I can't believe this comedy went right to DVD. When I think of some of the garbage the big studios put out and call comedy, I'm appalled that "The Maiden Heist" did not have a theatrical release. However, I believe the production company went bankrupt.The films stars Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken, William H. Macy, and Marcia Gay Harden. Freeman, Walken, and Macy are museum guards. Each over time has become attached to a particular work of art. For Roger (Walken), it's The Lonely Maiden; for Charles (Freeman), it's a portrait of a woman with cats; and for George (Macy) it's the sculpture of an athlete which so consumes him that each time he sees it (thankfully as he's guarding at night) he strips off his clothes and copies the pose.When the three learn that these pieces are all going to Denmark, they devise a plan to switch them with copies. Since they've studied these works and know every subtlety, nothing passes muster, and it takes a while to get everything assembled. Then they volunteer to help pack and take the art to the airport. In a subplot, Roger's annoying wife (Harden) wants to take a trip to Florida, and because of her big mouth, Roger almost doesn't get to be part of the packing-switching. On the actual day of the job, there are some unexpected occurrences.Very funny, fresh comedy with outstanding performances by everyone but Harden, an excellent actress but here, she is over the top. WAY over. She may very well have been directed that way, but that New York accent was overdone. In one of the last scenes in the van, however, she is absolutely hysterical reacting to what she thinks is a surprise planned by Roger.A wonderful movie, a warm film about friendship, and a passion for art among everyday guys. The movie has two endings; you'll think it's over but there's a little more. I really loved it.

Morgan Freeman. Christopher Walken. William H Macy. With three leads like that, how could the film possibly fail? It does. Sort of. 'The Heist' is about three security guards who work in a museum. When their favourite works of art are sold to an overseas gallery, they decide to steal them for themselves. The three leads are as good as you'd expect them to be. However, they're given very little to work with. You may see this advertised as a 'comedy,' but it really isn't that funny. It's sort of a drama, but not very dramatic. And don't be lulled into thinking there's any major action in it - if you've seen scenes of shoot-outs in the trailers then be warned: they're part of a sixty second dream sequence at the very start of the film.Yes, this film is pretty 'easy going.' It's gentle and warm and there's nothing to shock, offend or distress. However, with the acting talent on display, you feel it could be so much more. There will be two sorts of people who watch this: one sort will enjoy it for its niceness, the other sort will hate it for being boring. One thing's for sure... if it sadly average.http://thewrongtreemoviereviews.blogspot.co.uk/

9 out of 10 for what I perceive this film is expressing.There is something really special, unique even, about this film, whatever you think about story or acting, that follows at the end below.How to show the extraordinary in the ordinariness of people's lives? And present it in an interesting and entertaining way, without being judgmental? First, choose three of the most accomplished actors of the past half-century. Then make the story about good guys being naughty, sorta in the anti-hero vein. Finally, add feelings of genuine affection, friendship and love.This is an actors movie, and will be especially gratifying for those who appreciate consummate acting. But there's more to it. Many years back I read an article in the NYT Magazine discussing the work of Glenda Jackson. They described her as an "honest" actor. Honesty is a quality of every great actor. Honesty comes from innocence, perhaps being totally honest with oneself. These three (actually four considering Harden) actors are so accomplished that they need not convince us – they *are* their characters. What acting is about. Just like life. We each find something interesting in our lives, and this not only connects us with others but provides a way to express ourselves and find friendship, even love, but most certainly, the possibility of a kindness within that is particularly human. The quotes below touch on this.kosmasp - And is it a bad thing, that this movie works mainly because of the three main actors? skunkgyrl - THE MAIDEN HEIST (there is a more to the title than you might think) is like getting together with old friends for a chuckle. . . .the results are a fun film that has some gentle hidden messages about friendship, relationships, and loving your job. . . It is a pleasure to see three fine actors such as Freeman, Walken and Macy pull off this comedy, aided by the absurd character Marcia Gay Harden inhabits. It is well-scripted full and it is very obvious that these actors are having a great time with the film.dexteruk - Anything can take a persons fancy, and become an obsession, a piece of string, how mundane it is to some, could be someones obsession, and they could know all manner of things about it.So here it is. What is truly special about this film is its ending, or the plural, "endingS." Endings are extremely important to any story, and especially in film because of its immediacy and closeness to everyday reality (and notice how many novels have an epilogue). Dysfunctional endings in films (and I'm not talking about endings that leave things hanging, as these can be quite an effective device to involve us in the story) that come to mind (and ruined fine stories) are The Temp and January Man. Dontya want an ending that provides a new beginning, or at least gets you to ponder further? This film has four, yes, four endings. The test of this perception is to view the film from when Christopher Walken is snorkeling in the ocean on to the end, first discovering each of the four endings, ending the film in your mind after each of them, and using your imagination to find out if each would work in terms of the story. Really. There are four endings. What the artist creates is not always conscious. They are each a channel. And so I don't think that the four endings were by design. But they are there. And wonderfully refreshing.

It seems like they should have been in New York, but the Boston Museum is featured prominently. I watched it on Netflix streaming.It is ultimately about 3 museum guards, each with a favorite work of art that they study and admire most of their shift. They get news that the collection is being sold and shipped to Denmark. What to do? Move to Denmark? Or maybe pull off a fantastic heist. Christopher Walken is Roger Barlow and he adores the painting "The Lonely Maiden" , thus the title "The Maiden Heist." He is married to and has a great relationship with Marcia Gay Harden as Rose Barlow. Fellow guard Morgan Freeman as Charles Peterson adores a different painting. While fellow guard William H. Macy as George McLendon adores a bronze statue of a nude male. In fact when Charles is viewing some graveyard shift security tapes he sees that George takes all his clothes off and poses alongside the statue. With that threat of exposure hanging over him he cooperates with the other two.This is just light, funny entertainment, and there are lots of funny scenes. They are all good, but my favorite is Walken, who is a master comic even though he is more known for his tough guy roles. A very enjoyable movie.SPOILERS: The plan they hatch is to have very high quality reproductions made of each piece, substitute them for the real ones overnight in storage after final packing, and keep the real ones for themselves. As expected it doesn't all go smoothly, which makes for many laughs, but in the end they are successful.