The worst thing about Heist (2015), starring Robert De Niro, is the title. This is not a heist film.
I mean, it is for the first 15 minutes or so, but then it turns into Speed. Remember Speed, the ’90s thriller starring Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves? Yeah, Heist is more like that—down to the fact that most of it takes place on a bus that has to keep moving or else disaster strikes.
But you know what? I actually like Heist. I think the majority of critics got it wrong. At its core, it’s a fun thriller that makes the most of its all-star cast—which is stacked, by the way. Apart from Robert De Niro (who, for the record, does an excellent job), the film stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Dave Bautista, Kate Bosworth, Gina Carano, and even Morris Chestnut, who turns in a fantastic performance, breathing menace into every scene.
Is Heist as good as the films it was inspired by? No. But it’s certainly better than the forgettable Netflix fare that dominates today. The film has spectacle, great special effects, excellent sound mixing, high stakes, and plenty of action. And you know what else? It’s funny at times—I laughed.
Critics didn’t like Heist. At least, the professional ones didn’t. Audiences, on the other hand, did. Right now, it holds a 6.1 on IMDb and a 2.7 on Letterboxd—above average. So what did the critics miss? Was it that Heist was a video-on-demand release with only a limited theatrical run? Was it because it was a genre film that wasn’t fashionable at the time? I don’t know. But this movie deserved far more respect than it got.
And let’s talk about Robert De Niro’s performance for a moment. In a lot of films like this, when De Niro is the big name, he’s often reduced to a glorified cameo, trotting out his usual mannerisms—a parody of himself. But here, as Francis “The Pope” Silva, a casino owner tied to the mafia, obstinate in his principles and facing his own mortality, he actually delivers. He could have phoned it in, but he gives the role gravity—something this genre rarely gets.
Now, I won’t pretend Heist is flawless. There are plot holes. A few moments border on the ridiculous. But if you accept the film for what it is—an action thriller that entertains and features some excellent performances—it’s absolutely worth recommending.
I’ve seen terrible films. Once you’ve sat through Mac and Me, Mutant Hunt, or anything made by The Asylum, you learn to appreciate the value of simple entertainment. A movie that holds your attention, that’s fun, exciting, and delivers spectacle—that’s worth something.
Heist isn’t perfect. It won’t change your life. But it’s better than average. And if you’re looking for a Robert De Niro film that may have escaped your notice, Heist is just the ticket.
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