Thick as Thieves (2009 film)
| Thick as Thieves AKA: The Code | |
|---|---|
 DVD poster | |
| Directed by | Mimi Leder |
| Written by | Ted Humphrey |
| Produced by | Boaz Davidson Lori McCreary Danny Lerner Les Weldon Randall Emmett |
| Starring | Morgan Freeman Antonio Banderas Radha Mitchell |
Release date | 2009 |
| Country | Template:FilmUS |
| Language | English |
Thick as Thieves (also known as The Code) is a crime/heist film produced for sale in overseas markets directed by Mimi Leder, starring Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas and Radha Mitchell.[1] Released Direct to DVD in February 2009 in the UK, it was released in the US on 17 April, 2009.[2]
Plot
Set in New York City, veteran thief Keith Ripley (Freeman) recruits younger crook Gabriel Martin (Banderas) to help him pull off one final job in order to repay his debt to the Russian mob, who had killed his previous partner, Victor Korolenko, over the debt before they could complete the plan. Martin is unsure of Ripley, but Ripley's goddaughter, Alexandra Korolenko (Mitchell), who is also Victor's daughter, convinces him other wise, although Ripley doesn't like that the two are getting close. Ripley tells Martin the plan, that they are going to steal from a Russian Museum that has been smuggling Russian treasures into the country and bribing the NYPD with large donation and expensive equipment. The two infiltrate a party at the museum posing as cops, with Ripley as Lt. Weber (Forster), a cop who has a particular vendetta against Ripley, to gather information about their vault.
The Russian mob, lead by Nicky (Šerbedžija), grow impatient with Ripley and kidnap Alexandra, telling them they must steal two Fabergé eggs from the Russian Museum in order to get her back. When the duo get into the vaults of the museum with the eggs, Martin reveals he is an undercover cop from Miami planted by Weber to catch Ripley, leaves Ripley locked in the vault and informs the Weber, while taking the eggs to the Russian mobster to free Alexandra. After Alexandra is released Martin is forced to meet with Nicky who reveals that the eggs they have stolen are made of wood (like the Karelian Birch egg). Meanwhile, Weber and his squad enter the museum, but are detained by the security guards due to Martin telling the guards he was a cop as he escaped.
Martin reports in to the police the next morning after the police have picked up Nicky, only to learn that the man they have in custody isn't the man Martin met, and that that was actually Victor Korolenko, who had faked his death with Ripley's help. It is then revealed that Ripley had escaped, letting the museum know cops were on the way and that they had cleaned out the vault of all the smuggled items (which had included the eggs) before the police could inspect it, meaning there was no evidence that anything had been stolen and that Martin's testimony would be worthless as his actions have been kept off the book to prevent Ripley from finding out and that Martin's involvement with Alex compromises him, and Ripley had to be let go.
Ripley later calls Martin from a tarmac ready to leave with Victor to meet with a buyer for the eggs, letting him know that they knew Martin was a cop from the beginning, and that they plan on going into hiding, although Alex will continue to stay in New York (having been in on the plan the whole time) and where he can pick up his cut. Martin later meets up with Alex, who confesses that her feelings for him are real, and decides to become a thief.[3]
Cast
- Morgan Freeman - Keith Ripley
- Antonio Banderas - Gabriel Martin
- Radha Mitchell - Alexandra Korolenko
- Robert Forster - Lt. Weber
- Rade Šerbedžija - Nicky / Victor
- Marcel Iureş - Zykov
References these films
Rififi (1955) and Topkapi (1964) (both directed by Jules Dassin)
References
- ^ Dave McNary (2007-10-07). "Radha Mitchell set for 'Code'". Variety.
- ^ Thick as Thieves (2009) - Release dates
- ^ Thick as Thieves (2009/I) at IMDb