Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- sardonic
- tense
- crime movie night
- short thriller evening
What critics said
Critics generally found the compact con-artist thriller entertaining and well acted, with appealing performances and humor tempered by a familiar story.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Richard and Rodrigo cooperate on increasingly complex scams while each may be pursuing a hidden larger play.
Richard renames Rodrigo Brian and alters his presentation to make him appear more Caucasian and trustworthy.
The counterfeit currency con grows more complicated as collaborators, family ties, and changing circumstances dilute and endanger the take.
The film focuses on small-time Los Angeles cons, upscale hotel access, and the performers' contrasting methods of deception.
Films like Criminal, and why
Nine Queens
shared con artist partnership, shifting loyalties, and comic crime tension
The Grifters
shared intricate scams, distrust between grifters, and morally ambiguous crime plotting
House of Games
shared stylish small-scale con artistry, reversals, and dry criminal humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Gregory Jacobs
- Release Date
- 2004-09-10
- Runtime
- 87 min
- Rating
- 6.2 / 10 (160)
Cast
- John C. Reilly
- Diego Luna
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Peter Mullan
- Zitto Kazann
- Jonathan Tucker
- Laura Cerón
- Soledad St. Hilaire
- Ellen Geer
- Brandon Keener
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Howdy Amazon Channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Criminal about?
- Two mismatched Los Angeles grifters attempt a lucrative counterfeit-currency scam while testing whether partnership or betrayal pays better.
- What is Criminal like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Criminal as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Criminal violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Criminal as mild.
- What did critics think of Criminal?
- Critics generally found the compact con-artist thriller entertaining and well acted, with appealing performances and humor tempered by a familiar story.
- Which films are like Criminal?
- Films with a similar feel include Nine Queens, The Grifters, and House of Games.
- How long is Criminal?
- Criminal runs 87 minutes.
- Where can I watch Criminal?
- In United States, Criminal streams on Howdy Amazon Channel.
