Life of crime review (trailer)
Life of Crime is a cleverly structured crime caper, a twisty tale of double-crosses and surprise plot twists that allows Jennifer Aniston to come nicely to the boil in one of her better screen outings.
Jennifer Aniston stars in Life of Crime. Picture: Supplied
Looking for ways to get ahead in a depressed Detroit of the late seventies, Ordell Robbie (Yasiin Bey) discovers millionaire property developer Frank Dawson (Tim Robbins) has a few secrets. He has, in fact, less-than-legal additional assets that he has secreted away in the Bahamas, along with his much younger mistress Melanie (Isla Fisher). His trophy wife, Mickey (Aniston), whom he bullies and verbally abuses, has no knowledge of his illicit activities.
Ordell and his low-end criminal partner Louis (John Hawkes) come up with a plan to abduct Mickey. It will be an ideal opportunity while hubby is away and the couple’s world-weary son (Charlie Tahan) is at tennis camp.
They employ Richard (Mark Boone Jr), a dumb and surly slob with a Nazi fetish and an extensive firearm collection, to do some dirty work and provide a place to keep their captive. Dawson, who is planning to divorce Mickey, is contacted by the kidnappers, but refuses to pay the ransom because if they kill her he won’t have to pay alimony. This presents the kidnappers with a few major challenges.
Adapted from the book by the late crime writer Elmore Leonard, Daniel Schechter’s production serves as a fitting memorial to the celebrated author who died in 2013.
