City of Industry (1997)

Pretty darn good crime thriller

Harvey Keitel (Roy) plays his usual self-assured character leading a group in a jewelry heist, and then goes up against a myriad of contract killers.

Famke Janssen is very convincing as a mother of two and wife of one the jewelry heist gangmembers who gets caught up in the mess. Famke is very attractive with or without makeup, (and very tall-with those long legs). Timothy Hutton, Roy's brother (killed off early by Dorff) and Lucy Liu have minor parts.

All I can say is you'll be so very happy when Harvey Keitel smears Stephen Dorff's brains all over the pavement, towards the end of the movie. Stephen Dorff gives and absolutely first-class perfomance of a double-crossing, short-tempered, quick-drawing psychopath, who won't be double-crossed (as he has double-crossed) by anyone. Why does Harvey Keitel always seem like that "cleaner-upper" character in Pulp Fiction? You'll love the lawyer's office "laptop computer" scene. Classic. September 17, 2007

Keitel

This was better than I thought it would be, particularly due to Keitel and Janssen's performances. A little more Timothy Hutton would have been terrific too, as their relationship, as brothers was a success.
After all, this genre (betrayal & underworld/a brothers revenge)isn't original. But the environmental use of Los Angeles' working class and industrial areas adds it to a list that includes To Live and Die in L.A., The Limey, Heat, and Training Day...A good list indeed.
But I return to Keitel who stabalizes this film, even with the histriotics of Stephen Dorff and the so-so script. February 1, 2007

Excellent movie!

This is a very exciting movie that draws you into the storyline early on, and holds the viewers attention all the way through to the climactic moment! Highly recommended! December 22, 2006

Fun noir.

City of Industry (John Irvin, 1997)

Okay, so pretty much everyone who knows this movie exists knows it because Lucy Liu is topless for roughly forty-five seconds of this film. Which is too bad, because it's a fun little slice of noir that's sure to please.

Roy Egan (Harvey Keitel) is a professional thief who's getting ready to retire. His brother Lee (Timothy Hutton, fresh off the success of Playing God) convinces him to put off retirement to do one more job, robbing the Russian Mob of three million dollars' worth of contraband diamonds. Also in on the job are Jorge Montana (the late Wade Dominguez, of Dangerous Minds fame) and Skip Kovich (Blade's Stephen Dorff), the getaway driver. Things go horribly wrong in the worst possible way: Skip kills Lee and Jorge, and narrowly misses Roy, who (of course) vows revenge. The bulk of the film is Roy tracking Skip, while being hidden by Jorge's wife Rachel (Famke Janssen). Meanwhile, the Russians aren't too happy with being hit, either.

Good, solid action, a fast pace, and some decent acting make this one worth watching. Oh, yeah, and there's a Lucy Liu semi-nude scene, in case you hadn't heard. *** ½ August 15, 2006

Potent noir film!

The film runs with astonishing intensity, with verycredible characters, very well written and solid script that will catch your attention.
Obviously there are certain codes that maintain the whole interest in the film. There are certain thieves who still believe in the word: loyaly and honesty, and this is not a cynical expression.
So in this state of things you can look behind through the time, essential and related films: here I go: Point blank, Reservoir dogs( the best film noir of the nineties in USA),Le cercle rouge and Rififi. Four astonishing and crucial films that defy any possible match.
But the fabulous presence of Harvey Keitel, Stephen Dorff and Timothy Hutton make of this thriller a true tour de force; the increasing tension will struggle you from start to finish.
A remarkable and neglected picture of this year. July 27, 2005

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