Heist 88

This is like a high budget junior college film . There is A LOT of bad acting in this film, but it may not be the actors fault. I sat watching and often predicting what the next line would be. The script dialog is so weak, so bad, so trite, I was embarrased for the actors who are forced to regurgitate it. Simply awful. You never get to know more than one character well enough to care whether they are successful in this heist. It was also comical how many of the young people were against committing this crime ( and I have no problem robbing an American bank) and then, very suddenly all fear and scruples are laid aside and they're all in. Lazy writing and so what storytelling.. The ending was lazy and weak. I'm surprised Showtime ever let this see the light of day on their channel.

When I saw the cast members and synopsis, I was intrigued and to be honest, the cast did well in selling the story. I am not regretting watching the movie, I think it was a good average movie.

I enjoyed getting a glimpse of the characters' back stories, their struggles and motivation. The struggles portrayed were typical black people realities from Hood-life, so element of surprise there.

My greatest disappointment was the ENDING, being by far the most important part of any story. It made no sense to end it like that (unless there's a part 2?). That would be the only logical explanation... Because after spending over an hour watching the movie and being invested in the outcome, I deserved some closure in what happens next and the actual holistic outcome, not the trial version of it. That was truly annoying! I would have given a rating of 7 or 8 if that had not been withheld.

When I saw the cast included Courtney B Vance and Keith David, I immediately decided to watch it thinking it's gotta be a great movie! It was a very good movie with excellent cinematography, excellent acting by a group of eclectic characters And the backdrop was one of my favorite cities, Chicago. The movie at first was a bit plodding, but came together as the characters developed. The only reason I didn't give it an 8 or 9 was in my opinion, the movie lacked a "spark." There were some portions where the characters faced some real danger, but I didn't feel it. Bravo to Courtney B Vance for undertaking this project and adding an excellent cast.

This started out with so much promise. Courtney B. Vance played a masterful role. The ensemble cast was very believable and gave a very realistic performance. But... as the movie progressed I was waiting for the climax and kept on waiting. I understand this was loosely based on a true story but since they were already taking liberties with the plot they could have spiced it up. The ending was so anticlimactic it left me unsatisfied. Don't get me wrong the ending was a surprise but it could have given the audience more. There was no where are they now. There was no follow up on the money. It just ended.

"Heist 88" is a film that struggles to reach the heights of a thrilling heist movie. While it has its moments, it falls short in several key areas. The storyline had the potential for greatness, but the execution left much to be desired. The characters lacked depth and development, making it difficult to truly invest in their fates.

The action sequences were decent, and there were some tense moments, but the overall pacing of the film felt uneven. The editing and cinematography were passable, but they didn't stand out in any significant way.

On the positive side, the film did have a few twists and turns that added some intrigue to the plot. However, the predictability of some of the major plot points took away from the excitement.

In summary, "Heist 88" is an average heist movie that doesn't quite deliver on the expectations one might have for this genre. It's a watchable film if you're a fan of the genre, but it falls short of being a standout or memorable entry. I would give it a 5 out of 10, as it has its moments but ultimately fails to rise above mediocrity.