Ordinary Decent Criminal

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14%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 7

60%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 5,606
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Movie Info

Ordinary Decent Criminal is a classic gangster movie in modern-day Ireland. It follows the extraordinary adventures of a Robin Hood character, Michael Lynch, a thief, bigamist, liar, and criminal genius who robs from the rich to give to the poor. Michael is suave, sardonic, and sexy. When his leather-clad figure weaves its way through the Dublin traffic on a powerful motorbike, people stare in awe. He loves his two wives (who happen to be sisters), his wild kids, his gang, and, most of all, his way of life. He has two fundamental beliefs: be loyal to your own and the hell with the establishment. As his ego gets bigger and bigger, he enjoys his notoriety more than the cash it brings. Determined to break him, the police increases its harassment of the whole gang, as Michael makes a mistake that could threaten his good name with the public and his reliability as a bread-winner. But he recovers his equilibrium in time to dream up a final grand scheme to survive the trap set for him. The story is reminiscent of John Boorman's The General about a similar real-life character, Martin Cahill, also a Robin Hood married to two sisters. The impressive cast includes Kevin Spacey, Linda Fiorentino, and Peter Mullan, the tragic hero of My Name is Joe.

Cast

Dick Haymes
Kevin Spacey
as Michael Lynch
Linda Fiorentino
as Christine
Peter Mullan
as Stevie
Stephen Dillane
as Noel Quigley
Helen Baxendale
as Lisa
David Hayman
as Tony
Patrick Malahide
as Daly
Gerard McSorley
as Harrison
Tim Loane
as Jerome Higgins
Gary Lydon
as Tom Rooney
Paul Ronan
as Billy Lynch
Christoph Waltz
as Peter
Bill Murphy
as Barry
Tony Coleman
as Con
Barry Barnes
as Larry
Anthony Brophy
as Liam
Paul Roe
as Luke
Paul Hickey
as Ger
Tom Maguire
as Lenny
Herbert Knaup
as Dr. Heer
Alan Devlin
as Lord Mayor
Jer O'Leary
as Padraig Lynch
Hugh B. O'Brien
as Flinton Doorley
Conor Mullen
as McHale
Enda Oates
as Brian
Bronco McLaughlin
as Mr. Harmless
Tamzin Shaw
as Mrs. Hippy
Ross Dungan
as Tommy Lynch
Sarah Barrett
as Breda Lynch
Alex Hayes
as Shane Lynch
Darragh Mullen
as Eddie
Maeve de Blacam
as Niamh
Eva Barrett
as Oonagh
Angela McLoughlin
as Mrs. Harmless
David Kelly
as Father Grogan
Vincent Regan
as Shay Kirby
Joe Gallagher
as Dole Office Clerk
Connor Dunne
as Judge
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Critic Reviews for Ordinary Decent Criminal

All Critics (7) | Fresh (1) | Rotten (6)

  • Em vez de perder tempo com este filme, assista ao ótimo O General, inspirado no mesmo personagem, e veja o contraste entre o irlandês real (Gleeson) e o falso (Spacey).

    Nov 12, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

    Pablo Villaça

    Cinema em Cena

  • (It) highlights not so much the crime lord's messianic bent, but Spacey's.

    Feb 24, 2003 | Rating: 1/4 | Full Review…

    Walter Chaw

    Film Freak Central

  • The best thing that can be said of the picture is that it does have a few cute moments.

    Feb 20, 2003 | Rating: 2/4 | Full Review…

    Steve Rhodes

    Internet Reviews

  • I can only imagine one thing worse than Kevin Spacey trying on an Irish accent, and that's sultry Linda Fiorentino doing the same thing.

    Jan 22, 2003 | Rating: 1.5/5

    Christopher Null

    Filmcritic.com

  • Technically and artistically inept.

    Feb 8, 2001 | Rating: 0.5/4

    Ian Mantgani

    UK Critic
View All Critic Reviews (7)

Audience Reviews for Ordinary Decent Criminal

  • Sep 13, 2010
    It plays like, "The Sting" (1973) meets the IRA. Kevin Spacey does an excellent job of playing a cool headed criminal who doesn't show emotion, but I'm not that kind of role makes the best cinema. In addition, the amount of coaching on the accurate Irish brogue really is doubled sword. Yes you feel its authentic until Linda Flointino speaks, but it really gets in the way of understanding the relationships between members of the gang. If I watch it again, it would definitely with subtitle on.
    Bill C Super Reviewer
  • Jun 06, 2009
    In Ordinary Decent Criminal, Kevin Spacey plays Michael Lynch, a clever criminal who pulls off daring heists, enjoys outsmarting the cops, looks superb in his black hood and other sorts of attention-grabbing face gear, has a bizarre ménage- a- trois with his wife and her sister... you get the idea!! His next heist becomes an obsession when his partners start questioning Michael's ability to plan everything perfectly, when he isn't playing good father at home. Kevin Spacey, as always, is great and it's fun to see one of the impossibly spunky Colin Farrell's first "big screen" appearances. Ordinary Decent Criminal is a fast paced entertaining romp of a film but no match for the "Usual Suspects" or "Se7en". The crime vignettes are highly amusing. Good soundtracks by Blur's Damon Albarn.
    Deb S Super Reviewer
  • Nov 19, 2007
    Kevin Spacey has two wives, and cops follow him around and he does 'zaney' things to get away from them so hes can blahc ahclas....sorry. Lost my interest even talking about it.
    Curtis L Super Reviewer
  • May 29, 2007
    LOL I didn't think this was going to be a comedy too! & OI! They had th say for FOOK sake! (never gets old! & I hear it at work al the time!)
    Kym (c my community profile) R Super Reviewer
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