The Hard Easy (2005)

User Rating:

5.7/10   

Director:

Ari Ryan

Writers:

Jon Lindstrom (screenplay)
Jon Lindstrom (story)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Two Gangs, One Heist....Only the Lucky Survive.

Plot:

Two separate teams of jewel thieves, one low-rent and one upscale, both desperate, converge on the same score at the exact same time, and a simple job turns out very complicated and very bloody.

Plot Keywords:

Broker | Inside Job | Flashback | Pyramid Scheme | Ski Mask

Cast

Henry Thomas	...	Paul Weston
David Boreanaz	...	Roger Hargitay
Vera Farmiga	...	Dr. Charlie Brooks
Bruce Dern	...	Gene
Peter Weller	...	Ed Koster
Nick Lachey	...	Jason Burns
Elimu Nelson	...	Stephen McKinley
Gary Busey	...	Vinnie
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rae Allen	...	Freddie
Heather Arrelano	...	Office Worker
Greg Ashamalla	...	Ed's Assistant
Emily Bergl	...	Natalie
Joe Bucaro III	...	Bennie
Jacob Chambers	...	Todd
Marc Dare	...	Blackjack Player
Anthony Dilio	...	Mime (as Anthony Dee)
Michael Fairman	...	Colonel Max
Breezy Frye	...	Office Worker
Darlene Gold	...	Casino Patron
Terry Gold	...	Casino Patron
Lauren Johnson	...	Female Security Guard
Tracy Kay	...	Sherry
Ted Larkin	...	Jewelry buyer
Jayden Lund	...	Nick
Nima Namdar	...	Office Worker
Lyne Odums	...	Older Saleswoman
Damion Poitier	...	Delivery guy
Alex Quattlander	...	Drunk at bar
Kipling Rowe	...	Waitress
Andrew Shapiro	...	Blackjack Dealer
Jeffrey Simon	...	Blackjack Player
Harold Surratt	...	Chuck
Atticus Todd	...	Joey
Nancy Yoon	...	Saleswoman

MPAA:

Rated R for violence and pervasive language.

Runtime:

USA:105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Germany:16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Blue Star Pictures

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: On the wall of Dr. Charlie's office is a display of her father's U.S. Marine Corps awards. Among these is the Combat Action Ribbon, which is awarded only to those who actively participated in combat. But the display's Vietnam Service Medal ribbon has no campaign stars on it to indicate battle participation.

Soundtrack:

Better Alone

A solid debut

Sure, it's a genre picture, but a stylishly directed and well acted one. First time helmer Ryan especially gets great performances out of the character actors (Weller and Dern) who haven't had a chance to strut their stuff on screen like this in years. I do wish Ryan's talents in striking a nice balance between action, noir, and drama had been matched by a smarter screenplay (you want the plot to twist more and not just thicken). However, all in all it's a great showcase for some fine acting (not only by the aforementioned Weller and Dern; Farmiga, Boreanaz, and especially Thomas also come off quite well)and director Ryan, who seems to exhibit the same muscular craftsmanship of a young Sidney Lumet or Michael Mann.