Kurt Russell has been away from cinemas since Death Proof (2007) but what better a role to see him return than as an art thieving motorcycle daredevil. Unfortunately The Art of the Steal is not geared for revitalising careers or sub-genres as such but is a gratifying crime romp reminiscent of 90s post-Tarantino heist flicks.
Russell plays Crunch Calhoun, a likeable but hard-done-by ex-con who finds work as a daredevil biker after serving time for a bungled art robbery. Calhoun is tempted back into the life of crime by his old team and half brother Nicky (Matt Dillon) who plan to steal then duplicate an ancient church shunned gospel (according to James). The clan then aim to sell the fake versions to unwitting buyers and vanish with the cash into early retirement. Thankfully for our benefit, things go awry.
Despite a punchy pace The Art of the Steal feels a tad bog standard due to its sloppy craft. The boys reuniting for one last job element and a narrated key heist points montage are just two overused staples that hinder the whole. Along with a car-trunk set conversation between Crunch and Nicky which stints on Out Of Sight’s similar scene (minus the sexual tension), adding to the tired familiarity.
Like a lazier Ocean’s Eleven (2001) but a lot less slicker, the film plods along but is let down by clichés, meagre direction (by Jonathan Sobol) and scanty production values. Despite a Polish prison set opening, amongst other Euro-based sequences which breathe life into a vast cluster of ideas, the film feels unstable and could all fall apart at any second. The fact that it doesn’t is a miracle.
The ensemble cast play well. Matt Dillon and Jay Baruchel offer great support along with Terence Stamp’s ex-art thief turned federal advisor Samuel Winter. A lot of the comedy dialogue fails to spark but the occasional line tickles. Kurt Russell’s pirate japes at a home invader are amusing along with Stamp’s prickly relationship with a co-worker.
Despite its fractured narrative, misjudged dialogue and production flaws, The Art Of The Steal is a zesty romp that does its cast well. With a punchy enough script that makes the slapdash affair half entertaining, it is far from riveting but an enjoyable enough use of 90 minutes.
Daniel has awarded The Art of the Steal three Torches of Truth
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