PLAY DIRTY
(director/writer: Shane Black; screenwriters: Charles Mondry, Anthony Bagarozzi/based on Donald E. Westlake’s Parker novels; cinematographer: Philippe Rousselot; editors: Chris Lebenzon, Joel Negron; music: Alan Silvestri; cast: Mark Wahlberg (Parker), LaKeith Stanfield (Grofield), Rosa Salazar (Zen), Byron Coll (Joe), Keegan-Michael Key (Ed Mackey), Chukwudi Iwuji (Phineas Paul), Nat Wolff (Kincaidd), Thomas Jane (Philly Webb), Tony Shaloub (Lozini), Gretchen Mol (Grace Webb), Mark Cuban (cameo), Alejandro Edda (Ignazio De La Paz-Latin American dictator), Gemma Dart (Winnie), Claire Lovering (Brenda Mackey), Chai Hansen (Stan Deyers), Gabriel Alvarado (Mateo), Hemky Madera (Col. Ortiz), Chukwudi Iwuji (Phineas Paul, Billionaire); Runtime: 125; MPAA Rating: R; producers: Jules Daly, James W. Skotchdopole, Marc Toberoff; Amazon MG M Studios release; 2025)
“Slick action-packed heist film.”
Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz
Shane Black (“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”/”The Nice Guys”) directs this slick action-packed heist film. It’s scripted by Black and co-writers Charles Mondry and Anthony Bagarozzi, and is based on Donald E. Westlake’s Parker series of novels. He wrote the novels under the pseudonym of Richard Stark.
Parker (Mark Wahlberg) is a tough guy career criminal. After a robbery he’s robbed by a worker (Byron Coll) at the horse race track he robbed, and a shootout occurs as the wounded Parker flees the scene. Parker returns to his underground haunts with the sacks of loot, but is robbed by his getaway driver Zen (Rosa Salazar), a highly trained soldier from a fictional Latin American dictatorship she refers to as My Country. After his pal Philly (Thomas Jane) is killed in the shootout, Parker recruits a new gang that includes his old criminal actor pal Grofield (LaKeith Stanfield), the art thief Ed (Keegan-Michael Key) and his argumentative wife Brenda (Claire Lovering).
It turns out Zen is looking to bring down her country’s dictator (Alejandro Edda) and turn her country into a democracy, and needs help from her former gang.
The intrigue involves international mercenaries, corrupt politicians and a Spanish 15th century archeological statue, referred to as a hidden treasure.
Zen wishes to steal the be-jeweled treasure statue while it’s on display at the U.N. and use it as a means to solve her country’s poverty. The treasure is also sought by a NYC Mafia organization known as The Outfit, that’s led by the mob boss Lozini (Tony Shaloub), an old foe of Parker’s. The mob boss wants his goons to steal it and for him to sell the treasure to the goofy Brit billionaire (Chukwudi Iwuji). The mob boss has warned Parker he will kill him if he ever comes to NYC.
Zen convinces Parker she’s cool, and she joins him and his gang in NYC to steal the treasure.
The otherwise fine heist film would work better with a different Parker, as Wahlberg is not tough enough to be the bad ass lead.

REVIEWED ON 10/16/2025 GRADE: B-
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