“Den of Thieves” brings a new twist to bank heist films with its constant asking of, “Are the good guys really the good guys?” and “Are the bad guys really the bad guys?” Christian Gudegast’s directorial debut is well paced and really pulled me in for the full two hour-twenty minute run time.
With only having two names in the cast that I consider big names in Gerard Butler and Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, it allows for everyone in the cast to step up and show what they are capable of with a good script. The primary cast is The Regulators: Butler, Brian Van Holt, Maurice Compte, Kaiwi Lyman, and Mo McRae, and The Outlaws: Pablo Schreiber, Evan Jones, O’Shea Jackson, 50 Cent, Cooper Andrews, and Marcus LaVoi. With The Regulators being cops that walk the line of their job and questionable methods, they are in a race against time as The Outlaws plan to rob one of the most secure Federal Reserve Banks in the country.
One of the things I was pleased here is that the filmmakers do not take the results of violence too far into gore. Yes, there is bloodshed, but not for the sake of an “R” rating. For the most part, they kept the story focused on the main plot and didn’t add things just because movies “need” them. There are a few scenes from subplots that I am not sure really needed to be in the movie, but that did not really take away from my enjoyment.
Having watched the film, I want to go see it again to see what else I can pick up on that is skillfully placed. “Den of Thieves” is a movie worth both the time and money, so go see it at whatever time works best for your schedule.