Rating summary

Movie		2.0
Video		3.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		2.0

Heist Blu-ray Movie Review

Robert De Niro in Casino. No, not that one.

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman December 28, 2015

There are around 30 exact title matches for Heist on the IMDb, including not just feature films, but television properties (and individual episode names), perhaps one indication of just how generic this already generic moniker has been over the years. The fact that among the search results is one Heist still “in development” perhaps serves to prove this appellation is not going anywhere soon, though some curmudgeons may hope than any future Heists will have a bit more to offer than the, well, generic blandishments of this particular entry. The not always reliable Wikipedia actually states that this Heist began life under a different designation, namely Bus 657, an alias which in and of itself may hint at a cinematic antecedent which bears another generic alias which is almost humorously ubiquitous as a title, Speed (as evidenced by the fact that this title generates even more search results on the IMDb than Heist does). The sad fact remains that, unlike a rose which retains its sweet aroma despite what you call it (or something like that), probably no other handle could have saved Heist from its own middling ambience. This is one of those films where even iconic stalwarts like Robert De Niro seem to be there mostly to earn a paycheck, while an overly convoluted and yet simultaneously hackneyed plot offers engagement only in fits and starts.

An almost audacious collection of hoary tropes is stuffed into Heist courtesy of the fussy screenplay by Stephen Cyrus Sepher and Max Adams. A casino entrepreneur known as The Pope (Robert De Niro), a sour pussed quasi mobster, has had a convoluted history in a sort of father-son way with one of the workers at his palace, Luke Vaughn (Jeffrey Dean Morgan). Vaughn is dealing with financial issues due to the cancer his adorable daughter is fighting. That precariousness is exploited by a new worker at The Pope’s Swan Casino, a duplicitous guy named Cox (Dave Bautista) who surreptitiously approaches Vaughn with a plan to make off with copious amounts of cash from The Pope’s casino coffers.

The opening scenes of Heist seem to be essaying a typically convoluted caper scenario, as Vaughn and Cox make their plan to relieve The Pope of several million dollars. Of course things don’t go exactly as planned, and that’s when the film takes a somewhat weird left turn into Speed territory, as the would be thieves commandeer a city bus full of passengers in a desperate attempt to get away.

A baseline competency actually manages to carry Heist through its increasingly more ludicrous plot dynamics, though the film is so saddled with clichés of various types that it’s almost funny at times. These tried and true approaches include both structural elements (the film has the by now tired device of an “intriguing” first sequence which is then met with a title card which moves the story back to its putative beginning some time previously) as well as character elements (the bus itself is a grabbag of various well worn types). The sick daughter routine is simply fodder to make Vaughn the ostensible “good bad guy”, while Cox gets to strut around as the dunderheaded, more violent “bad bad guy.”

Perhaps the most depressing thing about Heist is the involvement of Robert De Niro, who seems increasingly oblivious to the quality of his vehicles as he perhaps piles up cash for a comfy retirement. De Niro scowls his way through the film, looking for all the world like he’s trying to pass an extremely uncomfortable kidney stone. Heist perhaps tries to aim for something above its pulpy pay grade by introducing a number of "twists" as the already overly convoluted plot moves into its endgame, but these contrivances tend to simply be the cinematic equivalent of plastering lipstick on a pig.

Note: For a perhaps incrementally more positive take on Heist, my colleague Brian Orndorf offers his thoughts here.

Heist Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Heist is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Lionsgate Films with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 2.39:1. Shot digitally with the Red Epic, Heist is curiously underwhelming a lot of the time in this high definition presentation. Some may be actually gobsmacked by the artifacts on display on the opening menu screen, and unfortunately that proclivity continues throughout the presentation, often resulting in so much yellow splotchiness that the underlying imagery becomes hard to see (see screenshots 11 and 13 for two examples). Director Scott Mann and cinematographer Brandon Cox have played with various bells and whistles in post, "distressing" and/or desaturating certain sequences, and those techniques at least help to explain the softness of those scenes. But other scenes shot in reasonable light and featuring midrange to close-up work are often unexpectedly soft looking, and that softness is further exacerbated by some actual focus pulling issues which are transitory but noticeable.

Heist Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Luckily, Heist's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 audio exhibits none of the issues of the video presentation. While this is a typically pretty noisy mix, offering bursts of LFE and lots of whiz-bang panning effects especially once the film moves into its bus setting, there are also relatively nuanced elements that help to establish the claustrophobic confines of that very vehicle. Surround activity is consistent, if sometimes hackneyed. Dialogue is presented cleanly and clearly and is well prioritized throughout the film.

Heist Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with Director Scott Man, Actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Writer Max Adams


• Deleted/Extended Scenes (1080p; 4:08)


• The Making of Heist (1080p; 15:11)


• Cast - Crew Interviews:

  Scott Mann - Director (1080i; 7:29)

  Max Adams - Writer (1080p; 6:11)

  Jeffrey Dean Morgan (1080p; 4:26)

  Kate Bosworth (1080p; 4:43)

  Mark-Paul Gosselaar (1080p; 3:35)

  Gina Carano (1080p; 4:09)

  Morris Chestnut (1080p; 2:34)

  D.B. Sweeney (1080p; 4:37)

Heist Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Heist ends up being as generic as its title, despite the fact that the screenplay attempts to throw the audience a few ostensible curve balls along the way. Morgan is excellent in what has basically become his trademark role, that of a grizzled, conflicted guy with a five day stubble who is forced to do questionable things for a noble reason. The large supporting cast is generally quite good, but De Niro seems to be there simply to spout his lines with vitriol and pick up a paycheck. Video quality is a bit spotty but audio is great for those considering a purchase.