Review of Safe Men (1998) by Aaron N — 10 Jun 2009

Eddie: Sam this man is in the mafia, he's not going to let us off the hook if we give him a fucking basket of sundry goods.

Sam: Oh, but he's in the Jewish mafia, I'm sure that's more of like a club than a criminal organization.

An overall charming film that is very flawed do to its style, but the great cast and moments of inspired hilarity make it all worth it.

Sam Rockwell and Steve Zahn play unsuccessful singers mistaken for two expert safe crackers (actually played by Mark Ruffalo and Josh Pais). They are forcefully brought in by a mobster, Veal Chop played by Paul Giamatti, and forced to pull a number of safe cracking jobs for Jewish mob boss, Big Fat Bernie Gayle played by Michael Lerner (who seems like he's going to have a heart attack in every scene). During this time, Rockwell's character falls in love with the daughter of one of the men who is supposed to be being robbed by them.

There is a lot of plot, but its not really confusing because the movie exists in a world that is way to quirky for its own good. Sure its a comedy, but the way the people exist in this world is way to precious. The conversations walk a very fine line between being funny and going overboard in stylization.

All of this being said, the cast is quite good. Rockwell, always solid, plays the awkward lead very well. Zahn is a bit dialed down from other, funnier characters he has played. Giamatti was probably my favorite character in this movie, as he actually had some layers. Ruffalo plays a lovable loser type, despite being a crook with emotional problems. Then you have Harvey Fierstein in a movie where he doesn't play an openly gay man.

Its a very lighthearted crime comedy that certainly means well and scores few originality points, but pushes its charm way to hard to be better.

Sam: Sweet 'stache.

Frank: Thanks, bro.