Themes: Inheritance at Stake, Cons and Scams, Perfect Crime
Main Cast: John C. Reilly, Diego Luna, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Mullan, Jonathan Tucker
Release Year: 2004
Country: US
Run Time: 87 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
A con artist finds family squabbles are getting in the way of a major payday in this sharp blend of comedy and suspense, based on the Argentinean hit Nueve Reinas (aka Nine Queens). Richard Gaddis (John C. Reilly) is a smart-suited confidence man who knows how to run a big con but prefers to pull off a number of small scams over the course of the day, cheating a lot of folks out of a little instead of taking one or two for a lot. One day, while looking for marks at a gambling casino, Gaddis spies Rodrigo (Diego Luna), a fellow grifter with little polish but obvious talent. Gaddis takes Rodrigo under his wing, and after showing him a few tricks, the two begin working as a team. A golden opportunity presents itself when Gaddis learns the whereabouts of an incredibly valuable antique bank note just as an ideal customer is passing through town; Gaddis and Rodrigo quickly try to set up a deal that will separate cash from customer without the note actually changing hands, but the scheme proves complicated enough that others have to be brought in, causing each individual's share of the loot to dwindle. Adding to Gaddis' annoyance is the appearance of his sister Valerie (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who works at the hotel where the deal is to go down and isn't especially happy with her brother and his attempts to get his hands on the family's fortune. Criminal marked the directorial debut of Gregory Jacobs, who previously distinguished himself as a producer and assistant director. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Patricia Belcher - Female Bank Executive; Luis Contreras - Carlos; Ellen Geer - Grandma; Lillian Hurst - Mrs. Ochoa; Zitto Kazann - Ochoa; Deborah Van Valkenburgh - Woman in Elevator; Malik Yoba - Frank Hill; Jack Conley - Henry the Angry Man; Maeve Quinlan - Heather; Enrico Colantoni - Bookish Man; Brent Sexton - Ron; Soledad St. Hilaire - Waitress #2; Juan Carlos Cantu - Rodrigo's Dad; Brandon Keener - Waiter/Daniel; Laura Ceron - Waitress; Gary Mack - Security Guard; Nick Anavio - Cafe Manager; Manuel G. Jimenez - Briefcase Thief; Paul Norwood - Bank Manager; Michael Shannon - Gene
Credit
Andrew Webster - Associate Producer, Larry Commans - Boom Operator, Amanda Mackey-Johnson - Casting, Cathy Sandrich Gelfond - Casting, Jeffrey Kurland - Costume Designer, Jonathan Watson - First Assistant Director, Greg Jacobs - Director, Stephen Mirrione - Editor, Douglas Crise - Editor, Jennifer Fox - Executive Producer, Georgia Kacandes - Executive Producer, Ben Cosgrove - Executive Producer, Mark Cuban - Executive Producer, Todd Wagner - Executive Producer, Ken Lavet - Location Manager, Alex Sinclair - Lighting, Dave Lukasik - Lighting, Orlando Hernandez - Lighting, Michael Kelly - Lighting, Alex Wurman - Composer (Music Score), Glen Caplin - Musical Direction/Supervision, Duane Manwiller - Camera Operator, Philip Messina - Production Designer, Chris Menges - Cinematographer, George Clooney - Producer, Steven Soderbergh - Producer, Greg Jacobs - Producer, Mark W. Fay - Sound/Sound Designer, Phil Chong - Stunts, Eddie Fernandez - Stunts, Manny Perry - Stunts, Jeff Ramsey - Stunts, Ryan Ryusaki - Stunts, Gary