IMDb > Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000)
Ordinary Decent Criminal
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) More at IMDbPro »

Videos (see all 6)
Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000) -- MyMovies.Net - Trailer (WM9 -

Overview

User Rating:
6.3/10   5,893 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 23% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Writer:

Gerard Stembridge (writer)

Contact:

View company contact information for Ordinary Decent Criminal on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

7 January 2000 (Ireland) more

Genre:

Crime | Comedy more

Tagline:

Michael just loves taking the law into his own hands!

Plot:

Michael Lynch is Dublin's most notorious criminal, his brazen robberies making him the bane of the Gardaí... more | add synopsis

NewsDesk:
(4 articles)

Christoph Waltz to Be Honored at the Hollywood Film Festival
 (From MovieWeb. 17 October 2009, 6:48 AM, PDT)

O'Sullivan & Sheen Approach 'Stella Days'
 (From IFTN. 15 May 2009, 7:28 AM, PDT)

User Comments:

Is this a remake of 'The General' or what? more (63 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Kevin Spacey ... Michael Lynch

Linda Fiorentino ... Christine Lynch

Peter Mullan ... Stevie
Stephen Dillane ... Noel Quigley
Helen Baxendale ... Lisa
David Hayman ... Tony Brady

Patrick Malahide ... Commissioner Daly
Gerard McSorley ... Harrison

David Kelly ... Fr. Grogan
Gary Lydon ... Tom Rooney
Paul Ronan ... Billy Lynch

Colin Farrell ... Alec (as Colin Farrel)

Vincent Regan ... Shay Kirby
Tim Loane ... Jerome Higgins

Christoph Waltz ... Peter
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Also Known As:

Ein ganz gewöhnlicher Dieb (Germany)
more

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some violence and sexuality.

Runtime:

93 min | Germany:85 min (TV version)

Country:

UK | Germany | Ireland | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR


Fun Stuff

Trivia:

As Michael is running out of the museum, stealing the painting of Judas kissing Jesus, the exhibition sign he passes reads "The Taking of Christ". more

Goofs:

Anachronisms: This movie was set around 1991-3. However, visible in a number of places are both Fiat Punto cars and CitySwift buses. These were not introduced until 1994 and 1995 respectively. In the bank raid scene, the notes which are stolen are Series III Irish banknotes. These notes were not fully introduced until 1996, and the £20 notes shown in the raid were not even partially introduced at the time the movie was set more

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Veronica Guerin (2003) more

Soundtrack:

Fire In My Heart more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
2 out of 3 people found the following comment useful.
Is this a remake of 'The General' or what?, 28 August 2000
7/10
Author: Trevor Gensch (trevorgensch@one.net.au) from Brisbane, Australia

It's hard to make a bad guy/gangster type of movie these days without resorting to the cliches that have been portrayed countless times in the past.

Ordinary Decent Criminal unfortunately does fall into the trap of using these readily identifiable traits to try and warm the audience to what is really quite an uneven and directionless movie. Here are some of the cliches that the film employs:

1. Likeable rogue criminal doing jobs not because he has to but because he enjoys it 2. Criminals doing jobs with brazen cheek, right under the noses of the local police 3. Boss man trying to help out one of his team who has got involved with the IRA 4. Rogue who plays up to the media - and even wears a mask to hide his identity 5. Ordinary Irish familiy being evicted from supposed 'tenament slums' - but standing fast against the eviction.

And that's just for starters.

Ordinary Decent Criminal is the story of Michael Lynch (Kevin Spacey) and his gang of likeable criminals. Well respected and liked in his local community, he nonetheless is responsible for a series of high profile robberies, well staged in their execution, leaving the local police with plenty of suspicions, but no evidence.

And that's pretty much all the film is about. Lynch and his cronies doing various robberies, baffling police and having a lot of fun into the bargain.

The performances on the whole are adequate, but I can't escape the nagging feeling that Spacey was miscast. He is incongrous with his Irish accent, which no amount of cheeky smiles and dramatic flourishes can hide. His two "wives" played by Linda Fiorentino (Being John Malkovich) and Helen Baxendale (from the TV series Cold Feet) are OK, but Baxendale is barely used; it is Fiorentino who bears the brunt of the "wife of a criminal' dialogue.

And are we meant to like Spacey? At times the movie gives the distinct impression we are not. The interrogation scene involving fingres and a car suspended up high do not make one feel compassionate about his character. But other scenes in the film are meant to make you feel that the Spacey character is one which you should feel sorry for. A bit of direction in this area would have tidied up what is already a muddled film.

The soundtrack is quite good, a thumping but well thought out work that compliments the action well.

Special mention must go to Peter Mullan (My Name is Joe), who is the standout amongst the supporting cast.

My overall feeling is that Ordinary Decent Criminal is just on the downside of being a good movie, but certainly well upwind of being awful.

7 out of 10.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (63 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Ordinary Decent Criminal (2000)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
The Soundtrack emmathatcher1987
Spacey's accent? DabacTSP
What do u think? snagg
The worst film ever made nicstacey
"The General" alplatt
cool movie rebsdorf-tin
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The General B. Monkey The Limey Coffy A Rage in Harlem
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Crime section IMDb UK section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.