The Maiden Heist (2009)

A comedy centered on three museum security guards who devise a plan to steal back the artworks to which they have become attached after they are transferred to another museum.

Director:

Peter Hewitt

Writer:

Michael LeSieur

Stars:

Christopher Walken, Joseph McKenna, Wynn Everett

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Walken	...	Roger Barlow
Joseph McKenna	...	Lead Villain
Wynn Everett	...	Docent
Patricia B. Till	...	Rude Museum Patron
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Rose Barlow
Bhavesh Patel	...	Donnie (as Bhavesh R. Patel)
Todd Weeks	...	Curator
Philip Dorn Hebert	...	Needlebaum
Morgan Freeman	...	Charles Peterson
William H. Macy	...	George McLendon
Jim Chiros	...	Sculptor
Breckin Meyer	...	Starving Artist
Stephen Stapinski	...	Bob
Bates Wilder	...	Warehouse Foreman
Anthony Cascio	...	Tony (as Anthony M. Cascio)

Storyline

Three middle-age guards learn that their museum has sold a wing of art to a Danish museum. Each has a favorite in that collection, and none can imagine life without the peace and completion it brings. Though mere acquaintances, they plot a theft of the three pieces between the time they are packed and the time they're loaded onto a plane. First each must obtain a forgery; then, they have to smuggle the forgeries into the museum and find a way to make the switches. The heist is complicated by Roger's intrusive wife - he's promised her a trip to Florida for their anniversary - and George's proclivity for taking his clothes off when standing in front of the warrior statue he loves.

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Plot Keywords:

forgery | heist | statue | security guard | veteran | 

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Taglines:

They're not bad guys. Just bad thieves.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some strong language, nudity and brief fantasy violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Roger (Christopher Walken) and George (William H. Macy) try to lift a crate using a shovel as leverage. William H. Macy played a character called Shoveler, who uses a shovel as a weapon in Mystery Men (1999).

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Goofs

At the end of the movie they are supposed to be on Miami Beach, but the background clearly shows hills and geography that is not Florida.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lead Villain: I sincerely apologize for disturbing your afternoon. If you relax, and stay calm, you will all be here alive. We have come only for the girl.

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Connections

Features Wheel of Fortune (1983)

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Soundtracks

You Are So Beautiful
Written by George Acogny & Kamil Rustam
Performed by The Worldbeaters
Courtesy of Yari Music Group, LLC

User Reviews

For the Love of Art

THE MAIDEN HEIST (there is a more to the title than you might think) is like getting together with old friends for a chuckle. Michael LeSieur has written a feel good comedy and Peter Hewitt has directed that script with the help of a fine cast and the results are a fun film that has some gentle hidden messages about friendship, relationships, and loving your job.

A Boston art museum is making plans to ship an exhibition of works to Denmark. This news is hocking and upsetting to three of the museum guards: Charles (Morgan Freeman, in a subtle gender twist) is passionate for a painting of a girl with cats, Roger (Christopher) is literally enamored by a painting of a lonely girl on a beach, and military minded George (William H. Macy) is so obsessed by a bronze sculpture of an athlete that he secretly poses au natural imitating the pose of the athlete when no one is around. When these three works are designated to be part of the shipment to Denmark the three men pop into action - they find artists to copy their beloved artworks to 'exchange' in the crates when the exhibition leaves the museum. How they achieve this bold heist is the plot of the film. There are many problems: the exchanged crate must contain the authentic pieces accompanied by George until the shipment leaves the museum, and Roger's intrusive wife Rose (Marcia Gay Harden) nearly aborts the boys' plan by insisting on an anniversary trip to Florida. The heist has its problems, as the museum guards are simply good guys trying to prevent the sale of their beloved art works they guard every day. The poster line says it all: 'They're not bad guys, just bad thieves.'

It is a pleasure to see three fine actors such as Freeman, Walken and Macy pull off this comedy, aided by the absurd character Marcia Gay Harden inhabits. It is well-scripted full and it is very obvious that these actors are having a great time with the film.

Grady Harp

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

8 July 2010 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

The Lonely Maiden

Filming Locations:

Boston Common, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$96,008

Company Credits

Production Co:

Yari Film Group (YFG), Revelations Entertainment, Paris Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1