GUN-SLINGING TEAM ROBBERIES BUT NOTHING NEW. JUST AVERAGE. STYX is a `B' movie. There is nothing wrong with `B' movies. They are meant to entertain. Some are made just for TV or cable. Now, some are made for Direct-to-DVD. Many of our favorite actors make a lot of `B' movies in addition to top films: Peter Weller, Dennis Hopper, and Faye Dunaway are examples. I think the reasonableness of evaluating them too carefully is made by Leonard Maltin who confines himself to BELOW-AVERAGE AVERAGE or ABOVE-AVERAGE.
STYX for me rates an AVERAGE. The characters and their skills are established by a bank heist in the opening moments. Well-planned, but poorly executed because one of the robbers has poor character. (I can't give too much detail.)
The main portion of the film spans preparation for a second robbery. The gang is larger because more talents are required. More motives for the robbery, too, some of which are elaborated in great detail. The issue of personal character arises again. There is the mandatory assembly of specialists, acquisition of equipment. Missing is a dry run or practice exercise, often part of these stories.
Then the big heist. Its degree of success depends on every team member meeting or exceeding their assignment. But don't these groups always have a `spoiler' who fouls things up? Or is it the type of story where the spoiler surprises everyone and outdoes himself?
There is nothing new here. Most of what we see isn't scripted, acted, or filmed particularly well. But it's a pleasure to see Bryan Brown (F/X 1986) and Peter Weller (ROBOCOP 1987) in the same film, on the same side. The tensions between them are a notch above the balance of the production.
STYX for me rates an AVERAGE. The characters and their skills are established by a bank heist in the opening moments. Well-planned, but poorly executed because one of the robbers has poor character. (I can't give too much detail.)
The main portion of the film spans preparation for a second robbery. The gang is larger because more talents are required. More motives for the robbery, too, some of which are elaborated in great detail. The issue of personal character arises again. There is the mandatory assembly of specialists, acquisition of equipment. Missing is a dry run or practice exercise, often part of these stories.
Then the big heist. Its degree of success depends on every team member meeting or exceeding their assignment. But don't these groups always have a `spoiler' who fouls things up? Or is it the type of story where the spoiler surprises everyone and outdoes himself?
There is nothing new here. Most of what we see isn't scripted, acted, or filmed particularly well. But it's a pleasure to see Bryan Brown (F/X 1986) and Peter Weller (ROBOCOP 1987) in the same film, on the same side. The tensions between them are a notch above the balance of the production.