James Spader is always likable no matter how sleazy or dishonest he is. There is no doubt that he carries this film completely by himself, because all other performances are quickly forgotten. In fact, Spader is downright excellent as L.A. detective John Parker who gets involved in both a bank robbery and a girl in the same day.
Like the rest of the actors, the movie is quickly forgotten as wella low-key cops n' robbers story with a few twists and one or two laughs at best. It is mostly slow and serious and while this pace is deliberate to build up tension in the plot, there are no satisfying action sequences or culminations of any kind to follow it as it unfolds. The rapport between Parker and the lead girl was simply not good as it tried too hard to be 'edgy' with lots of quick bantering and, in the end, was unable to convey any real emotion or even on-screen chemistry. This doesn't make The Stickup a bad movie, but it makes it pretty mediocre. 5/10
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