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80The cast is brilliant, not least of all Reilly -- vaguely despicable, smooth as an oil slick and altogether mesmerizing in the most impressive screen performance he's yet given.
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Captures Los Angeles in a straightforward, naturalistic way, neighborhood-hopping like a native.
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75The movie is fast and fun. Best of all are the actors, who likewise seem to know they've lucked into a rare good gig.
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75Jacobs keeps the action moving rapidly and gets solid performances from an ensemble cast, especially the rumpled Reilly.
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75Apart from Luna's exquisitely subtle performance, Criminal's strongest suit is the so-artless-it's-artful cinematography by Chris Menges, which gives the impression of being shot by a fly on the wall. Similarly, Alex Wurman's jazz-infused score contributes to the improvisational atmosphere.
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75Just as exciting and socially vivid as Bielinsky's. Yet, somehow it's more stressful. The American characters practically sweat desperation.
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75A respectable caper movie in the tradition of "The Sting" and David Mamet's "Heist."
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75The performances of Luna and, especially, Reilly, make the film more enthralling than it perhaps deserves to be.
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70Taut and straightforward and a little grungy, which is how these movies ought to be.
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70Even with its tepid lead performance, Criminal is a clever and diverting caper film. At least, it is as long as you don't think too hard about it.
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70Reilly and Luna make a chemically appealing screen team. Reilly, one of the best working actors in the indie side of things, is wonderfully world-weary, manipulative and roguishly charming.
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70The main reason to see Criminal isn't for the mental workout it might offer but simply to watch these two appealing performers act and act and act.
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67Movies about cons, if well done, are hard to resist – and such is the case with Criminal.
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67The performances are winning -- Gyllenhaal is particularly sharp as an aggrieved sibling, and there's mutual zing in her scenes with Reilly.
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The resulting film, while derivative, is worth the price of admission.
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63Since you have probably not seen "Nine Queens," Criminal will be new to you, and I predict you'll like the remake about as much as I liked the original -- three stars' worth. If, however, you've seen "Nine Queens," you may agree that some journeys, however entertaining, need only be taken once.
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63The casting falters on every level compared with Queens.
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63Subtly gaining momentum as it dexterously glides through pages of good-time, snappy dialogue, Criminal offers no time to catch your breath, let alone enough to think through its reality-stretching story flaws and subtext-lacking motives.
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63Jacobs is a competent director but he doesn't bring anything extra to this shell game of a narrative.
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60Although Criminal retains its source material's cleverness and intricate plotting, something seems to have been lost in the translation.
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60The remake is infinitely more entertaining if you haven't seen "Nine Queens" -- the details are different, but the surprises are the same and something of the first film's underlying darkness has been lost in translation.
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60Apart from an irritating plot glitch this is a solidly entertaining ride, more than competently directed and played.
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60He (Jacobs) and cinematographer Chris Menges compose the film largely in close-ups, and the effect is appropriately unnerving. Regardless, unfavorable comparisons to "Nine Queens" are inevitable.
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60More a tribute than a remake, Steven Soderbergh-approved take on Argentine hit "Nine Queens" isn't quite as sharp or surprising as the original, one of the best scam pics of the past decade.
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60The filmmakers have lovingly retained and expanded on that film's only flaws, some implausible plot details. But even without the same cultural significance, it's still a good story, and the interesting cast.
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58The 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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50Here's the problem: The movie was made just four years ago by Argentinian director Fabian Bielinsky. It is called "Nine Queens," and it is vastly superior to this blah U.S. remake from director Gregory Jacobs.
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Criminal is an exercise where viewers are likely to ponder not "How did the characters do it?" but "Who cares?"
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50Effective at times, and Gyllenhaal shows a new side of her talent, but the main impression is of first-rate performers doing second-rate work.
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50Criminal is happy to reprise Fabian Bielinsky's original note for note, and it's a listless, dutiful affair -- a cover version played out of obligation, not inspiration.
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50The problems lie not with the actors but with a glib approach that exposes the flaws of the original story.
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50In the end, coincidence undoes Criminal.
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50Can be fun. Just don't think about it too hard.
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50Without any glimmers of depth or subtext.
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50This plodding mediocrity displays none of the flair or the compelling trickery that enlivened its 2002 prototype.
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User score distribution:
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Positive: 5 out of 9
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Mixed: 0 out of 9
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Negative: 4 out of 9
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danielwtf0
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GabiB.1Horrible compared to the original. Stop running from subtitles and go watch a much better actor, Ricardo Darin, star in a much better movie.
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Chuck8