Best Laid Plans: The Heist Film

The vicarious thrill of watching criminals at work has drawn moviegoers since the beginning of cinema, with the “Heist Film” becoming especially revered among crime movie lovers. The film medium is particularly well-suited at depicting process in action. The “Heist Film” takes advantage of this by engaging the viewer step-by-step with the elements of a seemingly ingenious plan and then revealing the inevitable fallibility.

The six films we'll screen present the elasticity of the genre while each tale mixes mathematical precision with the foibles of a motley crew of robbers, a recipe that ensures juicy roles for a parade of gifted character actors. The genre is also ripe for social commentary and moral quandaries, leavened by the unique visceral thrill of action cinema.  We'll discuss the history of the crime film genre and explore the careers of the directors and collaborators, followed by post screening discussion.