HONEST THIEF

(director/writer: Mark Williams; screenwriter: Steve Allrich; cinematographer: Shelly Johnson; editor: Michael P. Shawyer; music: Mark Isham; cast: Liam Neesom (Tom), Kate Walsh (Annie), Jai Courtney (Agent Nivens), Jeffrey Donovan (Agent Meyers), Anthony Ramos (Agent Hall), Robert Patrick (Agent Sam Baker); Runtime: 99; MPAA Rating: PG-13; producers: Mark Williams, Myles Nestel, Tai Duncan, Craig Chapman, Jonah Loop ; Open Road Films and Briarcliff Entertainment; 2020)

“Inoffensive, lightweight B-film thriller that asks the dumb question if you prefer an honest crook over crooked cops.”

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

Mark Williams (“A Family Man”) directs and is co-writer of this inoffensive, lightweight B-film thriller that asks the dumb question if you prefer an honest crook over crooked cops. Steve Allrich is the co-writer who also wrestles with this dismissive film theme, and helps keep it tedious and predicable despite plot twists and Liam Neesom’s usual appealing performance. This is an empty film, one that is forgettable and disposable.

Tom (Liam Neesom) robs banks. When he meets Annie (Kate Walsh) as he is looking to rent a storage unit, they hit it off and begin an affecting romance. He’s so much in love, that he’s compelled to give up his life of crime. To show he’s for real, Tom calls the F.B.I. to broker a deal with a supervisor, Agent Baker (Robert Patrick), for a light sentence and confesses to stealing $9 million from small-town banks. But Baker gives the case to two federal agents, Hall and Nivens (Anthony Ramos & Jai Courtney), who greedily decide to steal Tom’s stolen money. When the angry Tom finds out, he decides to go after the crooked cops.

It’s the kind of innocuous film that regularly fills cable TV channels for viewers with sleep disorders or who need a thriller film fix, who watch it no matter how poor is the quality of the product. The worst part of this superficial film might be that the sob story excuse Tom gives for his past life of crime is laughable in a bad way.

REVIEWED ON 10/20/2020  GRADE: C-