“Art of the Steal.”
That’s the title of a great 2010 documentary about a raw deal between an art
museum in rural Pennsylvania and the City of (Big) Brotherly Love, the
Philadelphia Museum of Art. It crackled with betrayal, and was all talking
heads. Art geeks, even. Now, it’s the title of an “Oceans 11”-type caper with
Kurt Russell playing ex-con Crunch Calhoun, out to steal a Gutenberg-printed
book that could undo the story of Jesus. On Crash’s crew: His half-brother
(Matt Dillon) who previously put our hero in prison for 5 years, and Jay
Baruchel as a young crook who acts like Jay Baruchel and blurts out ad-libbed
one-liners that scream ad-libbed one-liner. Kurt Russell is a great actor. So,
I hate to say this, but “Art” is an ugly-dull bore. Director/writer Jonathan
Sobol tosses in endless editing tricks to make his flick soar, but it’s dead at
launch, topped by a woeful laughably predictable ending. One highlight: A brief,
strange bit where we break from the regular plot to watch Russell play a man
who steals the Mona Lisa 100 years ago. Russell’s eyes sparkle. He
smiles. He scowls. Boom. Russell deserves a major comeback. C-
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