Honest Thief Review – A High Adrenaline, Fast Action Thriller

Honest Thief, from Open Road Films, brings to the screen a fast-moving action thriller as a reformed by love bank robber decides to turn himself in only to meet up with a rouge FBI agent.

 

Directed by Mark Williams, Honest Thief stars Liam Neeson, Kate Walsh, Jai Courtney, Jeffrey Donovan, Anthony Ramos, and Robert Patrick.

The film begins with voice over by Tom, played by Liam Neeson, explaining his technique for robbing banks, simultaneously news segments are reporting on the "In and Out" bandit who mysteriously leaves no trace at the scene and has over eight years stolen about nine million dollars.


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After this intro we meet up with Tom when through a chance encounter at a storage rental space, he meets Annie Wilkins, played by Kate Walsh. One year later the two are still together, and he wants a life together, one without the constant threat of capture for his past life.

He decides the only way to silence the threat of capture is to turn himself in, figuring he could make a deal that would keep him close to Boston and Annie. Calling the local FBI office he is transferred to Sam Baker, played by Robert Patrick, a Senior Agent who screens the call, as oddly strangers call every day to confess to crimes they have never committed jumping at the chance of being noticed.

Putting him on speaker, the two, Agent Baker and Agent Meyers, played by Jeffrey Donovan, determine he is another crazy confessing to being the "In and Out" bandit. Tom frustrated that it Is taking so long to, at least, be interviewed for the possibility that he might in fact be the actual bandit, he makes another call.


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This is when we meet Agent Nivens, played by Jai Courtney and Agent Hall, played by Anthony Ramos, both newbies, with little seniority, they are of the "orders are optional" generation. The two finally arrive and interview Tom and he explains his plight. He also tells them if they don't believe him, they can check the storage unit where the money is kept.

The two follow up sorting through the unit and find enough money to convince them. This is where the story turns as Agent Nivens sees the cash as his retirement account and really who will the FBI believe a crazy wanting to confess or them. Finally convincing his partner of the possibilities they take the money.


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Working out the plan as they go, they decide to kill Tom, plant a weapon and the entire incident becomes a neat, pre-packaged end to a crazy's story. Just as the whole thing is about to go down, a knock on the door, interrupts their plan. Their superior Agent Baker arrives, seizing up the situation he is gunned down, point blank, by Nivens.

This is where the Honest Thief shifts into high gear. I enjoyed the film. It moves fast, with unexpected pop-ups, and the plot catches the attention and doesn't let go.

As the roles are almost reversed an honest thief and a rouge FBI, the film centers on both characters trying to expose the other as the killer, with one using the system at his disposal and the other forced to work outside the system which translates into constant pursuit scenes, near captures, and repeated escapes.


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A cat and mouse style thriller, Honest Thief brings in a love story with a twist, and showcases a heartfelt tale of redemption, packed with fights, chases and explosions.

Fast action, high adrenaline, Honest Thief is in theaters Friday, October 16, 2020. See it.

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