A Glean movie guide
Masterminds & Misdirection
Don't trust anyone until the credits.
From legendary long cons to shocking reveals, these heists aren't what they seem.
Handpicked for this guide
The movie list
- 01
The Usual Suspects
A masterclass in narrative misdirection centered on the hunt for a mysterious criminal kingpin.
Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro harbor – leaving few survivors. Verbal lures his interrogators with an incredible story of the crime lord's almost supernatural prowess.
- 02
Inside Man
A brilliant bank robber plays a high-stakes game of chess with a detective in this non-linear thriller.
When an armed, masked gang enter a Manhattan bank, lock the doors and take hostages, the detective assigned to effect their release enters negotiations preoccupied with corruption charges he is facing.
- 03
The Sting
The definitive con-artist classic where the audience is just as much a target as the mark.
A novice con man teams up with an acknowledged master to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling off the ultimate big con and swindling a fortune from a big-time mobster.
- 04
Reservoir Dogs
A gritty mystery where a heist goes wrong and a mole hides in plain sight among the survivors.
A botched robbery indicates a police informant, and the pressure mounts in the aftermath at a warehouse. Crime begets violence as the survivors -- veteran Mr. White, newcomer Mr. Orange, psychopathic parolee Mr. Blonde, bickering weasel Mr. Pink and Nice Guy Eddie -- unravel.
- 05
Inception
A mind-bending heist set within the subconscious that leaves its final reality up for debate.
Cobb, a skilled thief who commits corporate espionage by infiltrating the subconscious of his targets is offered a chance to regain his old life as payment for a task considered to be impossible: "inception", the implantation of another person's idea into a target's subconscious.
- 06
The Handmaiden
A lush puzzle where shifting perspectives completely redefine a complex inheritance scheme.
1930s Korea, in the period of Japanese occupation, a new girl, Sookee, is hired as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress, Hideko, who lives a secluded life on a large countryside estate with her domineering Uncle Kouzuki. But the maid has a secret. She is a pickpocket recruited by a swindler posing as a Japanese Count to help him seduce the Lady to steal her fortune.
- 07
Ocean's Eleven
A stylish Vegas robbery that hides its most clever trick in plain sight until the very end.
Less than 24 hours into his parole, charismatic thief Danny Ocean is already rolling out his next plan: In one night, Danny's hand-picked crew of specialists will attempt to steal more than $150 million from three Las Vegas casinos. But to score the cash, Danny risks his chances of reconciling with ex-wife, Tess.
- 08
Logan Lucky
A deceptively simple NASCAR heist that reveals its true sophistication through a series of clever reveals.
Trying to reverse a family curse, brothers Jimmy and Clyde Logan set out to execute an elaborate robbery during the legendary Coca-Cola 600 race at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.
- 09
Widows
A grounded crime drama that pivots on a shocking mid-film revelation about the past.
A police shootout leaves four thieves dead during an explosive armed robbery attempt in Chicago. Their widows have nothing in common except a debt left behind by their spouses' criminal activities. Hoping to forge a future on their own terms, they join forces to pull off a heist.
- 10
Matchstick Men
A psychological con-game that builds to a devastating reversal for its protagonist.
A phobic con artist and his protege are on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle when the con artist's teenage daughter arrives unexpectedly.
- 11
The Bank Job
A gritty true-story heist where the stolen goods are far more dangerous than simple cash.
Terry is a small-time car dealer trying to leave his shady past behind and start a family. Martine is a beautiful model from Terry's old neighbourhood who knows that Terry is no angel. When Martine proposes a foolproof plan to rob a bank, Terry recognises the danger but realises this may be the opportunity of a lifetime.
- 12
American Animals
A unique blend of fact and fiction that subverts heist tropes with a startlingly realistic outcome.
Lexington, Kentucky, 2004. Four young men attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in the history of the United States.