Play Dirty is based on “The novels of Richard Stark” who we all know was really Donald E. Westlake. But, you have to accept Mark Wahlberg as Parker–a professional thief–and Lakeith Stanfield as an African-American Alan Grofield.
The movie starts with a wild chase scene after a botched heist and then moves on to the major heist of this movie: the planned theft of millions of dollars of gold and jewelry recovered from a sunken Spanish Galleon. Plenty of shooting, explosions, and pyrotechnics. But Director Shane Black never captures the Parker vibe. GRADE: C
I’ll give it a try, but will probably being hold my nose the entire time.
Jerry, set the bar low.
You lost me at “Mark Wahlberg as Parker.”
Deb, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch were a lot better than PLAYING DIRTY!
You lost me at Mark Wahlberg, period.
It looks awful.
Jeff, Parker was supposed to be played by Robert Downey, Jr.–who dropped out of this fiasco–and was replaced by Mark Wahlberg. Mark Wahlberg is to Parker as Tom Cruise was to Jack Reacher!!
I generally like Shane Black’s movies, but he’s the wrong, wrong, wrong writer/director for Parker. This is Wahlberg’s second try at f’ing up an iconic crime character, following his Spenser travesty a few years ago. And the second Parker misfire in 12 years, remembering Jason Statham in PARKER. I can’t say the insufferable Robert Downey would have been any better as the character.
Fred, when I think of Parker, I think Lee Marvin.
I’ve enjoyed some mark wahlburg movies. I also kinda like the TV show wahlburgers about the family business. His mom was a hoot
Maggie, Mark Wahlberg is a hard working actor. But this was not his milieu.
Okay. I just watched it. It’s bad-bad-bad-bad-bad. If you didn’t know it was supposed to be about Parker, you might merely rate as bad-bad-bad. It played like a Dortmunder with violence. I am lucky in that I have a high tolerance for crud.
Jerry, I tried to warn you…
Why does Mark Wahlberg get so many parts.
Patti, I’m guessing Mark Wahlberg is investing in many of these movies.