Arts & Entertainment
'Tower Heist' is a Comical Caper With Occupy Wall Street Undertones
Get ready for a comedy about a bunch of co-workers who turn the tables on a Bernie Madoff-type bad guy.
Ben Stiller plays an apartment building manager who, along with the other building staff members, gets ripped off by penthouse resident Arthur Shaw (played by Alan Alda).
When the employees realize they have been swindled, they plan their revenge in the form of a "Tower Heist".
After an FBI agent (played by Tea Leoni) leaks word about a large stash of cash in Shaw's apartment, Stiller's character hires Slide, a two-bit cat burglar played by Eddie Murphy, to plan the heist. When Murphy makes it on the screen, about 40 minutes in, the movie finally picks up.
Tower Heist spends the rest of its running time tracking the staff members (played by Casey Affleck, Matthew Broderick, Michael Pena and Gabourey Sidibe) as they try to infiltrate the penthouse and locate the hidden millions. The movie is smart, streetwise and sassy — with most of that supplied by Eddie Murphy.
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Director Brett Ratner does a great job of putting together a ensemble cast and giving a sort of Occupy Wall Street-feel to the movie. You want the 99 percent — the underdogs — to win, but do they? Find out for yourself.
The flick-o-meter gives Tower Heist a four out of five. It is good to see Murphy back doing what he does best, but I was hoping that it would be sooner than 40 minutes into the film.
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Show Times
Digital Projection show times for 'Tower Heist' at Northeast Cobb's Park 12 Cobb Stadium Cinemas are: 4:45, 7:30 and 10 p.m.
Dinner
Want a meal as adventurous as the movie? Try located at 2800 Canton Rd.
About this column: Brett Martin is a familiar face in the Atlanta area. He was the Entertainment reporter and Road Warrior for Fox 5 and Good Day Atlanta for many years (1999-2007). Brett continues to be a film critic and a member of the BFCA (broadcast film critics association). He has personally interviewed nearly every major movie star and academy award winning actor and actress over the past two decades. You can catch all his reviews and find out more about Brett on his two websites. His movie reviews can be seen at www.flickedup.com. His video production business, which specializes in online commercials, can be seen at www.brettervideo.com. If you have any specific questions contact Brett through his email. flickmeup@gmail.com or friend him on Facebook www.facebook.com/brettervideo. You can also follow him on Twitter at @imbrettmartin.