Life of Crime 2013

Sara Stewart, New York Post: Director Daniel Schechter ("Supporting Characters") moves the plot along in a loose, unhurried manner, letting the cast enjoy Leonard's delicious dialogue. Read more

John Anderson, Wall Street Journal: There's a pronounced lack of tension in this feature by director Daniel Schechter, who has to deal with a storyline that is, unfortunately, not Mr. Leonard's strongest. Read more

Dennis Harvey, Variety: A fitting memorial to Elmore Leonard, "Life of Crime" reps one of the most faithful of the many adaptations of the author's work. Read more

A.A. Dowd, AV Club: As in many Leonard narratives, the plot is largely just an excuse to put these big talkers in a room or on a telephone line together. Read more

Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic: Mostly, it's fine. The acting is fine. The writing is fine. The story is fine. There are a few laughs. Read more

Tom Russo, Boston Globe: The cast does capable work, but you'll wish the movie concentrated more on the comedy, which has some zing, rather than the straighter elements, which quickly start to drag. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: There's a lot of talent up on screen put to no grand use. Read more

Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly: There have been good Elmore Leonard adaptations and bad ones. But this interpretation of his 1978 novel The Switch may be the worst of the bunch. Read more

John DeFore, Hollywood Reporter: An Elmore Leonard adaptation with less snap-and-crackle than usual, Daniel Schechter's Life of Crime starts promisingly and ends with a smile but underwhelms in between. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: "Life of Crime" has the authentic Leonard snap, crackle and pop. Read more

Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger: A loose, cynical kidnapping caper set, literally and emotionally, in the `70s - right down to its main-title typography - it's a small treat. Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: Schechter based "Life of Crime" on Elmore Leonard's novel "The Switch." And though the movie is not a disaster, his unfocused effort does sit pretty low on the list of Leonard adaptations. Read more

Ben Kenigsberg, New York Times: As a late-summer caper movie, it hits the spot. Read more

Michael Sragow, Orange County Register: [Bey] steals every scene he's in. Unfortunately, in a film this pallid, that amounts to petty theft. Read more

David Hiltbrand, Philadelphia Inquirer: Life of Crime is like an errant golf putt that appears headed for the hole, but just keeps rolling and rolling, all the way off the green. In other words, just missed . . . by a mile. Read more

Richard Roeper, Richard Roeper.com: Thanks to Leonard's source material and the outstanding cast, it works. Read more

Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com: I found "Life of Crime" pretty doggone funny, but the humor is understated and undercut with notes of brutality and nihilism. Read more

Michael Ordona, San Francisco Chronicle: "Life of Crime" is well-made and -acted, especially by Hawkes and Fisher, if it's not exactly gripping or noir-ish. Read more

Kristin Tillotson, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Despite its sluggish intervals, "Life of Crime" satisfies in the end, just when you fear it'll peter out. Read more

Christopher Orr, The Atlantic: An amiable diversion, though not a terribly memorable one. Elmore Leonard aficionados longing for a truly worthy sendoff of the master crime writer will have to look ahead toward the upcoming final season of Justified, and cross their fingers. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: All this is more amusing in theory than practice, partly because Leonard's world of wiseguys and slapstick violence has become so familiar - the caper-movie default mode. Read more

Inkoo Kang, TheWrap: This Elmore Leonard adaptation doesn't inspire ardor, but it certainly boasts above-average intelligence and a streak of knowing unpredictability that make the dark comedy a pleasurable morsel of escapism. Read more

Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out: Nothing about Life of Crime is going to linger in memory, save the unassuming way Leonard devoted himself to character and story mechanics. If this diversion works for you, you owe yourself a book or two. Read more

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture: It doesn't quite transcend its own haphazard, impoverished story. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: "Life of Crime" feels like a rambling car ride through the countryside with friends. The scenery is great, and the passengers are diverting, but you keep wondering where the driver is headed. Read more