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Kevin Spacey, Linda Fiorentino, Peter Mullan, Stephen Dillane, Helen Baxendale ... see more see more... , David Hayman , Tim Loane , Patrick Malahide , Gerard McSorley , Colin Farrell

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 geni... read more read more...us 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

Flixster Users

63% liked it

5,352 ratings

Critics

14% liked it

7 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Thaddeus O'Sullivan

Release Date: January 7, 2000

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DVD Release Date: January 21, 2003

Stats: 263 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (263)


  • November 19, 2007
    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.
  • August 13, 2007
    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 pla... read moreyed a relatively small part.

    Interesting story, not very interestly told.

    VERDICT: Worth a watch, but wait until it's on tv
  • July 27, 2006
    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 base... read mored things!!
  • June 6, 2009
    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..... read more. 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.
  • September 13, 2010
    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 ... read moresword. 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.
  • October 10, 2007
    Great movie.
  • August 26, 2007
    I thought it was a fun and entertaining film. But 1: I don't usually go for the types of movies that glorify criminals and or sin, 2: the language was a constant through out and a big nuisance, and 3: there's full frontal male nudity in this film!!!!!!!!! Isn't this supposed to o... read morenly be rated R???
  • June 21, 2007
    Kevin Spacey is so sexy, especially in this movie. It's my #1 favorite of his, I could watch it over & over again!
  • May 29, 2007
    LOL I didn't think this was going to be a comedy too!
    & OI! They had th say for FOOK sake! (never gets old! & I hear it at work al the time!)
  • September 11, 2006
    You'd think with that cast it would be good. But no, it really isn't. Not to mention the fact that it was totally ripping off The General during a good portion of it.

Critic Reviews


Pablo Villaca
November 12, 2003
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 irlandęs real (Gleeson) e o falso (Spacey).

Walter Chaw
February 24, 2003
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

(It) highlights not so much the crime lord's messianic bent, but Spacey's. Full Review

Steve Rhodes
February 20, 2003
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews

The best thing that can be said of the picture is that it does have a few cute moments. Full Review

Christopher Null
January 22, 2003
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. Full Review

Ian Waldron-Mantgani
February 8, 2001
Ian Waldron-Mantgani, UK Critic

Technically and artistically inept.

Derek Elley
March 26, 2009
Derek Elley, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Emanuel Levy
August 12, 2005
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

February 8, 2001
Empire Magazine

Click to read the article Full Review

January 26, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

Geoffrey Macnab
December 2, 2002
Geoffrey Macnab, Sight and Sound

Click to read the article Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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