Ordinary Decent Criminal
To the disappointment of Kevin Spacey fans, Miramax never releasedOrdinary Decent Criminalin the U.S. That has more to do with backstage negotiations than with the quality of this amusing Irish crime caper, which was overshadowed by John Boorman's similar and superior filmThe General. Both were inspired by the exploits of infamous Irish gangster Martin Cahill, fictionalized here as Michael Lynch (Spacey, with a passable brogue), an elusive bank robber who prides himself on family values and clever escapes. His latest brazen scheme involves the theft of a priceless Caravaggio painting, but director Thaddeus O'Sullivan (who made the underratedNothing Personal) is more interested in quirky character study than criminal behavior, giving the film its jaunty, uneven mix of humor, drama, and violence. The casting of Spacey and Linda Fiorentino (as Lynch's supportive wife) is an awkward concession to international box office, but the movie's Irish flavor--including a pre-stardom role for Colin Farrell--is enough to keep its cagey spirits high.--Jeff Shannon