Disorganized Crime

Disorganized Crime (1989)

Director: Jim Kouf

Writer: Jim Kouf

Cast: Hoyt Axton, Corbin Bernsen, Rubén Blades, Fred Gwynne, Ed O'Neill, Lou Diamond Phillips, Daniel Roebuck, William Russ

Synopsis:

Career criminal Frank Salazar (Bernsen) reaches out to four buddies to help him pull off a bank heist in small-town Montana. Before he can meet his colleagues, he is arrested by a pair of Detectives from Newark, George Denver (O'Neill) and Bill Lonigan (Roebuck). Unfortunately, Frank's accomplices - Max Green (Gwynne), Carlos Barrios (Blades), Ray Forgy (Phillips) and Nick Bartkowski (Russ) - are all unaware of his situation and make the trip to Montana anyway. While being transported back to New Jersey, Frank escapes police custody and goes on the lam. Meanwhile, the remaining four criminals must plan and pull off the intended job in less than a day.

First Impressions:

I didn't see this in theaters; I caught it a few years after release on home video. On my initial viewing, I'd have to say I liked the film. There's something about a heist movie that appeals to me. Maybe it's seeing a well-laid out plan come together, or maybe it's just the building tension that's common to these types of movies. I'm not sure what it is, but I like them, even if they're comedic films like this one. It's been a while since I've popped this one into the old Blu-Ray player, but I'm excited to see how it holds up to a more critical eye.

Story/Direction:

 "Montana! What the hell am I doing in Montana? Fucking bullshit. I need a drink!"

 As mentioned above, the story in this film revolves around the heist of a small-town bank. The film doesn't dally at all, and after a brief introductory scene of Frank casing the bank, the film jumps right into the story. No-fuss, no muss. Like I also mentioned earlier, I'm a fan of heist movies because I find it satisfying to see a well-laid plan implemented and come to fruition. Although there are a few bits that tend to ruffle my suspension of disbelief a bit, this film provides that. Now, I'm not one of those irritating assholes that frequently say about movies, "Oh, that's SO unrealistic, that would never happen." In fact, I hate those guys, they suck, and they're not as smart as they think they are. However, this movie's plot makes even me scratch my head in wonderment of how the characters can do all they do in the time they're given. To give you an idea, in one 24 hour span, the crooks have time to wreck their car, attend an arraignment, steal a new car, rob several convenience and liquor stores, bail out someone from jail, case the bank, prep the heist (which includes building several explosives) and, of course, rob the damn bank. It's a tall order for just one day. 

However, despite the main characters' somewhat dubious time management abilities, the overall story is enjoyable and very silly (silly is good). The situations the characters find themselves in are all pretty amusing, whether its George's failed attempts to cross a rushing river (losing his pants in the process), Frank's aimless wandering around the Montana countryside or Carlos and Nick constantly being at each other's throats, it's all an enjoyable watch. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I laughed during the movie, especially since I knew what was coming. To me, that's the sign of a well-crafted comedy. Also, unlike many old comedies, the jokes weren't topical and didn't date the movie. You could set it during contemporary times, and most of the jokes would still work. When all is said and done, I really enjoyed the story.

Acting:

The cast in this film is a mixed bag of industry veterans and relative newcomers. I love Fred Gwynne's performance here as the explosive expert Max Green. He plays the part like it's out of a hammy 1930s Noire film, and it's just perfect. This was one of Gwynne's last movies (My Cousin Vinny being his last one), and it showcases how good of a comedic actor he was. 

William Russ also does a great job as the constantly miserable safe-cracker, Nick Bartkowski. Russ plays the role with a paranoid and sarcastic edge, making him the funniest member of the cobbled-together crew. Plus, his chemistry with Rubén Blades really makes the rivalry between their characters all the much better.

Of course, I gotta mention the legend that is Ed O'Neill as Detective George Denver. O'Neill is a master at playing supremely confident characters, despite being massively incompetent. It's Denver's stupidity that sets the whole film in motion, and even though the character is a complete jackass, you still kinda root for him. 

Visual/Special Effects:

Nothing really do see here. There are no special effects in the film, and while there are plenty of guns, very few of them are actually discharged. The film doesn't even have a distinct visual style. Moving on...

Score/Soundtrack:

Unlike many comedies at the time, Disorganized Crime didn't have an accompanying soundtrack and stuck to an original score, which was composed by David Newman. The score wasn't terribly memorable, however, but it wasn't bad. I don't find myself humming it in the shower, though, so I can't quite give it top marks.

Action:

While not an action movie in the least, there are a few exciting bits to be found, including a rough canoe ride through river rapids and a man chasing after a car on foot. There's also a decent amount of slapstick comedy in here, including not one, but TWO pig shit gags. The best bits of "action" in the film are derived from Frank's misadventures in the wilderness, including being chased by a puma and being attacked by ants.

Final Verdict:

This is the type of movie that I've expected to be disappointed with after reviewing it, but I'm pleased to say this was not the case here. While I enjoyed the film in my youth, I learned to appreciate it a little more after the viewing. Check it out if you dig 80s comedies or just like heist movies.