Life of Crime (2013)

Two common criminals get more than they bargained for after kidnapping the wife of a corrupt real-estate developer who shows no interest in paying the $1 million dollar ransom for her safe return.

Director:

Daniel Schechter

Writers:

Daniel Schechter (written for the screen by), Elmore Leonard (based on the book "The Switch" written by)

Stars:

Jennifer Aniston, Yasiin Bey, Isla Fisher

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jennifer Aniston	...	Mickey Dawson
Yasiin Bey	...	Ordell Robbie
Isla Fisher	...	Melanie
Will Forte	...	Marshall Taylor
Mark Boone Junior	...	Richard Monk
Tim Robbins	...	Frank Dawson
John Hawkes	...	Louis Gara
Clea Lewis	...	Tyra Taylor
Charlie Tahan	...	Bo Dawson
Kevin Corrigan	...	Ray
Leonard Robinson	...	Officer Dixon
Kevin Porter Young	...	Officer Kenny
Alex Ladove	...	Pamela Taylor
Jenna Nye	...	Shelly Taylor
Jill Abramovitz	...	Jan

Storyline

Two common criminals get more than they bargained for after kidnapping the wife of a corrupt real-estate developer who shows no interest in paying the $1 million dollar ransom for her safe return.

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Plot Keywords:

cheating husband | kidnapping | mistress | home invasion | abduction | 

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Taglines:

Right target. Wrong woman.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, some sexual content and violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Melanie says the same thing ("Wanna fuck?") to Louis in Jackie Brown (1997).

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Goofs

Towards the end of the movie, Melanie and Mickey are meeting (with Ordell and Louis) when Mickey stands up following rolling a joint. It is clearly shown in her hand, but when she finally walks past Ordell to go to the bathroom, it is gone. She has clearly not put it down or dropped it, it just disappears.

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Quotes

Ordell Robbie: So Richard, I got a little joke for you, you might like this one. You too, Lewis. A Dude goes to the doctor. Doctor says: "Sir, you have to stop masturbating". The patient goes: "Why?" And the doctor goes: "because I'm trying to exam you".

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Connections

References Sanford and Son: Fred's Treasure Garden (1974)

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Soundtracks

Deutschland Erwache Aus Deinem Boesen Traum
Written by Bruno C. Schestak
Courtesy of AudioSparx

User Reviews

Recommended if you know what you're getting into

Checked "Life of Crime" in Amsterdam and loved it, as did most of the audience... Unlike many of the reviewers here, who may have gone in expecting something different.

Starring Jennifer Aniston, Mos Def and Tim Robbins, "Life of Crime" is NOT a romantic comedy or straight crime story. Rather, it is an Elmore Leonard-derived caper tale set in the late 70s, with the soundtrack and mustaches to match. Staying true to the author's ethos, the dialog is smart, the jokes are hilarious in quite subtle ways, and the storyline gently bends until the protagonists end up in an entirely different place than they were planning to.

Actors usually love doing Leonard scripts - he prefers to let mouths do the talking, not fists - and the cast pretty much nails it here. I loved Mos Def, Isla Fisher and Robbins in particular, but it is Aniston who steals the show. All those years post-Rachel, her comedic timing is still impeccable, and she still has the capacity to get you to care for her, even when cast as a hopeless housewife.

The verdict: I thought "Life of Crime" was just as enjoyable as other recent Elmore Leonard adaptations (that had way bigger budgets and box office mojo): Tarantino's "Jackie Brown" and Soderbergh's "Out of Sight", and would recommend "Life of Crime" especially to people who loved the latter.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 2014 (Bahamas)

Also Known As:

The Switch

Filming Locations:

Greenwich, Connecticut, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$12,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$104,300, 31 August 2014

Gross USA:

$265,452

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,456,675

Company Credits

Production Co:

Abbolita Productions, Echo Films, Gotham Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1