Life Of Crime (2014)

A pair of petty criminals (John Hawkes, Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def) kidnap the trophy wife (Jennifer Aniston) of a small time crook and embezzler (Tim Robbins) and hold her hostage for a million dollars. A simple plan ... what could go wrong? Well, as anybody who's ever gone to the movies or read an Elmore Leonard novel (this is based on his novel THE SWITCH) knows, everything that could go wrong ... goes wrong. This black comedy needed to be darker, more edgy. As it plays out, it's an affable and clever piece of comedic noir with occasional shocking bursts of violence (a lit cigarette shoved in someone's eye!) with some excellent performances. This is Aniston's best performance yet, even better than THE GOOD GIRL, her character is the one the audience depends on to hold on to our sense of equilibrium. To the film's credit, we think we know where it's headed but it manages to keep us surprised at every turn and double cross. Directed by Daniel Schechter. With Will Forte as Aniston's nerdy wannabe lover, Isla Fisher as Robbins' two timing mistress and Mark Boone Junior as a Nazi loving white supremacist who throws his lot in with the kidnappers.