Crooks (Lena Headey, Juno Temple)

[Canada]

Juno Temple, Lena Headey & Mark Kassen To Star In Mickey Keating’s Las Vegas Heist Drama ‘Crooks’ – Cannes

Celluloid Dreams, the French film firm behind Steve Buscemi-fronted Lean On Pete, has teamed with Kassen’s Like Minded Entertainment and Monte Rosso Productions to co-finance the Las Vegas-set hustler drama.

The movie is set in sin city in 1968, where a pair of hustlers, Johnny, played by Kassen and Faye, played by Temple, rob the decaying Moonlight Casino. Faye double crosses Johnny and takes off with the money and is soon pursued by the oldest and deadliest assassin in town. Worse still, Faye meets Blanche, played by Headey, a friendly but crazy waitress, at a truck stop.

It is Keating’s latest feature following Psychopaths, Carnage Park and Darling. Iliana Nikolic, Mark Kassen and Alexander Kushaev will produce with Celluloid selling International and repping the U.S. sale. 30WEST and CAA arranged the financing. Shooting will commence in summer 2018.

“I couldn’t be prouder to be making another film with Mickey,” said Kassen. “What he’s been able to do in creating special, enigmatic and empowering female characters in genre films has really grown to another level of scope and ambition in Crooks”.

Celluloid Dreams President Hengameh Panahi added, “Crooks is a contemporary take on the heist genre: Mickey understands that audiences today are smart, selective and know cinema. His distinctive sharp style revitalizes iconic imagery in this tale of murder and madness infused by vintage songs. Crooks will be a fun ride.”

Temple is represented by Troika and UTA, Heady by Troika and CAA, and Kassen by CAA.

[CelluloidPal]

I don't know how the hell criminal behavior is considered empowerment.

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

I don't know how the hell criminal behavior is considered empowerment.

Well, it depends on a couple things.

1) Who's the victim?

2) Is there a point to the crime other than simple enrichment?

3) Do other people benefit from it?

Etc.

Like in Oceans Eleven did you for even one second feel sorry for Andy Garcia's character? I'm guessing no. Was there a point to the crime other than the money? Obviously. Did someone else benefit? Of course.

Now, whether those eleven guys needed empowering or not, that's a different story. But certainly things end up quite differently than they began, for a number of, and arguably all of the characters involved.

Criminals have obviously been the (anti-)heroes of films since the very beginning of the medium.

ETA: Oh, and I wanted to point out that "criminal behavior" is painting with a broad brush. All criminal behavior is not equal, and it isn't seen as equal by either the public nor the law. IOW, it all depends on what went down.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by AaronJ

Well, it depends on a couple things.

1) Who's the victim?

2) Is there a point to the crime other than simple enrichment?

3) Do other people benefit from it?

Etc.

Like in Oceans Eleven did you for even one second feel sorry for Andy Garcia's character? I'm guessing no. Was there a point to the crime other than the money? Obviously. Did someone else benefit? Of course.

Now, whether those eleven guys needed empowering or not, that's a different story. But certainly things end up quite differently than they began, for a number of, and arguably all of the characters involved.

Criminals have obviously been the (anti-)heroes of films since the very beginning of the medium.

ETA: Oh, and I wanted to point out that "criminal behavior" is painting with a broad brush. All criminal behavior is not equal, and it isn't seen as equal by either the public nor the law. IOW, it all depends on what went down.

Many good points here and perhaps I have indeed painted a broad brush and should've been more specific on my part. It's truly a muddled affair when you think really think about.

[DavePS3]

I freaking love Lena H.!

[AaronJ]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

Many good points here and perhaps I have indeed painted a broad brush and should've been more specific on my part. It's truly a muddled affair when you think really think about.

"Muddled" is putting it mildly.

And as someone who, decades ago, was involved in some rather "sketchy" political ... incidents, I know of what I speak. Heh.

[Foggy]

Haven’t Gangster films been hailed as being becons of masculity for nearly a century now?