Baxley - Stunts, Eddie Braun - Stunts, Kenny Endoso - Stunts, Jeannie Epper - Stunts, Buck McDancer - Stunts, Sonia Izzolena McDancer - Stunts, Chic Daniel - Stunts, Gail Monian - Stunts, Kofi W. Elam - Stunts, Justin Sundquist - Stunts, Robert Alonzo - Stunts, Hugh A. O'Brien - Stunts, Hubie Kerns Jr. - Stunts, Brent Fletcher - Stunts, David Medrano - Stunts, Gilbert Rosales - Stunts, John Robotham - Stunts Coordinator, Chic Daniel - Technical Advisor, Manuel G. Jimenez - Technical Advisor, Georgia Kacandes - Unit Production Manager, Steven Soderbergh - Screenwriter, Greg Jacobs - Screenwriter, Sam Lowry - Screenwriter, Thomas J. Smith - Visual Effects Supervisor, Marvin Walowitz - Sound Effects Editor, Spooky Stevens - Publicist, David Galbraith - First Assistant Camera, Peter Walts - Gaffer, Jonathon Leary - Grip, Ken Metz - Grip, Ryan Vonlossberg - Grip, Kent Baker - Key Grip, Al Laverde - Key Grip, Ellen Segal - Music Editor, Alex Wurman - Musical Performer, DJ Hodgy - Musical Performer, Rob Jost - Musical Performer, Teddy Kumpel - Musical Performer, Abe Speller - Musical Performer, Christy Dimmig - Post Production Supervisor, Kate Kelly - Production Coordinator, Robin Le Chanu - Production Supervisor, Lance Larson - Properties Master, Steven B. Melton - Properties Master, Annie Welles - Script Supervisor, Donald Murphy - Second Assistant Director, Duane Manwiller - Steadicam Operator, Suzanne Hanover - Still Photographer, Dennis McCarthy - Costume/Wardrobe, Chris Milani - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Anna L. Coats - Assistant Location Manager, Claudia Bestor - Assistant Location Manager, Andrew P. Harrison - Assistant Location Manager, Tim Schultz - Assistant Properties, Raymond Sepulveda - Assistant Properties, Oscar Mitt - Assistant Sound Editor, Chris Culliton - Best Boy Electric, Dana Baker - Best Boy Grip, David Levich - Best Boy Grip, Jon Lindsay - Camera Loader, Wendy Weidman - Casting Associate, Robert A. Baumgartner - Chief Lighting Technician, Chris Snyder - Construction Coordinator, Corey C. Bronson - Costumes Supervisor, Shoshana Rubin - Costumes Supervisor, Carin Richardson - Costumes Supervisor, Given Kirac - Dialogue Editor, Mike Moad - Dolly Grip, Nathan Hathaway - Electrician, Nate Johnson - Electrician, Donna Vega - Electrician, Rich King & Associates - Extra Casting, Norman Walker - First Assistant Editor, Alicia Stevenson - Foley Artist, Dawn Fintor - Foley Artist, John Joseph Thomas - Foley Editor, Waldo Sanchez - Key Hairstylist, Melanie Hughes-Weaver - Key Make-up, Brett Smith - Leadman, Betsy Dennis - Personal Assistant, Rachel Eggebeen - Personal Assistant, Stephan Nordin - Personal Assistant, Karen Weissman - Post Production Assistant, Bruce Robinson - Second Assistant Camera, Ryan Craig - Second Second Assistant Director, Jason Kemp - Set Production Assistant, Scott Rorie - Set Production Assistant, Dana Wagner - Set Production Assistant, Satsuki Mitchell - Set Production Assistant, Kristen Toscano Messina - Set Decorator, Lee Wimer - Color Timing, Gerard Forrest - Construction Foreman, John Moore - Construction Foreman, David Betancourt - Foley Mixer, Mo Henry - Negative Cutter, Elizabeth Kirkscey - Production Secretary, Mark Weingarten - Production Sound Mixer, Keri Littledeer - Set Medic/First Aid, Tom Callinicos - Swing Gang, Edward J. Protiva - Swing Gang, Steve-O Ladish - Swing Gang, J.R. Vasquez - Swing Gang, Todd Aron Marks - Video Playback
