Strange but slickly done

By TOM MEEK | March 27, 2008

2.5 Stars

Michael Caine and Demi Moore

Demi Moore in a British heist caper and dressed like Jackie O? Strange but true, and it works as Moore plays Laura Quinn, an American businesswoman up against the glass ceiling in 1960s London. Quinn toils ceaselessly for the fat cats at an international diamond exchange. Her thanks? She’s passed over and, later, played for the goat when a mine disaster triggers political repercussions with South African and Russian counterparts. The “blood diamond” edge never gets honed; instead, the film moves into bank-job territory when Mr. Hobbs (a cagy Michael Caine), the kindly janitor, enlists Laura’s help in jacking the vault. Veteran director Michael Radford (Il postino, Nineteen Eighty-Four) navigates the twists and turns adroitly, and given the muddled premise, this is a slick piece of filmmaking. But all the sparkling facets don’t make it a precious gem. 85 minutes | Kendall Square

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Topics: Reviews , Demi Moore , Michael Caine , Crime , More

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ARTICLES BY TOM MEEK

APPALOOSA (2008) | October 02, 2008
A revisionist Western in the vein of Unforgiven

NIGHTS IN RODANTHE | September 24, 2008
Weepy, made-for-TV material

BANGKOK DANGEROUS | September 09, 2008
Like a Nine Inch Nails video in need of trimming for YouTube

APPALOOSA | September 09, 2008
Unexpected and rewarding despite conventional scenarios

THE HOUSE BUNNY | August 27, 2008
Cheap gags and the requisite amount of T+A

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