappers have just done him a huge favour?

It is a sharp setup kind of like Ruthless People, but that movie came after the Leonard book. And the performers are totally game. But the screenplay is muddled, the period details distractingly uneven and the action choppy. It almost feels as though the director had to balance an overload of input — a suspicion strengthened by the presence of more than two dozen credited producers.

Thumbs up

This is your movie especially if you love turns and twists. The cast is just awesome and talented. ‘Life of Crime’ is one of those movies that run on a high, with the old school setting of 1970’s being well perfected.

Thumbs down

The mode of kidnapping is not scary or street gangster enough to keep you glued to the screen

Verdict

Turns and twists keep the movie going and interesting. The director has perfected that in this movie and that is why it is a must-watch.