Ordinary Decent Criminal (1999)

14% of critics liked it
(7 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(5,352 ratings)

Ordinary Decent Criminal is a classic gangster movie in modern-day Ireland. It follows the extraordinary adventures of a Robin Hood character, Michael Lynch, a thief, bigamist, liar, and criminal genius who robs from the rich to give to the poor. Michael is suave, sardonic, and sexy. When his… More Ordinary Decent Criminal is a classic gangster movie in modern-day Ireland. It follows the extraordinary adventures of a Robin Hood character, Michael Lynch, a thief, bigamist, liar, and criminal genius who robs from the rich to give to the poor. Michael is suave, sardonic, and sexy. When his leather-clad figure weaves its way through the Dublin traffic on a powerful motorbike, people stare in awe. He loves his two wives (who happen to be sisters), his wild kids, his gang, and, most of all, his way of life. He has two fundamental beliefs: be loyal to your own and the hell with the establishment. As his ego gets bigger and bigger, he enjoys his notoriety more than the cash it brings. Determined to break him, the police increases its harassment of the whole gang, as Michael makes a mistake that could threaten his good name with the public and his reliability as a bread-winner. But he recovers his equilibrium in time to dream up a final grand scheme to survive the trap set for him. The story is reminiscent of John Boorman's The General about a similar real-life character, Martin Cahill, also a Robin Hood married to two sisters. The impressive cast includes Kevin Spacey, Linda Fiorentino, and Peter Mullan, the tragic hero of My Name is Joe. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 30 min.
Directed By: Thaddeus O'Sullivan
Genres: Mystery & Suspense, Drama

In Theaters: Jan 7, 2000 Wide
On DVD: Jan 21, 2003

Critic Reviews

Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Em vez de perder tempo com este filme, assista ao ótimo O General, inspirado no mesmo personagem, e veja o contraste entre o irlandês real (Gleeson) e o falso (Spacey).
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
(It) highlights not so much the crime lord's messianic bent, but Spacey's.
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews
The best thing that can be said of the picture is that it does have a few cute moments.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
I can only imagine one thing worse than Kevin Spacey trying on an Irish accent, and that's sultry Linda Fiorentino doing the same thing.
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic
Technically and artistically inept.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Curtis L

Kevin Spacey has two wives, and cops follow him around and he does 'zaney' things to get away from them so hes can blahc ahclas....sorry. Lost my interest even talking about it.
Lady D

I think if this had been based on a ture story the events would have seemed a little more intersting. Kevin Spacey plays a mastermind of a criminal, who is shared by his wife and her sister. The only known Irish person in this film that I recognised was Colin Farrell, who played a… More
I think if this had been based on a ture story the events would have seemed a little more intersting. Kevin Spacey plays a mastermind of a criminal, who is shared by his wife and her sister. The only known Irish person in this film that I recognised was Colin Farrell, who played a relatively small part. Interesting story, not very interestly told. VERDICT: Worth a watch, but wait until it's on tv
Khris N

Kevin Spacey here takes on the role of a lovable Irish gangster with a tendency to have his face on the media and to the chagrin of the police - evade the local constablury with clever and edgy twists and talk. A Surprising crime / comedy, its not Lock Stock but I love Irish based… More
Kevin Spacey here takes on the role of a lovable Irish gangster with a tendency to have his face on the media and to the chagrin of the police - evade the local constablury with clever and edgy twists and talk. A Surprising crime / comedy, its not Lock Stock but I love Irish based things!!
Deb S

In Ordinary Decent Criminal, Kevin Spacey plays Michael Lynch, a clever criminal who pulls off daring heists, enjoys outsmarting the cops, looks superb in his black hood and other sorts of attention-grabbing face gear, has a bizarre ménage- a- trois with his wife and her sister... you… More
In Ordinary Decent Criminal, Kevin Spacey plays Michael Lynch, a clever criminal who pulls off daring heists, enjoys outsmarting the cops, looks superb in his black hood and other sorts of attention-grabbing face gear, has a bizarre ménage- a- trois with his wife and her sister... you get the idea!! His next heist becomes an obsession when his partners start questioning Michael's ability to plan everything perfectly, when he isn't playing good father at home. Kevin Spacey, as always, is great and it's fun to see one of the impossibly spunky Colin Farrell's first "big screen" appearances. Ordinary Decent Criminal is a fast paced entertaining romp of a film but no match for the "Usual Suspects" or "Se7en". The crime vignettes are highly amusing. Good soundtracks by Blur's Damon Albarn.
Bill C

It plays like, "The Sting" (1973) meets the IRA. Kevin Spacey does an excellent job of playing a cool headed criminal who doesn't show emotion, but I'm not that kind of role makes the best cinema. In addition, the amount of coaching on the accurate Irish brogue… More
It plays like, "The Sting" (1973) meets the IRA. Kevin Spacey does an excellent job of playing a cool headed criminal who doesn't show emotion, but I'm not that kind of role makes the best cinema. In addition, the amount of coaching on the accurate Irish brogue really is doubled sword. Yes you feel its authentic until Linda Flointino speaks, but it really gets in the way of understanding the relationships between members of the gang. If I watch it again, it would definitely with subtitle on.
Barry L

Great movie.