Ladrões de Cofre

Someone remarked here that "Safe Men" could only be enjoyed if you were Jewish -- I'm not, but I still enjoyed it.

"Safe Men" is about two bad singers, Sam and Eddie (Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn) who are mistaken for two safecrackers (Mark Ruffalo and Josh Paris) and are forcibly recruited by mobster Big Fat Bernie Gayle (Michael Lerner) to rob three safes. And that's just the test.

After being released by Gayle, the two men proceed to a gift shop where Sam smells candles and chooses items for a gift basket for Big Fat Bernie, figuring that then he won't make them rob any safes.

Gayle is ably assisted by Veal Chop (Paul Giamatti), his loyal flunkie. One activity currently in the household is the preparation of Big Fat Bernie Gayle Jr.'s bar mitzvah.

Harvey Fierstein plays Leo, a fence, whose daughter, Hannah (Christina Kirk), is the object of the affections of both Sam and one of the real safecrackers.

The standout for me is Paul Giamatti, who is hilarious.

There was a lot of laugh-out-loud humor in this. I admit that this writer, John Hamburg, has written some films I don't like with crude humor that is geared to the lowest common denominator. I prefer humor that comes out of ridiculous situations. This one fit the bill.

OK - it helps if you are Jewish or have Jewish friends. It's a culture thing. Besides that, it's a good Mob comedy. REAL mob movies take place in New York and Italy. This is Providence, RI. Knowing the Prov. Reputation makes the jewish Mob bit even funnier. Lead guy Sam has a Carrey-in-Dumb-and-Dumber haircut, and has the same sorta "incompetent charm wins the girl" thing going. Otherwise, there is little similarity to the Farrely film. The kind of movie where you aren't at all suprised to see a Dwarf hit-man. Good dialogue. Great acting. Strange tone. Fun movie.

If you like low-key humor and a writer/director and actors totally getting what they're doing, you'll love this movie. My only complaint is that it could have been longer and explored some more aspects of the main characters, but other that that, this is a gem.

What's more funny than a couple of lounge singers, Jewish gangsters from

Providence and unrequited love. The cast is amazing. Sam rockwell is a genius. Wheter he's in drama (Heist) or comedy(Welcome to Collinwood) he's seems to

enjoy his work and when the actor is having fun the audience will follow suit. Mark Ruffalo, Steve Zahn(totally underrated), Paul Giamatti and the old

schoolers, Michael Lerner and Harvey Fierstein make this one of the best cast films in recent memory. Christina Kirk is sexy and funny and tough. The guy who plays the MC at the Bar Mitzbah is awesome. I laughed my ass off from

beginning to end.

When a movie has so much good natured humor and generally a lot of heart one can forgive anything. While it has extremely low production values and obviously made on an equally low budget, the sheer fun of it all makes this a movie that many have great affection for.

Sam Rockwell's well proven off kilter charm is used to great effect. He's paired beautifully with Steve Zahn as the pitiful singing duo coerced into a life of crime. They are supported by a number of equally engaging characters such as Michael Lerner's overbearing Jewish mobster, Mark Ruffalo's soft hearted safe cracker and best of all Paul Giamatti's "Veal Chop". Giamatti is hilarious as well as touching as the mobster's incapable lackey.

"Safe Men" is an affectionate ode to deluded losers. These characters are losers simply because they are desperately trying to be something they are clearly not cut out for. They are basically a bunch of good guys on the wrong track. Lerner's gangster threatens all sorts of mean acts, but ultimately just wants to give a big hug to all. Zahn's character has a strong inkling something is amiss when after years of trying to hit the big time they are playing to a very silent senior citizen audience. Rockwell, the king of deluded losers, tries to placate him with the explanation that it's a Polish custom to show appreciation by remaining silent.

Maybe it appeals to the delusions that most of us at some point or another are subject to. Whatever; this may be a small, slight movie, but its an immensely enjoyable one.