Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageThe Steal (1994)
Director: John Hay
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Williams is the mysterious lawyer who acts as commissioning officer for a PC scam to liberate funds from an evil merchant bank whose investment portfolios have devastated the Asian demi-paradise of Golanda. To this end, he enlists brash computer hacker Slater and old pal Molina, a reserved council traffic-planner. Pretty much a non-starter as a Brit caper-comedy, writer/director Hay's barely adequate picture is nevertheless sweet in the way it fails. It's like the kind of keen, bad school essay which shows all the heartbreaking evidence of a pupil having heard, but not learned, from teacher's advice. In their efforts to make an economic modern Ealing comedy the producers have thrown everything into the pudding: American star, impersonations, car chases, rural interludes - all executed in delightfully mid-scale, lightweight, familiar and mildly diverting style. The rest is spot the TV actor. Undemanding, old-fashioned and old hat.Author: WH
User reviews of this film
-
- Chris Gibbs said...
- Posted on Nov 21 2007 23:33 I thought the film was entertaining and funny in places, enjoyed watching this film
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: John Hay
Producer: Gary Kurtz, Barbara Stone
Cast: Heathcote Williams, Alfred Molina, Helen Slater, Patricia Hayes, Stephen Fry, Jack Dee, Peter Bowles, Dinsdale Landen, Bryan Pringle, Patricia Hayes full cast
Duration: 91 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Michael Haneke discusses 'The White Ribbon'
Dave Calhoun met with Michael Haneke in Munich to mull over the details of his Palme d'Or winner, 'The White Ribbon'
Review a Coens' movie and win!
A signed copy of the script for 'A Serious Man' is up for grabs, and we want you to look to your inner film reviewer to win it
Ang Lee talks 'Taking Woodstock'
Ang Lee talks to Tom Huddleston about his tale of the men behind history’s greatest music festival
Roland Emmerich's guide to disaster movies
Ahead of the release of '2012', Roland Emmerich offers his ten tips on creating the perfect global catastrophe
Hippies who work for The Man
To celebrate George Clooney comedy 'The Men who Stare at Goats', we look back at six memorable onscreen hippies who fought the system from within
Sheffield Doc/Fest round-up
Sheffield’s annual Doc/Fest is Britain’s largest documentary festival. Edward Lawrenson learnt a few new things by taking the train north.
The Coen brothers discuss 'A Serious Man'
Masters of contrary comedy, Joel and Ethan Coen have struck gold again with their latest, ‘A Serious Man’
Grant Heslov: interview
Grant Heslov, director of 'The Men who Stare at Goats' talks about his old pal George Clooney, his interest in the paranormal, and his fond memories of working on 'Happy Days'
Ten inspirations behind 'Avatar'?
Time Out ponders the influences behind James Cameron's anticipated space-opera on the basis of the trailer
Time Out's 50 greatest animated films with commentary by Terry Gilliam
In celebration of the release of Pixar's 'Up' and Wes Anderson's 'Fantastic Mr Fox', read our rundown of fifty classic feature length animations
What do you think?
Post your review now