The Stickup (2002)

Nice effects though.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The film creates a perfect balance between action and depth of basic needs, in the midst of an infertile atmosphere.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

***MAJOR MAJOR SPOILERS**** Multi-plotted crime thriller involving L.A narcotic detective John Parker, James Slader, who ends up in far-off Vedalia on stress leave from the LAPD and gets involved in the robbery of the towns bank of over a half million dollars.***SPOILERS FROM HERE ON END**** It takes a while to figure out what and who exactly Parker is in that the movie keeps jumping back and forth in what's going on in it. As we soon find out Parker was involved in a drug bust gone wrong back in L.A where his good friend and partner Det. Mike O'Grady, Alf Humphrerys, and four other cops and drug dealers were killed. Having a religious conversion in experiencing his friend and fellow cop O'Grady's last words before he finally passed away Parker became the target of the members of a number his fellow police on the narcotic team. Those fellow cops feel that the guilt ridden Parker is going to talk to a grand jury about their, as well as his, shaking down drug dealers for their ill gotten cash. Something they've, as well as Parker, been doing for years. With Parker now implicated in the Vedalia bank job members of the L.A narcotics division headed by Parker's boss Lt. Vince Marino, Robert Miano, come to the town's police departments aid in order to get the on the loose Parker to give himself up before he ends up dead! Which is exactly what they in fact intend to do to him!On the run with a bullet stuck in his gut courtesy of Vedalia Deputy Sheriff Ray DeCarlo, David Keith, Parker ends up in the safety of local Veldalia hospital nurse Natalie wright, Leslie Stefanson, home sweet home outside of town. Not only had Parker met Natalie the night before at a local bar, where she bought him a drink, but as It turned out Natalie is the ex-wife of Deputy Sheriff DeCarlo the guy who just happened to have shot Parker during the bank robbery escape!It's later with rookie FBI Agent Rick Kindall, John Livingston, checking out all the fact that it becomes clear that Parker was the right man in the wrong place at the wrong time when he bank robbery happened! The right man that is for both his fellow members of the L.A narcotic division as well as Deputy Sheriff Decarlo and his partner Tommy Meeker, Alex Zahara, in him ending up taking the rap for them!Very well done but overly complicated film that's not really that complicated at all in how it tells its story about police corruption in a number of Rashomon-like time frames and flashbacks. We get to see John Parker a fugitive from the law perused by a number of lawmen who in fact are the one's responsible for the crimes that he's being accused of committing! Somewhat let-down of an ending but at the same time in Parker willing to put his neck on the chopping block with the threat of being murdered by the crooked cops, as well as testifying before a grand jury about them, that's the only ending you can really expect a movie like "The Stickup" to have!

A independent film full of strong, solid acting, strong plot full of surprises, believable realistic characters. Don't let the simple title fool you, this a great movie. For my fellow Spader lovers, get this NOW. Spader is amazing as usual, he creates a sympathetic character of past regrets, loneliness, he's a thinking man's hero. Spader brings his presence and intensity to the film, giving it class, setting a high standard. The supporting cast is solid, with nods to Leslie Stephanson. She and Spader have a great sexy chemistry to them. I won't spoil anything or dig deep into the story, I think you should see it for yourself. The atmosphere and mood is strangely calm and relaxed, building itself up slowly for an exciting climax. The music is very noticeable, jazzy saxophones bring a feeling of 50s B & W hard boiled detective films. There a few goofy and lame lines of dialogue for a R rated film. Shame there isn't any subtitles, well, English ones. The action scenes are intense and believable, not TOO over the top, and are very fun and cool to watch. The heist scene is great and real. The story is surprisingly strong for a low budget film, it's very well written and intricate. The movie fools the viewer pretty good, making you believe everything you see. The young FBI agent re-examines everything and slowly unravels everything for us little by little. He is our door to the facts and actuality. You'll find yourself shocked and applauding it. You owe it to yourself to sit down and watch a actual movie, with acting and a story. This movie is worth watching more than once, each time you watch it, you learn something new or discover something else. It's very cheap to buy and is more satisfying than paying a bunch to see the crap they call movies now. If you're a fan of the great James Spader, don't hesitate to buy this. Everyone else check this out, you won't be disappointed. Don't let the bland title misjudge you into missing this worthwhile film.

It's James-Spader sexy. This man oozes. You just can't move your eyes from him whenever he's on the screen. If you're a James Spader fan, then expect a lot of pauses and several viewings because you won't be able to help yourself from several servings of his gorgeousness. (The same applies if you're a Leslie Stefanson fan.) There's a touch of the seductive mood in "White Palace" in the spicy bar scene when John Parker (Spader) is picked up by the forward Natalie Wright (Leslie Stefanson) and their steamy night together. There are also echoes of "Driftwood" detailing the wounded John in severe pain and how he is undressed and nursed by the saucy Natalie in a delicious way. There are also lots of elements of the complex, deep, unpredictable, crooked, but brilliant, and romantic Alan Shore at play. But it's still an original movie in the way all its odd components comically "jarred" together with such an unforgettable twist that the closest I can think of is the jaw-dropping surprise at the end of "The Sixth Sense".Get it and savor it! It's a real treat. I looooove it!

"The Stickup" is all about Spader as a burned out LAPD cop on the run after being shot for robbing a bank in some fictitious small town in California's Sierra-Nevada mountains (played by Canada). Spader takes up with a babe who happens to be a nurse and the ex-wife of the town Sheriff, etc., etc. Toss in a lame FBI rookie, some Indians, and a bunch of flashbacks about Spader's past, mix them with a low budget and poor direction, and you have a film which will make you cringe when you're supposed to be enthralled or yawn when you're supposed to be thrilled. The only thing this loser has going for it is an unexpected twist at about the halfway point which doesn't make it a good film but it may keep you from ejecting your DVD prematurely. Best saved for broadcast. (C-)