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CAST AS ROLE MODELS:

There are only the three characters in the entire film and none of them are good role models.

DENNIS FRANZ wants to break into a guy's house just because he feels he was ripped off (he was, but it was his own fault).

DUSTIN HOFFMAN is an angry, bitter man who wants to clean out the man's possessions and he uses extreme profanity throughout the movie.

SEAN NELSON Nelson plays the young accomplice who wants to pull off the heist and who's implied to be a junkie, but we never see any evidence of that other than his constant need for cash.

HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE

OUR TAKE: 3 out of 10

Based on David Mamet's play, this one should have been left on stage. While it's a somewhat interesting character study, it's just way too slow and doesn't provide the characters with any great dialogue. And that's what this needs since this is essentially a one locale film -- it all takes place in or just outside the pawnshop. The characters are too slow to pick up on the few events that occur during the story (such as when Bobby brings in another buffalo head nickel -- Hello? Wouldn't that seem suspicious to you? Our two characters don't seem to think so until later in the story). The pace is too slow, the dialogue is uninspired and you'll be shifting in your seat a lot hoping that maybe they'll finally go to the guy's house just to get them out of the pawn shop. But alas, it doesn't happen. We give this one just a 3 out of 10.

OUR WORD TO PARENTS:

The main objectionable thing here is the profanity which is quite extreme. There's one violent scene where Teach hits Bobby on the head with a telephone after he thinks he's betrayed them. Other than that, the characters are really just slime-ball type people, but it's doubtful your kids will want to see this one anyway. There are no acting draws and the story's way to slow to hold any child's interest. But as always, read through our scene descriptions before allowing your kids to watch this.

ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE

Teach, Donny and others drink beer while playing poker.

It's implied that Bobby is a junkie (from comments by Teach), but there are no visible signs of this other than his incessant need for cash and his "head in the clouds" behavior.

BLOOD/ GORE

Bobby bleeds from his ear after Teach slams a telephone against his head.

DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE

Teach has both attitudes about everything and is very bitter all of the time. He also refers to two women he doesn't like as "dykes."

Donny wants to break into a customer's home because he's bitter about selling a coin to him for less than it was worth.

Teach mentions that a poker partner of theirs cheated in their most recent game by creating a diversion and then changing cards when no one was looking.

FRIGHTENING/TENSE SCENES

Teach and Donny become suspicious of Bobby and start interrogating him. The tension comes from worrying about what the two might do to the boy. Eventually this culminates with Teach smashing a telephone against Bobby's head.

GUNS/WEAPONS

Teach has a handgun for "safety reasons" to be used in their upcoming break-in. It's never used.

IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR

Phrases: "Nigger," "Spic," "Piss," "Bitch," "Shut up," "Twerp," and "Dyke."

JUMP SCENES

None.

MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE)

There's some minor tense music that's nearly more strange than it is tense.

MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE)

None.

PROFANITY

132 "f" words, 44 "s" words, 12 "ass" words, 5 uses of "c*cksucker," 2 slang terms for male genitals (the "d" and "p" words), 2 slang terms for female genitals (the "c" word), 1 crap, and 5 uses each of "God damn" and "For Christ's sake," and 1 use of "Jesus" as exclamations.

SEX/NUDITY

Donny says that a woman they're talking about has "a nice ass."

SMOKING

Teach and Donny smoke throughout the entire movie.

TENSE FAMILY SCENES

None.

TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT

Why the guys talk a lot, but never do anything (because it's essentially a play).

VIOLENCE

Teach nearly yanks the handset from a telephone booth.

The guys get word that a friend of theirs was robbed and that his jaw was broken.

Teach slams a telephone against Bobby's head, knocking him down and causing blood to flow from his ear.

Teach smashes up Donny's shop after learning that their break-in has been called off.

Donny chases Teach around the shop and they almost come to blows but stop when they hear Bobby telling them something.