Henry's Crime

On DVD, you’re much more likely to take a chance with a movie that, in the theater at eight bucks a pop, would be unforgiven. Henry’s Crime is that type of movie. Keanu Reeves plays Henry, an aimless individual stuck in a prison of his own creation who inadvertently gets arrested for a crime he knew nothing about. After doing his time, Henry finds meaning in life as he decides to commit the crime he did time for originally. James Caan plays Henry’s inmate buddy who’s comfortable with life in the pen until enlisted by Henry to help with the crime on the outside. Vera Farmiga plays an emotionally distant B–level actress who tries not to fall for Henry.

ClearPlay In Action!

Henry’s Crime received its R rating for language, though ClearPlay also trims scenes of intercourse. Interestingly, much of the edited language in Henry’s Crime comes not from the cons and criminals, but from Farmiga’s salty actress. Even after ClearPlaying, it’s probably not the best choice for pre–teens, as it seems to justify crime.

Is it a crime to miss Henry?…

Henry’s Crime works mostly thanks to Farmiga and Caan, whose performances are fun and believable. The movie isn’t a completely satisfying viewing experience, but there are several nice moments in the film, enough to give it a chance on a slow TV night.

Marty Nabhan— ClearPlay Caper Expert

Rated R for language; 108 min; Directed By Malcolm Venville

Henry's Crime

If you did the time, you might as well have done the crime

Henry Torne, (Keanu Reeves) a toll booth operator who works the graveyard shift, seems to have a lackluster view on life. He just kind of exists. One morning after his shift he is coerced by a couple of friends to fill in at a baseball tournament because they are a man down. Instead of baseball he finds himself in the driver’s seat of the getaway car for a bank robbery he knew nothing about. Refusing to give the names of the real culprits he takes the fall and is sentenced to 3 years in prison. When released from prison he targets the bank where it all started.

Don’t expect a fast paced, action filled movie, it was very slow going in parts. Keanu Reeves plays a pretty uneventful guy that doesn’t stand up for himself, when he owes nothing to the guilty parties, which I was frustrated about. His relationships with Max (James Caan), his cellmate and Julie (Vera Farmiga), his love interest, keep you intrigued about what is to come next since their characters have screen appeal. I wish, as in other heist movies (like Ocean’s 11 and The Italian Job which I loved), it would have had a bigger build up around the heist itself. The acting is good, except for Reeves, he is the only character you are not sure what he is all about and he has no charisma. Some movies are just okay, that kind of sums up this movie for me.

Motherly Advice: After ClearPlay filtered the language there was only a mildly violent scene involving a gun but nothing graphic. The real issue is around choosing criminal behavior without much of a moral compass.

Hannah – I wish they would have cast Robert Downey Jr. instead.

Rated R for language; 108 min; Directed By Malcolm Venville