Lynn Belvedere

LIFE OF CRIME

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Very partial to all of Elmore Leonard movies including “Jackie Brown”, Rum Punch”, “Get Shorty” and now “Life of Crime” since all his stories have very detailed plots, that allow the weird/wild characters to be revealed. Magnificent screenplay and there are wonderful performances by the entire cast, with the very believable performances of the two Kidnappers as they try to discover why the corrupt real-estate developer husband chooses to not pay the million dollar ransom for his wife, plus a career defining and very endearing performance by Jennifer Aniston as the Kidnapped Wife.

LIFE OF CRIME is Elmore Leonard’s twisted prequel to JACKIE BROWN (1997) featuring many of the same characters. Set in 1970′s Detroit, LIFE OF CRIME is a very black comedy based on his 1978 novel THE SWITCH that was written eight years before RUTHLESS PEOPLE (1986). Elmore Leonard fans recognised that RUTHLESS PEOPLE was a complete rip off.

Elmore Leonard did not sue for plagiarism, because in order to avoid being sued by Elmore Leonard, RUTHLESS PEOPLE was claimed to be based on the 1907 two-page short story “The Ransom of Red Chief” from author “O. Henry” about two crooks who kidnap an incredible brat. Of course a film can be based on a selected part of the premise in the source material, without needing to be a direct adaptation of the entire work. LIFE OF CRIME has a very clever premise that was previously in development at 20th Century Fox in the early 1980’s.

Before his death, author Elmore Leonard was intimately involved with Daniel Schechter’s adaptation of THE SWITCH. Understand that there are few original ideas in Hollywood, but LIFE OF CRIME completely keeps your attention, with its intricately woven plot, plus ends so much better than RUTHLESS PEOPLE, because its amazing ending makes the brisk 98 minutes of running time, a delightful pleasure. Highly Recommended.

Directed by Daniel Schechter and starring Jennifer Aniston, Isla Fisher, Will Forte, Tim Robbins, John Hawkes, Mark Boone Junior, Mos Def.

OFLC rated MA15+ (Strong sex scenes)

Official Website: http://lifeofcrimemovie.com/

In cinemas: 24 September 2014

Published by Lynn Belvedere

Once we were old enough, my parents took the whole family to the Sydney CBD cinemas every week. Thus began a lifetime interest, in going to the cinema every week, and became a passionate cinephile by watching all those very heavily edited ''Australian Film Censorship Board'' true cinéaste versions of brand new release ''Cinematograph Films''. Greater Union always gave my father (who worked in Cinema Distribution Exhibition) guest double movie passes, to every first-night ''red carpet Opening Night'' at The State Theatre Cinema at 49 Market Street. Up until his death, my dad always received ''two house seats'' for every Opening Night performance events at the Theatre Royal SYDNEY and at Her Majesty's Theatre SYDNEY. As a child, when mum choose not to go, I often went with him, to those live performance events. As a young child, I remember being taken for each new show, at both The New Theatre at 60 Sussex Street, and the Phillip Street Theatre when located at 150 Elizabeth Street, and for classical music concerts at Sydney Town Hall. = = = ★★★★★ = = = Being happy is a choice, and I have always viewed my life, as material ready be made into a series of amazing tentpole movies. My New Years Resolution is kept every year: ''Get to see/review five new live theatre shows each week, and get to see/review six new cinema movies each week'', plus is one of the Australian Cinema Pioneers, and apparently have seen far too much already, but always wanting to experience more and more each year. I am also able to do almost everything that I enjoy doing. Yes, I do have a great daytime job in I.T. as ''Software Design Project Manager'', PLUS each evening until quite late - - - Australian Cinematograph Films historical censorship consultant - product-placement consultant - mystery-shopper consultant - playwright, writer, author, director, producer, photographer, cinematographer, color-grader, subtitles proofreader - arts/ drama/ music/ film critic and judge, journalist, member FIPRESCI & FCCA & AFCA, member AACTA accredited film reviewer-critic-writer, accredited IMDB.COM critic-reviewer-author, projectionist, plus an innovative iconoclast - - - ★★★★★ LYNN BELVEDERE ★★★★★ - - - [usr 5] - - -