Criminal

Starring: John C. Reilly, Diego Luna, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Tucker, Zitto Kazann, Brandon Keener

Directed by: Gregory Jacobs

RS: 2of 4 Stars

2004 Thriller

Here's the story: John C. Reilly stars as Richard Gaddis, a Los Angeles swindler who recruits a young partner (Diego Luna) for a one-day sting operation. It involves Richard using antique currency to bilk a tycoon (Peter Mullan) out of $500,000 and using his sister (the always intriguing Maggie Gyllenhaal) as a whore to do it. Here's the problem: The movie was made just four years ago by Argentinian director Fabian Bielinsky. It is called Nine Queens, and it is vastly superior to this blah U.S. remake from director Gregory Jacobs. Here's the solution: Stop dreading subtitles and rent the original on DVD.