3.0/5
It's easy to diss a film where cops hang out with hookers and have more tattoos, guns and swag than the gangsters. And of course, the bad guys are just a bunch of convicts with families. But in all honesty, Den Of Thieves is more than its clichés and run-of-the-mill cops and robbers saga. This heist film has a veritable edge. The action is intense and robust. The characters may seem loose, but they've got more going for them than may seem apparent. Any action film that can blur the lines between good guys and bad guys deserves a watch. More so, when the leading man delivers a solid performance.Gerard Butler is Big Nick, the head of a special LA police unit called Major Crimes. His job is to hunt the smart crooks. Those guys who kill cops and plan crimes that the usual police departments can't crack in an instant. Merrimen (Pablo Schreiber) is the head of a gang that plans elaborate heists. The film kicks off as Merrimen and his gang try to rob an armoured car. During the robbery they end up killing two guards. They resent becoming cop killers and that's exactly what puts them into the radar of Nick. From there on, Nick and his team of ‘gangster cops’ keep a tight track on Merrimen and his gang. There's a big heist in the offing even as tension between the two parties runs high. Den Of Thieves instantly feels like a throw back to Michael Mann's Heat, Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's movies with a little bit of The Usual Suspects thrown in. One dialogue even makes a reference to Casablanca. But the film is more than just some cheap copy. Yes, it's an action film with a far-fetched heist at the centre, but this film genuinely makes you feel for both leading characters – Nick and Merrimen. Action flicks are not known to make their audience think.
Director / writer Christian Gudegast makes his filmmaking debut, but he's written some action flicks before. Thankfully, his directorial is leagues better than the film he last wrote for Gerard Butler – London Has Fallen (2016). With Den Of Thieves he manages to make an intense thriller. Yes, the heist bits don't always add up, but the shortcomings of his script don't rob the film of its impact. Watch this movie and you're guaranteed a thrilling ride. Best part is, the final gun fight has the right balance of grit and glory.
The centre piece of this movie though is Gerard Butler's performance. He's the proverbial loose canon, the cop who dresses and behaves worse than the mafia. Yet, in the midst of all the madness Butler shows a good sense of control and authenticity. You won't be rooting for his character, but you'll definitely appreciate the effort behind the performance. Great action, palpable tension, a solid performance and even a heist film twist ending; Den Of Thieves delivers a lot for your average action flick.
Trailer : Den of Thieves
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