Small Time Crooks (2000)

A loser of a crook and his wife strike it rich when a botched bank job's cover business becomes a spectacular success.

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer:

Woody Allen

Stars:

Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman, Hugh Grant

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Woody Allen	...	Ray
Carolyn Saxon	...	Candy Salesperson
Tracey Ullman	...	Frenchy
Michael Rapaport	...	Denny
Tony Darrow	...	Tommy
Sam Josepher	...	Real Estate Agent
Jon Lovitz	...	Benny
Lawrence Howard Levy	...	Dynamite Dealer (as Lawrence Levy)
Diane Bradley	...	Cookie Store Customer
Crystal Field	...	Cookie Store Customer
Cindy Carver	...	Cookie Store Customer
Ray Garvey	...	Cookie Store Customer
Bill Gerber	...	Cookie Store Customer
Olivia Hayman	...	Cookie Store Customer
Laurine Towler	...	Cookie Store Customer

Storyline

Dishwasher and small-fry criminal Ray hits on a plan with his partners in crime to re-open a local pizza place and dig through to the bank down the street. As his wife can't cook pizza but does great cookies, that's what they sell. While the no-hope tunnellers get lost underground, the cookie operation really takes off and the team find themselves rich business people. But the other local money isn't quite ready to accept them.

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Plot Keywords:

criminal | planning a robbery | neo screwball comedy | heist | new york city | 

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Taglines:

They took a bite out of crime.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Woody Allen Spring Project 1999

Filming Locations:

Doyers Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,880,723, 21 May 2000, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$17,071,230, 6 August 2000

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks,Sweetland Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

DTS (Mono) Dolby Digital (Mono)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Same plot as Larceny, Inc. (1942), with Edward G. Robinson. Instead of a luggage store, the setting is a bakery.

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Goofs

The box of "Belgian" chocolates in the opening scenes is clearly a box of Perugina chocolates, an Italian brand.

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Quotes

Ray: Remember my nickname when we were in the joint?
Benny: The Brain?
Ray: The Brain. That's what the guys used to call me, right?
Benny: But, Ray! That was sarcastic!

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Connections

References The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

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Soundtracks

Cocktails for Two
Music by Arthur Johnston
Lyrics by Sam Coslow
Performed by Carmen Cavallaro
Courtesy of MCA Records under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Small Time

My own theory about Woody is that he makes films for himself only. Recently I saw `Sweet and Lowdown' and think it one of the most multidimensionally complex, introspective films I've ever seen. I also saw `Crimes and Misdemeanors,' and thought he was working with ideas too big for his skills. Rather like the character Woody plays in this film.

In fact `Sweet' was successful because the actor (Sean Penn) was able to convey a Woody that had some natural skill, who in his heart knew he was secondrate, and who also had publicly criticized eccentricities. Penn could convey that Woody. Woody could never, and that's the root of the problem with this film.

There're two types of New Yorkers. Those with class and those without, regardless of fame and wealth. Woody pokes fun at himself here for his own benefit. But for us viewers, there's not much here, and except for a few skits, there are few laughs.

But chances are that if you are reading this, you're going to or have seen this anyway. If so, isn't May a gas? She's one of those aristocrats of comedy, and there's a double joke here. She plays the dimmest wit, though in real life, she would be the top cookie. And she had a meteoric rise in Hollywood until writing/directing `Ishtar' with two of the then biggest stars. It was the biggest flop in history until `Waterworld,' and even then WW made money.

Having her in this fable of up/down and having her steal every scene is so sweet.