A Bag of Hammers (2010)

59% of critics liked it
(17 reviews)
89% of users liked it
(145 ratings)

A Bag of Hammers revolves around the friendship of two charming grifters, Ben and Alan, played by Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig. Ben and Alan have built a successful though larcenous business, posing as car valets, only to steal the vehicles instead of parking them. Because of their less-than-ideal… More A Bag of Hammers revolves around the friendship of two charming grifters, Ben and Alan, played by Jason Ritter and Jake Sandvig. Ben and Alan have built a successful though larcenous business, posing as car valets, only to steal the vehicles instead of parking them. Because of their less-than-ideal childhoods and a "job" that allows them to remain likeable boyish rogues well into their 20's, their penchant for crime is almost forgivable. However, everything changes when they meet a twelve-year-old boy named Kelsey. Neglected by his mother, Kelsey is drawn to Ben and Alan and they to him--eventually, Kelsey becomes part mascot, part protege. His presence ultimately forces Alan and Ben to choose between a life of crime and fun (an extended childhood) and the opportunity to grow up and deal with the emotional consequences that come with it. -- (C) Official Site

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Brian Crano
Written By: Brian Crano, Jake Sandvig
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: May 11, 2012 Limited
On DVD: Jun 19, 2012
Studio: MPI Media Group

Critic Reviews

Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times
It's too little, too late for Crano's Wes Anderson-inflected innocence-disrupted project...
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Brian Crano's very slight debut of a comedy.
Andy Webster, New York Times
Mr. Canterbury's character is a Hollywood child archetype: wan and withdrawn, all monosyllables and needy stares.
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News
Woven amid the glib one-liners and contrived scenarios is an unexpected, and undeniably touching, sense of heart.
Rex Reed, New York Observer
Most of it seems baffled and unclear. Some nice ideas floating around in here, but A Bag of Hammers is one of the few movies I can remember that appears to be composed mainly of outtakes.
Michelle Orange, Village Voice
A few striking performances-Ritter, Preston, and Canterbury are especially great-smooth out what might have been a much bumpier ride.
Jules Brenner, Cinema Signals
It's not difficult to project that Crano's charming anti-heros, in later life, will be swindling vulnerable little old ladies out of their homes and nest eggs.
Maryann Koopman Kelly, Paste Magazine
Well shot and well acted.
Alison Willmore, Movieline
It's hard to say whether A Bag of Hammers is deliberately stylized or simply so lo-fi it inadvertently comes across that way, but the simplicity of its elements works.
Scott Tobias, AV Club
It's a struggle all the way for A Bag Of Hammers, though its irony-crusted heart is in the right place.
Marshall Fine, Hollywood & Fine
May start out sounding like a goofy buddy comedy, but stick with it - and it will surprise you. In a good way.
Nick Schager, Time Out New York
The real scam was the filmmakers tricking Rebecca Hall (and a cameoing Amanda Seyfried) into participating in this blunt instrument of an indie.
Andrew Schenker, Slant Magazine
Suffers from both an odd, ineffective structure and a low-key tone that jars uncomfortably with the subject matter and makes the film's stakes seem unnecessary low.
Harvey S. Karten, Compuserve
Well-meaning but innocuous.
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com
Happy, uncynical, and heartfelt, so gosh-darned likable that any flaws in its methods are easily overlooked.
Erik Childress, eFilmCritic.com
Brian Crano's A Bag of Hammers turns out to be that rare tale that surprises in its maturity while never losing the reality of leopards trying to change their spots.

Read all 16 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

No Featured Audience Ratings Found…

Cast

            Jason Ritter as Ben

            Jake Sandvig as Alan

            Chandler Canterbury as Kelsey

            Rebecca Hall as Melanie

            Carrie Preston as Lynette

            Todd Louiso as Marty

            Gabriel Macht as Wyatt

            Amanda Seyfried as Amanda

            Josh Cooke as Cop

            Johnny Simmons as Older Kelsey

            Micah A. Hauptman as Vince

            Jordan-Claire Green as Scott Owen

            Ricardo Chacon as Jorge

            Greg Clark as Temp Agency Interviewer 1

            Devika Parikh as Temp Agency Interviewer 2

            Philip Pavel as Temp Agency Interviewer 3

            Barbara Rossmiesl as Hobo

            Cameron Palatas as Young Alan

            Glenn McCuen as Young Ben

            Erik Eidem as Erik

            Patrick Hebel as Eliot

            Elmarie Wendel as The Mark

            Sally Kirkland as Older Jewish Lady

            Kenyetta Lethridge as Food Bank Volunteer

            Dale Waddington Horowitz as Neighbor
See full cast

Photos

Trailers & Clips

Now you can share movies with your friends on Facebook!

Discover movies your friends are watching
Keep track of what you want to see
Add your reviews to your Timeline

Get Started