hilbertjl With a generous peppering of dark humor, some all around great acting and a vibe that just drips late 1970's, Life of Crime is a fun ride. While it's inevitably compared with other similar films, I prefer to just look at it on its own. To that end, I'd caution a potential viewer against expecting pure comedy - the situation and some of the characters are definitely disturbing in some aspects. But the cast clicks well together and makes those funny moments hit home. Another caution - if you're not into period feel, you may find this film frustrating to watch. It's so well-placed in 1978 that it looks like it could have actually been filmed then (well except for modern technical details). I did notice one anachronism but apart from that it was flawless in depicting its era.In short, it's a great flick to watch if you're in the mood for something gritty and dotted with black comedy, something funky and unusual with a lot of sleaze and just enough class thrown in to make its story worth your time.

Sean Lamberger A loose prequel of sorts for the criminal players of Jackie Brown, based on Elmore Leonard's novel The Switch. It's not Jackie, no two ways about it, and it's unfair to compare the two... unfair, but inevitable since they're so spiritually related. The stakes are much lower this time, with a simple kidnapping plot the main point of action and few of the deliciously tangled interwoven story lines of the Tarantino flick. In Leonard's hands that still made for a wildly entertaining read, but on the screen it feels a bit on the shallow side. This translation is missing the charm and finesse of its source material, too, and a little of that spice can really go a long way. John Hawkes manages a really convincing, greasy De Niro impression as the soft-hearted enforcer Louis, while Mos Def's take on mastermind Ordell Robbie (originally played by Samuel L. Jackson) is less indebted to his predecessor. Jennifer Aniston is good as the repressed trophy wife / tennis mom / kidnappee, but the rest of the cast just seems like they're wearing costumes and playing games. They take themselves lightly, so it's tough for me to see the situation as all that serious. It's fine, superficial at worst, but there's little wonder why it slipped under the radar without a whimper when it hit the screens a couple of years ago.

Lee Eisenberg I learned of Elmore Leonard when I saw "Get Shorty", based on one of his novels. I later saw "Jackie Brown" and "52 Pick-Up", also based on his novels. And now there's "Life of Crime". It's another good one. During the first few minutes I thought that it was going to have the same plot as "Fargo", but it has a different story. The characters are the types that you can care about, even the unctuous ones, and the violence helps move the plot along as opposed to being gratuitous. No, it's not a masterpiece, but it's still an enjoyable movie. I especially liked what Jennifer Aniston's character does with the cigarette.I wonder what Elmore Leonard would have written had he lived longer.

GeneralUrsus Life of Crime is a wonderful, quirky little gem from writer Elmore Leonard who specialized in off-beat characters, fast moving plots and catchy dialogue. The film doesn't feature explosions or car chases but, what it does have are a stable of terrific characters colorfully brought to life by a veteran cast of actors in Tim Robbins, Jennifer Aniston, Mos Def and John Hawkes. Director Daniel Schecter who also adapted the screenplay has done a great job pulling this film together and highlighting all of the wonderful 1970's nuances into a wonderful pastiche. Life of Crime based on Leonard's novel Switch is a solid adaption and perhaps the best representation of the characters and mood Leonard creates in his books. The action has a methodical pace, but, it is never boring.The plot is simple but, absorbing due to the strong performances by the leads as well as some very comical character turns from Will Forte as a Country Club tennis pro with an interest in Aniston. Mark Boone Junior is both menacing and memorable as a Natzi sympathizer with an armory of guns and rifles at hand's reach. Isla Fisher is terrific as a clever mistress whose machinations just might pay off.The humor is dry and there are several good laughs throughout. Overall Life of Crime is a well-directed, tightly constructed and entertaining caper film that packs some suspense , humor and solid performances into it's compact 90 minute running time.