The protagonist of “Henry’s Crime” has a rational basis for his decision to rob a bank. He’s already served a jail term for exactly that offense, even though he was completely innocent.
Released on parole, he’s haunted by the jailhouse phrase, “If you’ve done the time, do the crime.” Really, why not?
Well, because it’s illegal and he might get caught and sent back, of course. But those details don’t get in the way of this unexpectedly winning, admittedly small-scale movie.
Henry is played by Keanu Reeves, and while I have been hard on Mr. Reeves at times in the past, I have always thought that in certain roles he was ideally cast; “My Own Private Idaho,” for instance, or the “Matrix” pictures.
And he’s just dandy here, as a rather blank fellow who becomes engaged by the planning of the robbery but also by the craft of acting.
You see, the bank sits next to an old theater, where a production of Chekov’s “The Cherry Orchard” is in rehearsal. Henry finds himself not only attracted to the leading lady, the somewhat grand Julie (Vera Farmiga), but also to the prospect of treading the boards himself.
He ropes in his ex-cellmate Max (James Caan) as a reluctant conspirator, and they go to work on the fact that an underground tunnel connects theater with bank.
Unexpectedly, Henry gets drawn into the world of “The Cherry Orchard,” as Julie turns out to be a bit of a diva and her director (Peter Stormare) believes Henry might convincingly portray a Russian.
There is nothing earth-shaking about this film, and I can’t point to the ways director Malcolm Venville (“44 Inch Chest”) distinguishes it. But the humor is consistent, and the acting feels fresh and lively. Even the locations — shot in frosty Buffalo, N.Y. — lend an offbeat note.
Farmiga, who’s been working steadily since “The Departed,” is particularly fun. She often plays soulful roles, but this neurotic part allows her to get a little loud; she looks as though her job was to wake up Reeves in each scene (and she’s done a nice job of that).
And what about James Caan? We’ve gotten used to him lending his presence to 10-minute parts in movies, and it’s great to see the now-septuagenarian tough guy stick around for an entire picture.
He also looks revived by this smart, warm-hearted project, a movie that deserves to be noticed before the big summer films come barreling along.
“Henry’s Crime” (3 1/2 stars)
Keanu Reeves is nicely cast as an innocent ex-con who decides to knock off the bank he was falsely accused of robbing, a heist plan that accidentally gets him involved in the dramatic rehearsals going on at the theater next door. A winning, small-scale picture, with especially good performances from Vera Farmiga and James Caan.
Rated: R for language.
Showing: Metro.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
