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It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

"Ordinary Decent Criminal" is sort of based on the exploits of Martin Cahill, already the subject of John Boorman's 1998 film "The General". Cahill had a rough upbringing in a slum area and graduated from petty crime to armed robbery with honours. He justified his criminal career by pointing out his poor background at every opportunity. This is a common excuse for criminals that conveniently overlooks the thousands of slum-dwellers who don't turn to robbing post offices and selling guns in order to make ends meet. Cahill made fools of the police and local authorities, not to mention the IRA, which earned him a sort of "Folk Hero" status as well as making him many enemies. However, he was basically an amoral, self-serving thief.My primary problem with "ODC" is that the protagonist is made out to be a lovable Irish rogue. Kevin Spacey does a good job portraying Michael Lynch with a blend of oily charm and quiet menace, but the character is too amoral and selfish to be seen as any sort of hero, even an anti-hero. The film is well shot and well acted by a fine cast, but what lets it down is the script. Writer Gerard Stembridge can't make up his mind; is he writing an Irish "Lock Stock" or a grittier treatment of Martin Cahill's thieving career? That's the problem when a writer bases his central character on a real person. It's also unfortunate that "ODC" followed the cinema release of John Boorman's "The General", which was a more accurate portrayal of Martin Cahill's story. Cahill was a cunning thief who knew the value of good publicity, so it's not surprising that his exploits got the movie treatment.What IS surprising is that a studio was prepared to take Cahill's story and give it a happy Hollywood-style ending. Kevin Spacey's charismatic-twinkly-bigamist-thief Michael Lynch gets to ride off into anonymity on his motorcycle in "ODC". In the real world, Martin Cahill was executed by the IRA, just to prove that no-one makes fools of an out-dated, sectarian and corrupt para-military organisation and gets away with it. The real Cahill would never have walked away from his notoriety because it bolstered his "Man of The People" self-image. Having Michael Lynch give up everything to avoid death in "ODC" is a cop-out ending to a weak and shallow movie.

What a pile of garbage, the really funny thing is that we have a noble tradition in Ireland in that Irish film critics are loathe to criticise anything about any movie which is Irish produced, The Irish film community is so small so any criticism is like shitting on your own doorstep. What can I say about this film. Firstly the accents are so awful. Kevin Spacey's accent is terrible and Linda Fiorentino and what about Helena Baxendale. Don't bother watching it. By the way the way, Martin Cahill who the film was based on was no handsome metrosexual like Mr Spacey, he was a ruthless, angry, thug, who roamed about Dublin in a poxy anorak and never drove flash cars. John Boorman's "The General" is a far better portrait of Mr Cahill. Give this movie a wide berth but be thankful that some Irish accountant and some wily investors got some tax relief because that is what the Irish film industry is, an excuse for some tax relief.

Previous comments about this movie is a testament to the fact that Kevin Spacey is one of the most over-rated actors in cinema. American Beauty, I'll admit was a very good job, but was still over-hyped. 'Verbal' Kint, very possibly could be the crowning achievement in his acting career. And that was in 1995. Just because a one or two dimensional actor is cast in many different types of roles, doesn't mean they can pull of a quality and believable portrayal of the character. And this film is the definitive proof of that. Spacey always has some stupid smirk on his face, and his accent makes him sound closer to a Newfie/foundlander than an Irishman. Especially when you hear the authentic brogue. It'll make you wish his role was a non-speaking part, which is inexcusable as it's the lead role. And the emotion is either so cheesy or flat that (a) It makes Clyde the Orangutan look like Laurence Olivier, and (b) Makes all the other actors seem brilliant, which is a good thing because, contrary to what you made read in other comments, it is the merry band of followers and not Spacey's lead which carries this movie. Now I know this film is supposed to be a crime-comedy, and the movie does have a few bright moments; but Pesci in "GoodFellas" was criminal that was funny; Spacey is more like a clown that is supposed to be a criminal, and doesn't emote any of the suave and charm his character is supposed to have.I don't really mean to be so harsh to the film itself, and wanted to give it a 6, but since the character that's in your face most of the time is the one stinking up the joint, I have to take an extra peg off. Better off with 'Lock, Stock..', 'Snatch', 'Layer Cake', or even 'Rancid Aluminum' if you've seen all others.

ORDINARY DECENT CRIMINAL has to be one of the more tongue-in-cheek titles Hollywood has devised for a story apparently based on a real life infamous Irish gangster Martin Cahill whose claim to fame was robbing banks and getting away with it while posing as a preceptor of family values! Yet in this reincarnation the plot is suffused with comedy and typical capers and served up by a fine cast on a shaky platform.Michael Lynch (Kevin Spacey, always terrific to watch even in uneven films) is a 'gentleman robber', married to two sisters (Linda Fiorentino and Helen Baxendale) whose latest criminal diversion involves the theft of a Caravaggio painting. How he utilizes his cohorts and evades the police headed by Noel Quigley (the extraordinarily gifted actor Stephen Dillane who played Stephen Woolf in 'The Hours'). The cast is good and makes the best of a confusing arc of storyline written by Gerard Stembridge. Director Thaddeus O'Sullivan keeps things moving along but slides into some boring and non-additive variances from the plot and character development that threaten to grind down the film. Tack on a corny ending not in keeping with the real character on whose life the story is based and the recipe for lack of success in the theaters is obvious.But keep the expectations low and this film will entertain. Sad that for its distribution in the USA the cover of the DVD lists Colin Farrell as one of the stars (Spacey, Fiorentino, Farrell) which says a lot about PR grossness: Farrell is a VERY minor extra here and should any other actor be listed in top billing it is Stephen Dillane! Not a great heist film but it's always good to see more of Spacey. Grady Harp