One of the few successful adaptations of a
Donald Westlake novel (although Westlake himself has done some
terrific screenplays). And while I can't say I see Redford as
Dortmunder, the cast was still terrific: Redford, George Segal,
Ron Leibman, Zero Mostel, Moses Gunn and Charlotte Rae as the mom
who relaxes by listening to traffic noises.
If you don't know of it, The Hot Rock is a
diamond. Redford and his gang are asked to steal it. That makes
it a heist film, I suppose. A very successful heist film. There
are many heists. All of them successful, except.....they keep on
having to have another one. Heist. And if I say more the fun is
ruined for anyone who hasn't seen it yet.
I particularly love the ending, with the music
reflecting Redford's mood as it switched from a 70s techno beat
to New Orleans jazz and back again. Nice end to the tension.
Since Redford is another major movie star who
doesn't actually have all that many great movies to his credit,
this one makes his top ten list easily.
Has anyone here seen Bank Shot? George C. Scott
is in that one, which involves stealing an entire building.
