MovieChat Forums > Den of Thieves (2018) Discussion > The RT score for this one is bullshit!

The RT score for this one is bullshit!

posted 6 years ago by PrimeMinisterX (8292)
11 replies | jump to latest

I just got back from this one and it is damn good!

We've seen heist films before and this movie does recycle some common tropes, but it does it so well and does it in ways that feel new and fresh. I was locked in from beginning to end and never felt bored. If you think this is just going to be some generic crime thriller with Gerard Butler and 50 Cent then you're wrong.

The cast all does a good job, though at the end of the day, this really is Gerard's movie and everybody else is just living in it. He turns in a great performance--one of the best performances of his career, no doubt--as the slightly unhinged cop, husband and father who is married as much to the job as he is to his wife.

The action, when it occurs, is also stellar. From the opening theft of an armored truck to a shoot-out in the finale, it is all expertly executed. But the film really is not as much of an action film as the trailers might have you believe. It is a character-driven story about two groups of men on opposite sides of the law, all of whom are rugged and hard-edged and on a collision course toward each other.

Having now actually seen the movie, I cannot BELIEVE the RT score (38%) is as low as it is. It makes no sense to me at all. The majority of the critics must have had their heads so far up their asses that they couldn't see the screen well enough to understand what they were watching. I just don't get how someone could watch this film and come away feeling like it's not well-made.

Personally, I'm giving it an 8/10. I suspect it won't do great financially, but I really hope I am wrong about that. Everyone involved deserves for this to be a success.

[–] CraigJamesReview (1460) 6 years ago

I agree. I liked it way more than I expected I would too. It's very well made.

I'm trying to go for an entertaining, informative youtube channel so, if you have the time, take a look. Hope you enjoy what you see and if you have any thoughts or criticisms, i'd love to hear them. Thanks in advance. Review right here- https://youtu.be/7Dw6qyp8cMc

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8292) 6 years ago

Like I mentioned, I do not at all understand why the majority of the critics were against this one. Who watches this movie and says, "Yeah, this is a poorly made film." I mean, even if it's not your cup of tea you should still recognize the skill with which it was crafted.

The only legit complaint that I could fathom is that it's derivative of other heist films, but even then I thought that it told a story that felt fresh enough that this didn't bother me.

[–] CraigJamesReview (1460) 6 years ago

I agree. It's nearly 2 and a half hours long but doesn't feel like that at all. It's occasionally really smart and a fun, fast ride the whole way through. Definitely better than the 38 percent rotten tomatoe score

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

I have never heard of it but I will look out for it.

[–] Elafella (83) 6 years ago

I totally agree and even when tropes from other heist films show up here it doesn't beat you over the head with them.

[–] redban (5202) 5 years ago

It’s at 42% on Rotten tomatoes, which isn’t exactly “bad.”

It’s a fun movie with intense action scenes, good actors, and (at the start) a compelling mystery storyline.

But it has its flaws — a lot of plot holes; out-of-place scenes; and an unconvincing, unsatisfying twist.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8292) 5 years ago

Well by the site's own verbiage, 42% is "rotten" and means that fewer than half the critics turned in a positive review for it. It deserved better.

I enjoyed the film more than I thought I would. It's an above-average heist movie.

I don't remember any plot holes, but I'll agree with the unnecessary twist. Though by the time the twist occurs the film is basically over anyway so I'm not sure it matters much.

[–] GuyOnTheLeft (236) 5 years ago

I agree with you. The weird part is that if you look just at the “Top Reviews”, it’s more like 60%. Usually the top reviewers are pickier critics, but it’s the opposite here.

Anyway, it’s undeniably very derivative, but Quentin Tarantino has proved you can be super derivative and make great films. This isn’t on quite that level, but it’s certainly a very worthy addition to the genre. 7/10

[–] Strazdas (2328) 5 years ago

Ill do you one better: The RT is bullshit.

[–] PrimeMinisterX (8292) 5 years ago

A lot of people say that, but I think they don't understand how RT works.

Either that, or they just think that critical reviews don't matter. I know in many cases it's the former though.

I think that RT is a useful resource, even though the critics' score does not always reflect my own feelings about a movie. (Most recently this was borne out in Glass, which has a 36% critics' score on a film that I'd give a solid 8/10.)

[–] Strazdas (2328) 5 years ago

I think its the latter - critics in my experience tends to be mostly not reflective of average movie-goer and in some cases outright detached fro reality.