When people discuss the films of Robert Redford I’m often
surprised that no one ever seems to mention THE HOT ROCK. The film didn’t do
tremendous business at the box office but fans that have seen it love the film.
It had a huge group of the most talented people involved in making it from
screenwriter William Goldman who had written the screenplays for both HARPER
and BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID to director Peter Yates who four years
prior had made BULLITT. The cast included not just Redford but George Segal,
Ron Leibman, Zero Mostel, Paul Sand and Moses Gunn. So why wasn’t it a huge
hit?
For those who’ve never seen the movie it is based on the
novel by Donald E. Westlake involving his character Dortmunder (Redford). Just
getting out of prison as the film opens he’s picked up by his brother in law
Kelp (Segal). Even though he’s sworn never to work with Kelp he can’t help but
be intrigued by a proposition he brings to him.
The pair meet with Dr. Amusa (Gunn), a representative of an
African nation that wants them to steal a priceless gem for them now on display
in the Brooklyn Museum. The diamond was stolen from their country and for them
this is a matter of honor. Amusa agrees to front them the money and supplies they
will need.
The pair recruit their team to accomplish the task: Stan
Murch (Leibman) will be their driver and Allan Greenburg their explosive
experts. The plan is laid out on how to steal the gem but continues to change.
In addition to that the expenses continue to rise. And even when the final
theft goes down complications place the gem in the most precarious of places.
When you watch you’ll find out where.
The gem becomes available to them again but each time it
comes within their grasps something else goes wrong to make it unavailable once
more. Therein lies the biggest comedic take in the film, the elusiveness of the
gem. Always within reach but not quite there.
This comedy of circumstances has moments that might be belly
laughs but plays more along the lines of a long number of chuckles instead. The
combination of deft writing and superb acting on display here work so well
together that you find yourself rooting for the thieves in spite of the fact
that they are criminals. And the circumstances that take the jewel out of their
hands off and on are hilarious when you think about them. None of them are
things that the group could have predicted or done anything about. It is chance
items that play into their dilemma.
There isn’t a bad performance to be seen here. Each and
every actor is at the top of their game. Yates direction is perfect. Westlake’s
story and Goldman’s script are marvelous. Now it’s up to a new generation to
discover how great the movie is. Fortunately Twilight Time has released the
film on blu-ray and access to it returns. Extras on their edition include an
isolated score track (composed by Quincy Jones), a commentary track featuring
film historians Lem Dobbs, Julie Kirgo and Nick Redman and the original
theatrical trailer. As with all Twilight Times released it’s limited to just
3,000 copies so make sure you get yours as soon as possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment