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11 Harrowhouse -
Candice Bergen. Sorry, I got distracted there. This decent diamond heist movie has enough things going for it to make it worth watching. One is the cast, which besides Grodin includes legends like John Gielgud, James Mason, Trevor Howard, and you guessed it, Candice Bergen, each of whom do what they do best. Gielgud's smug diamond exchange manager and Howard's equally smug millionaire stand out, as does Grodin's bemused straight man, but its Bergen's racecar enthusiast who adds the secret sauce. I also found the commentary about the diamond industry insightful, especially what I suspected about the insidious things it does to control prices. As for the voiceover narration, I'm normally not a fan of it in general, especially if it's overused. However, Grodin's wit and the way he adds uncertainty won me over. If it were a DVD commentary, it would rank as one of my favorites.
Despite what the movie does well, it is matinee or rainy afternoon fare at best. While I believe it and Grodin's performance are rated too low, I wouldn't be surprised if I never see the movie on a list of the best heist flicks. If you also admire anyone in the cast, like Candice Bergen, and/or have any interest in the diamond business, you will probably have a good time with it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to daydreaming about Candice Bergen behind the wheel of a racecar.
Candice Bergen. Sorry, I got distracted there. This decent diamond heist movie has enough things going for it to make it worth watching. One is the cast, which besides Grodin includes legends like John Gielgud, James Mason, Trevor Howard, and you guessed it, Candice Bergen, each of whom do what they do best. Gielgud's smug diamond exchange manager and Howard's equally smug millionaire stand out, as does Grodin's bemused straight man, but its Bergen's racecar enthusiast who adds the secret sauce. I also found the commentary about the diamond industry insightful, especially what I suspected about the insidious things it does to control prices. As for the voiceover narration, I'm normally not a fan of it in general, especially if it's overused. However, Grodin's wit and the way he adds uncertainty won me over. If it were a DVD commentary, it would rank as one of my favorites.
Despite what the movie does well, it is matinee or rainy afternoon fare at best. While I believe it and Grodin's performance are rated too low, I wouldn't be surprised if I never see the movie on a list of the best heist flicks. If you also admire anyone in the cast, like Candice Bergen, and/or have any interest in the diamond business, you will probably have a good time with it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going back to daydreaming about Candice Bergen behind the wheel of a racecar.