Life of Crime
Common Sense says
- R
- 2014
- 94 minutes
Parents say
Kids say
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A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Life of Crime is a crime comedy based on a classic Elmore Leonard novel. There's lots of language, including uses of "f--k" and "s--t," as well as some brief but strong sexual content. A couple of brief sex scenes include topless women, and one of the main characters is a married man who's cheating on his wife (there's a sex scene -- no nudity -- between him and his new lover). A woman is kidnapped, some blood is shown, and a man goes on a shooting spree, but violence generally isn't particularly intense. The characters definitely don't face any consequences for their crimes, and in some cases, good people are persuaded to turn bad. Teen fans of Quentin Tarantino may be interested in seeing this, since it has a connection to his film Jackie Brown, with some of the same characters. But it's recommended for mature viewers only.
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What's the story?
In 1978, ex-cons Ordell Robbie (Yasiin Bey, a.k.a. Mos Def) and Louis Gara (John Hawkes) cook up a plan to pull in some easy money by kidnapping aging trophy wife Mickey (Jennifer Aniston). Her husband, housing magnate Frank Dawson (Tim Robbins), has a secret, illegal account filled with over $1 million, and Ordell and Louis know all about it. Unfortunately, Frank doesn't want Mickey back. He's just filed for divorce and hopes to marry his new, younger lover, Melanie (Isla Fisher). Stymied by this new information and losing control of the situation, the kidnappers must come up with an even more brilliant plan.
Is it any good?
This film qualifies as enjoyable entertainment, or maybe a "B"-level movie, rather than a great movie. Based on a 1978 novel by Elmore Leonard and featuring some of the same characters from his 1992 novel Rum Punch -- which was the basis for Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown -- LIFE OF CRIME will no doubt suffer from comparisons. And it definitely does feel like the lesser of the two films, but that doesn't necessarily make it a bad film.
Writer/director Daniel Schechter brings a certain kind of economical edge to the production. It doesn't have any big set pieces or action scenes, but the general combination of the period clothes and sets, the great cast, and the colorful dialogue tends to make for a brisk, forward-moving energy. And the conversations that try to anticipate the next move conjure up a kind of low-key suspense that really works.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about Life of Crime's violence. Even though the kidnappers are nice to their female victims, what does it mean to kidnap someone? Why is it always a violent crime?
Frank leaves his wife for a younger woman. Why would he do this? How is sex portrayed in the movie overall?
Which characters did you end up rooting for in this movie? Are they good people? What lessons do they learn? Why are they so likable? What would the real-life consequences be for their behavior/actions?
Why do you think filmmakers included the white supremacist character with the Nazi propaganda? How did this material affect you? Did he get what he deserved? Why or why not?
Movie details
- In theaters: August 29, 2014
- On DVD or streaming: October 28, 2014
- Cast: Mos Def, Jennifer Aniston, John Hawkes
- Director: Daniel Schechter
- Studios: Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions
- Genre: Comedy
- Run time: 94 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: language, some sexual content and violence
- Last updated: March 13, 2020
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