Ordinary Decent Criminal

Color, R (language, violence, sexual situations, adult themes), 94 min., PPV 90 days; VHS rental, DVD $29.99

DVD: no extras

Street: Jan. 21, Prebook: Dec. 10

First Run: L, Int'l., Jan. 2002, NA

Cast: Kevin Spacey (American Beauty), Linda Fiorentino (Dogma), Colin Farrell (Minority Report), Stephen Dillane (Spy Game), Helen Baxendale (Dead by Monday)

MIRAMAX/BUENA VISTA

Story Line: Popular Dublin thief Michael Lynch (Spacey) and his untouchable gang of merry men find police pressure unbearable when they pull off their biggest and most public crime yet, the heist stealing of Caravaggio's "The Taking of Christ." Lynch's two wives (Fiorentino, Baxendale), who live with him in one house, and his gang seem to have reached the end--or have they?

Bottom Line: Kind of based on real-life crook Martin Cahill (John Boorman's The General was truer to the source), Ordinary Decent Criminal is an energetic, stylized caper film in the Guy Ritchie mode that will appeal immensely to fans of the still-booming British Crime wave. Spacey and Fiorentino's Irish accents wax and wane, and the third act could use some clarity, but the wit and pace overwhelm the drawbacks. Don't pay too much attention--except for the clever capers--and you'll find it consistently amusing. --Buzz McClain

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