HENRY’S CRIME

US, 2008, 108 minutes,Colour.
Keanu Reeves, Vera Farmiga, James Caan Khan, Judy Greer, Fisher Stevens, Peter Stormare, Danny Hoch.
Directed by Malcolm Vennville.

Henry’s Crime is a slightly oddball concoction but endearing nonetheless.

Keanu Reeves gives one of his passive performances again which suits the initial action but he becomes more alive as the film moves on. Henry works at a toll, a deadpan life, living with someone who supports him but wants to be pregnant and, ultimately leaves him. When a school friend appears with an associate who is sick, he is pressurised into being the getaway driver for a bank robbery, then arrested by the bank’s security guard, not revealing the identities of the others and being sentenced to prison for three years.

In prison, he encounters Max, James Caan in a very engaging performance as someone who prefers to be in jail but is a conman and is persuaded by Henry to get out of jail to help him with the robbery of the bank for which he was arrested. He is told that he has done the time. Therefore, he decides to do the crime. He has discovered a tunnel between the bank and the theatre and, after being run down by the star, Julie, Vera Farmiga, he visits the theatre and becomes involved with her. Max, in the meantime ingratiates himself with the people at the theatre and they plan to dig through the wall and into the vault of the bank.

The interesting thing about the screenplay is that the performers are staging Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard – in Buffalo. The themes of Chekhov’s play about the upstart, the money, falling in love, the reaction of the owner of the Cherry Orchard, become anchors for parallel action in the robbing of the bank while Henry is becoming part of the theatre ensemble.

Keanu Reeves fits his role very well. James Caan is very good as Max. And there is a bonus with Peter Stormare as the eccentric Russian director of the play.

The film was directed by Malcolm Venville who also directed 44 inches.

1. The title, the irony of Henry and his crimes, innocent and guilty?

2. The combination of drama, crime, romance, theatre? The musical score?

3. The choice of Checkhov’s The Cherry Orchard for performance, for background for the contemporary plot? The original and the staging, the anchoring of the story in the plot and characters? Playing them out on stage and during the robbery?

4. Buffalo locations, the city, the toll and the bridge, homes, the theatre, the bank, the streets, Niagara Falls?

5. The set-up, Henry and Keanu Reeves, his impassive style? Working on the toll, going home, breakfast, the discussions with Debbie, her wanting to be pregnant? His passive responses? Vibes and his intrusion in the house? With Joe and his being sick? Pressuring Henry, his driving the car, the robbery, security guard and arresting him, the interrogation, his not revealing the truth, in court, the sentence?

6. In prison, the routines, going in, his cell, being with Max, Max and his character, talking, asking him questions, about his dream? Helping him with the meals, the dining room? With the other prisoners? Six months passing? Judy and her visit to the prison, leaving him? Another year? His behaviour in prison, not liking it, eventually free?

7. The theme of not doing the crime but doing the time – and therefore doing the crime? Sufficient as a motivation?

8. Alone, settling down, looking at the bank, Julie running him over, getting him up, the security guard and his help? Having the cup of coffee, the discussion, Julie leaving? Henry seeing the poster about the bank and the tunnel? His decision? Going to the theatre, seeing Julie, watching her perform? His decision and going to the prison, talking with Max, persuading him to get out?

9. Max is a character, his age, his stories, his liking prison, not wanting to get out, the parole board and his spinning exaggerated stories? Getting out, no car, wanting to go back in, sharing the apartment? Going to the theatre, his talk, talk about performance, his look of nostalgia, persuading the stage director to give him a tour, eliciting the information, the location of the tunnel? His volunteering to help at the theatre? Explanations to Julie about fraud and using ‘confidence man’?

10. Julie, her character, cold, her career, rehearsal and performances, angers, clashes with the director? running over Henry, glad that he did not sue, the visits, having the meal, talking, his revealing the plan, her involvement? The relationship, sex, her considering it casual? Max and his observations?

11. Joe, moving in with Debbie, grateful that Henry did not reveal his name? His job, the Korean plastics? Hopes, Debbie pregnant? His drinking, needing
the money, agreeing to dig, the progress of the robbery?

12. The plan, Henry to be in the play, getting rid of the star, auditions, the reaction of the director, Henry making it personal, being hired? His presence at the rehearsals? Acting with Julie?

13. The deadline for the robbery, the security guard and his information, the illness of his wife, his resentments about no loan, his helping with the information? Vibes turning up, Max and his reaction, disdain? The gun? Vibes and his work? His plan to rob everyone, pulling the gun, their overcoming him, tying him up and leaving him in in the vault?

14. The parallels with the play, the actual robbery, going through into the vault, packing the money, the car?

15. Henry, the clash, his being shot, the escape, his decision to get out of the car? Leaving Max?

16. His return to the performance, the reaction of the director, the audience participating and giving advice, Julie and her reaction? His saying he loved her?

17. The end with the curtain coming down on their kissing – the future?