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Friday, September 10, 2004
'Criminal's' tale of a master con man leaves you feeling scammed
Gifted character actor John C. Reilly gets his first real carry-the-movie role in "Criminal," as an amoral and arrogant grifter, alienated from his family and ex-partners, who saves a young con man from being busted and recruits him for a sting that could make them both rich.
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Of course, nothing goes smoothly in Gregory Jacobs' film, which uses the Argentine movie "Nine Queens" as a starting point and shows the influences of both Steven Soderbergh, who co-produced, and the films of David Mamet.
Its first half consists of Reilly's Richard Gaddis teaching Rodrigo (Diego Luna) every con under the L.A. sun as the movie captures the feel of the city and its smoggy, seamy streets.
But it's only when the big con gets under way -- trying to sell a counterfeit federal certificate dated 1934 to a billionaire (Peter Mullan) -- that the movie kicks into gear.
Reilly has had some tougher-natured parts ("Gangs of New York"), but he's made much out of a career in recent years playing likable losers or cuckholded husbands ("Chicago," "The Good Girl," "The Hours") -- that his impenetrable and invincible Gaddis is surprising. Luna is endearing as the eager accomplice with heart and their chemistry is undeniable.
But the film is inherently calculated and cold, so smugly satisfied with itself and its surprise final trick that it seems to be running its own con to convince us the script's house of cards is actually substantial, original and slick.
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