In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

The first must-see film of the year.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

Something is missing in "The Hot Rock" that keeps it from being a great film. Perhaps several smaller things together keep it from being a top caper comedy. It surely is of that genre, but the comedy is quite weak. A sometimes funny script saves is from being a bomb. The idea for the plot is a superb one. Jewel thieves have to steal the same prize diamond again and again. The schemes to do so are entertaining. But the comedy in those situations seems forced. An example is when the gang attacks a neighborhood police precinct to retrieve the jewel from a jail cell. The various police characters were all set up in comedic roles from the start. So, that's a forced comedy situation that comes off more as a satire or parody of the New York police department than a clever and humorous attempted heist at a police precinct building. And as a parody, it's just not funny. Robert Redford's character, Dortmunder, seems an awful lot like Johnny Hooker in "The Sting." But this film plot is far from that of the next year's film. And, the far laid back, easy-going character that Redford has here just doesn't seem to fit the plot very well. The best roles in the film are played by George Segal as Kelp and Paul Sand as Greenberg. They also are the source of most of the comedy. The film had great possibilities, but it comes off as more lame and silly than as very good comedy as a caper. It's worth a watch, but not the price to buy or rent it. But for some occasional funny lines, "The Hot Rock" would be a washout.Here are a few good lines from the film. For more funny lines, see the Quotes section under this IMDb Web page of the movie.Dortmunder, "You're not being pushy?" Kelp, "I'm just edging you towards making a decision. There's a difference." Kelp, "You take failure too hard. I don't mind it so much anymore." Dr. Amusa, "I've heard of the habitual criminal, of course. But I never dreamed I'd become involved with the habitual crime."Greenberg (to his dad, Abe Greenberg, who has just sold out his son's gang), "Don't expect me for any more Sunday drives, dad."

Delicious caper comedy gets by thanks to a witty, clever story, sharp pacing, and superb acting. Scripted by William Goldman, based on the novel by Donald E. Westlake, it stars Robert Redford as Dortmunder, a career criminal just getting out of prison who's immediately persuaded by his cheerful brother-in-law Kelp (George Segal) to participate in a job. The task is to steal a rare, very large diamond for Dr. Amusa (Moses Gunn), an official representing a fictional African country who insists that the gem belongs to his people.The hook of Westlakes' tale is that nothing seems to go right for our museum robbing "heroes". One frustrating thing after another happens, and the diamond thieves are obliged to, among other things, stage a raid on a police station!Redford is aces as Dortmunder, who tries to keep his head up in the face of so much chaos, swearing that he won't let this job get the better of him. He, Segal, Ron Leibman as Murch, and Paul Sand as Greenberg make for a pretty fun team. The rock solid supporting cast also features William Redfield, Charlotte Rae, Graham Jarvis, Harry Bellaver, and Lee Wallace. While everybody does fine work, the film just gets even better with the introduction of the legendary Zero Mostel as a wily attorney who just so happens to be Greenbergs' father.It's very entertaining to watch as our four main characters try to deal with each problem as it comes up. The script is very funny, and while there's not a lot in the way of action, it's decently executed. Nice use of locations, too, and a nice music score composed by Quincy Jones, who persuaded 20th Century Fox to make note of the individual musicians on the soundtrack.Followed by "Bank Shot", with George C. Scott in the Dortmunder role.Eight out of 10.

Dortmunder is just out of jail and his brother-in-law Kelp has a job lined up for them. It would seem that a guy called Dr. Amusa is desperate for a valuable sapphire that is of extreme significance to his African people. Of course it's in a highly secured museum, of course it's going to take great planning with a top trustworthy crew, and of course things are not going to go to plan!.Starring Robert Redford {Dortmund} and George Segal {Kelp} in the lead roles, and based on the Donald E. Westlake page turning novel, The Hot Rock has many good things going for it. Instead of a run of the mill crime caper we get a well scripted picture that has fun oozing from every frame. As the film progresses, our ensemble of crooks lurch from one bad luck scenario to another, it's impossible not to side with our charmingly unlucky thieves. Redford and Segal play off each other very well, some of the looks they share between each other are comedy gold on their own, both men apparently having fun with William Goldman's zippy screenplay. Amongst all the hilarity the picture has a cool 70s vibe to it, director Peter Yates finding a happy medium between comedy and crime drama, don't go in expecting a world beating piece of cinema and i'm sure you will enjoy this piece. 7/10

I like Robert Redford and George Segal, but this was only a thoroughly average heist film where the two men get together with a couple of other guys and are paid in the neighborhood of $100,000 to steal a diamond from a museum. They manage to pull it off rather easily, but then other complications abound including Zero Mostel as a sneaky lawyer. This is too long and not terribly interesting throughout, though Redford and Segal are okay as the leads. I enjoyed some of the New York photography more than anything else here. Sadly, we also see the World Trade Center in its early stages of being built. ** out of ****