Jackson Booth-Millard
I remember seeing the DVD cover hundreds of times when Blockbuster used to be around, I mainly remembered it because of the leading cast members, and the title made it perfectly obvious what it was about, directed by Brett Ratner (Rush Hour, X-Men: The Last Stand, Horrible Bosses). Basically Josh Kovaks (Ben Stiller) is the manager of luxury apartment complex The Tower in New York City, employees include concierge Charlie (Casey Affleck, Ben's brother), who is expecting a baby with his wife and Josh's sister Sasha (Jessica Szohr); newly hired elevator operator Enrique Dev'Reaux (Michael Peña); doorman Lester (Stephen McKinley Henderson), who is nearing retirement; Jamaican immigrant maid Odessa (Precious's Gabourey Sidibe); and receptionist Miss Iovenko (Nina Arianda), who is studying to be a lawyer. One morning, Josh sees wealthy Tower resident Arthur Shaw (Alan Alda) being kidnapped, he tries to intervene, but FBI Special Agent Claire Denham (Téa Leoni) stops him, it turns out Shaw was attempting embezzlement, Josh admits to his staff giving Shaw their pensions for investment, and they have lost everything, Lester attempts suicide. While Lester recovers in hospital, Josh, Charlie and Enrique confront Shaw, under house arrest in his penthouse apartment, which contains a 1963 Ferrari 250 GT Lusso, apparently owned by Steve McQueen, Josh is angered by Shaw's insincere condolences, Josh smashes the car windows in anger, Josh, Charlie and Enqrique get fired. Josh meets Denham at a bar, she suggests Shaw is hiding $20 million somewhere, and Josh should steal it, so he, Charlie, Enrique and evicted Tower tenant Mr. Fitzhugh (Matthew Broderick) conspire to get into Shaw's apartment, find the assumed safe and steal the money. They realise their inexperience, so Josh enlists his childhood friend and petty criminal Slide (Eddie Murphy), and Odessa who has locksmith experience for opening safes, to help with the tower heist. Charlie is later hired as the new Tower manager, he warns Joshn to abandon the plan or he will call the police, but Denham informs him that Shaw will be attending court during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to avoid publicity, and that Shaw will be set free, Josh and the team decide this is when they will break into Shaw's apartment. Slide attempts to swindle the team and get to the safe himself, after tricking Odessa to give him locksmith lessons, the team catch him in Shaw's apartment, there is a struggle, this forces a false wall to collapse and reveal the safe, but it is empty. Another struggle ensues, and a bullet shot hits the Ferrari, revealing underneath the car's paint, they realise Shaw's money was used to buy gold, turned into car parts, and assembling the car to hide the money in plain sight, Josh also finds in the car's glove box a ledger containing Shaw's illegal finances. The team use the building's window-washing platform to lower the car from the apartment into an empty apartment below, they then lower the car to the lobby on the top of the elevator, but as they reach the ground, Denham and Shaw return, the court date was a ruse, Denham notes the missing car and empty safe, Shaw is rearrested for violating his bail. Josh and his crew, except for Slide, are arrested by the FBI, Miss Iovenko arrives, saying she has passed her and can act as Josh's attorney, she shows the FBI Shaw's ledger, saying she will turn it over in exchange for everyone's freedom. The FBI accept the deal, on the condition that Josh will serve a two-year prison sentence, as the primary conspirator, but Denham lowers this to 16 months to make sure Josh gets out for good behaviour. Shaw is sentenced to prison for the rest of his life, while the team return to get the car from its hiding place, under Shaw's rooftop swimming pool, various car parts are sent to Tower employees to compensate for their lost pensions, Josh being led to his cell smiles slowly in satisfaction. Also starring Judd Hirsch as Mr. Simon, Robert Downey Sr. as Judge Ramos, Matt Lauer and Joan Rivers. Stiller is alright as the uptight then scheming leader, Murphy gets many laughs as the fast-talking rogue,Broderick is an interesting choice as the desperate accountant-turned-squatter, Affleck does have scene- stealing moments as the dithering concierge, and Alda is alright as the dastardly penthouse resident. It is a very simple story, a group of condominium workers turn into mismatched criminals to get the better of the man who did wrong to them, the most memorable scenes are the plotting and of course the actual heist, there are the predictable moments and bits where it slows down, but it was funny enough, a reasonable goofy crime comedy. Worth watching!
tieman64
A terrible film by Brett Ratner, "Tower Heist" nevertheless boasts a strong first act. Here we're introduced to a colourful cast of lower and middle class characters, all of whom are responsible for the running of an exclusive apartment complex. When the money they've invested with the complex owner (Alan Alda) is fraudulently squandered, our heroes concoct a "tower heist"; they'll rob their boss and get back what they've lost.Attempting to cash in on a dying Occupy Wallstreet movement, and contemporary bash-a-banker trends, "Tower Heist's" heart is in the right place. Good performances from Casey Afflect, Eddie Murphy and the underrated Michael Pena elevate things as well. Unfortunately cinematic ultra hack Brett Ratner destroys everything he touches, and a creepily muscular Ben Stiller, who plays the Robin Hoodesque leader of our band of merry men, is wholly miscast as the "straight man".2/10 – Terrible.
