Criminal

Lionsgate | Release Date: April 15, 2016

8.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 279 Ratings

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User Reviews

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Rebecca31Apr 22, 2016

If I may start this with an actual quote from the movie - "You've only half a **** brain" well I can assure you that's all you need to watch this sorry excuse for a movie. CIA agent's memories get transplanted into a psychopaths brain inIf I may start this with an actual quote from the movie - "You've only half a **** brain" well I can assure you that's all you need to watch this sorry excuse for a movie. CIA agent's memories get transplanted into a psychopaths brain in order to stop a nuclear attack blah blah blah. Cue Gary Oldman shouting, Kevin Costner growling his lines, Tommy Lee Jones looking sad and the bad guy sitting at a laptop. Do not go see this, if you really want to watch something like this stay at home and put on Face/Off, at least that way you'll be entertained.… Expand

2 of 9 users found this helpful27

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wcrosherApr 18, 2016

Criminal gets good performances from Kevin Costner and Gal Gadot, but absolutely wastes them on a incredibly generic storyline, boring action sequences, and plot holes left and right. For a movie that looks to be so original, it's amazingCriminal gets good performances from Kevin Costner and Gal Gadot, but absolutely wastes them on a incredibly generic storyline, boring action sequences, and plot holes left and right. For a movie that looks to be so original, it's amazing how generic it quickly becomes.… Expand

2 of 11 users found this helpful29

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thomasbabalolaJul 17, 2016

Crap,Utter crap .Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap Crap,Utter crap
I left after 20 minutes .

2 of 11 users found this helpful29

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BrianMcCriticJul 30, 2016

So much talent wasted by a terrible script. This film fails in almost every way. Oldman, Costner, Reynolds, and Jones could have easily been replaced by much smaller names and gotten the same results. D

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

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EpicLadySpongeApr 15, 2016

No one expected Criminal to be this paralyzing all over the place. It leaves people out expecting them to want more and even when it brings it, it is always dull and precedented. Criminal is against the law and should be filed up a violationNo one expected Criminal to be this paralyzing all over the place. It leaves people out expecting them to want more and even when it brings it, it is always dull and precedented. Criminal is against the law and should be filed up a violation for its own rights.… Expand

1 of 10 users found this helpful19

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danielnitesApr 15, 2016

Mind-melding sci-fi spy actioner Criminal stands as a derivative B-flick featuring tired action tropes fueled by the aging talent of former A-listers hoping to swoon the domestic market while, in reality, its sub-par performances andMind-melding sci-fi spy actioner Criminal stands as a derivative B-flick featuring tired action tropes fueled by the aging talent of former A-listers hoping to swoon the domestic market while, in reality, its sub-par performances and unenthusiastic plot barely pierces top VOD status.

Criminal's story rolls out with the quick and bloody write off of super spy Bill Pope (Ryan Reynolds) who had been tracking a Dutch hacker, affectionately named "The Dutchman", who possess a plot device-type backdoor to the US nuclear military command. In order to recover the last location of the Dutchman, screenwriters Douglas Cook and David Weisberg (The Rock) recruit London's finest Quaker Wells (Gary Oldman) who desperately recruits experimental neurosurgeon Dr. Franks (Tommy Lee Jones) to transfer Pope's memories into another brain using an explanation-not-necessary cutting-edge technique.

Dr. Franks, channeling a bored Jones, inexplicably insists on using brain-dead death row's resident sociopath Jericho Stewart (Kevin Costner) for the transfer. Jericho's lack of empathy, solitary condiment lifestyle and overall lack of human emotions concisely summarizes the film's short term goals while the newly-implanted memories and actions reflect the writers' self-serving ambitions.

From the inciting incident forward, Criminal stumbles from set-piece to set-piece as Jericho attempts to align himself with a modern day Frankenstein, snapping necks left and right and strangely reconnecting with Pope's widow Jill (Gal Gadot) who, along with Costner (at times), delivers a convincing performance despite the screenplay's contrived efforts to box them in. At one point, the film's intentions become too far-fetched and frankly too ambitious for a cut-and-dry action flick as Criminal careens towards unnecessary philosophical aims echoed in Jericho's emotional connection with the Pope family.

Inconsistent tonality and fleeting tension particularly around lead performances is indicative of Ariel Vromen's long nap at the helm as key scenes seem hammered unceremoniously together in post, sending the sensory volume into the stratosphere. The same can be said about Vremon's technical direction. While the action sequences will certainly satisfy genre diehards with its efficient off-brand Bourne-style package complete with shaky cams and pedestrian POV shots, it ultimately becomes an all-too-familiar distraction from the uninspired tale.

Criminal's largest problem is that it rests too comfortably on the laurels of the action genre, binging on its confidence, never feeling the need to innovative beyond an exotic locale or some flashy character trait. In truth, a rested and mindful cast and crew could surly transplant it into domestic box office territory.

--Film Review Weekly… Expand

1 of 10 users found this helpful19

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RobBob99Apr 25, 2016

Kevin Costner gives one of his most cringeworthy performances in Criminal, a poor excuse of an action film. The film wastes the talents of it's leads (even though I did enjoy Tommy Lee Jones, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot) in a complete mess ofKevin Costner gives one of his most cringeworthy performances in Criminal, a poor excuse of an action film. The film wastes the talents of it's leads (even though I did enjoy Tommy Lee Jones, Ryan Reynolds and Gal Gadot) in a complete mess of a story that makes as such sense as a Michael Bay film.… Expand

3 of 38 users found this helpful335

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allfixxedJan 7, 2017

If you believe it's okay for your government to experiment on a brain-damaged prisoner, then either offer him a job if the experiment is a success or execute him if it isn't, then you will love this movie.

1 of 48 users found this helpful147

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badgerryan19May 19, 2017

Wow what a opportunity missed. This movie had a lot going for it from its cast and a interesting story which was kinda like "Face Off". But the script was absolutely dreadful. The performances are the only reason why this movie wasn'tWow what a opportunity missed. This movie had a lot going for it from its cast and a interesting story which was kinda like "Face Off". But the script was absolutely dreadful. The performances are the only reason why this movie wasn't absolutely terrible.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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CasandraComplexNov 27, 2020

Incredibly predictable movie complete with Hollywood version of annoying, cloying little girl pleading to the better nature of the murderous beast.. barf
The only thing good about it and what I suspect is why the critics disliked it, is thatIncredibly predictable movie complete with Hollywood version of annoying, cloying little girl pleading to the better nature of the murderous beast.. barf
The only thing good about it and what I suspect is why the critics disliked it, is that the extreme leftist globalist terrorist gets defeated and gets his comeuppance . Funny how I'm beginning to see a pattern if when there is a huge disparity between what critics think is so wonderful and what the actual public despises. Just look at the Cuties reviews and that should tell you all you need to know. It was a terrible movie in spite of all of the wasted talent on the screen. Ryan Reynolds did well to die early in this polished turd of a movie. Critics are really showing how politicized their reviews have become. It's a wonder that anyone listens to them anymore because all they are in present day is an extension of the public relations arm of Chinese Communist China and the cowering sycophants of Hollywood.… Expand

0 of 3 users found this helpful03

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