Criminal is a stylish, well-acted drama

Criminal

Director: Gregory Jacobs

Cast: John C. Reilly, Diego Luna, Peter Mullan, Maggie Gyllenhaal

Cert: 18.

One of Hollywood’s best character actors, Reilly, here gets a rare opportunity to star in a film, and he shows many of today’s so-called stars just what a large slice of talent can achieve. He’s quite, quite outstanding.

This film is based on an Argentian heist drama - Nine Queens - which, for all that this re-make is good, was much better.

Reilly and Luna play a couple of losers who indulge themselves in minor and usually botched scams and cons. Until they come across the ‘Big One’, an art scam on dealer Mullan.

Problem is sister Gyllenhaal, who works in the Los Angeles hotel where the art dealer is staying and who wants to put her brother back on the straight and narrow.

It’s a stylish, well-acted drama that explores vaunted ambition and desperation; and Reilly shines throughout.

Star Rating: 4/5