Tops in movie robbers

Clive Owen as Dalton Russell in “Inside Man” (2006)
Russell winds up with more than he’d bargained for in his bank job, since the safe deposit boxes there contain information implicating a high-profile New Yorker with ties to the Third Reich. (It’s akin to pickpocket Richard Widmark winding up with top-secret microfilm in “Pickup on South Street.”) But Owen plays it frigidly cool, whether he’s facing down steely hostage negotiator Denzel Washington or icy power-broker Jodie Foster.

Herbert Marshall and Miriam Hopkins as Gaston and Lily in “Trouble in Paradise” (1932)
As with Tippi Hedren in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Marnie,” the leads in “Trouble in Paradise” get a definite erotic kick out of their thievery — they even seduce each other by picking each others’ pockets! Under the masterful direction of Ernst Lubitsch, Marshall and Hopkins make larceny look like the sexiest thing ever.

Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Vivica A. Fox and Kimberly Elise as Stony, Cleo, Frankie and T.T. in “Set It Off” (1996)
This quartet of working-class women proves that you don’t have to be some crazy super-criminal to pull off a bank robbery — but having life push you against the wall certainly helps. With the exception of Latifah’s lesbian thrill-seeker, these are just everyday women trying make ends meet and keep things together. And if that means holding a gun on a teller or two, so be it.

Bruce Willis as Eddie “Hudson Hawk” Hawkins in “Hudson Hawk” (1991)
Yes, this movie remains a punchline a decade and a half later, but Willis is surprisingly engaging and goofy in this maligned caper comedy. And the Hawk’s actual robberies — from sneaking into an auction house safe in New York to mailing himself inside the Vatican to steal a priceless tome by Leonardo da Vinci — are intricate fun to watch, even if they don’t make a whole lot of sense. Much like the movie itself.

MORE FROM MOVIE OPINIONS

Hollywood’s vampire obsession may bleed out

Hollywood’s vampire obsession may bleed out Does ‘Precious’ stereotype big black women? Newsweek: The problem with ‘Precious’ When it comes to stardom, Clooney has smarts ‘Saw’ franchise creates buzz, but is it any good? Remembering concert documentaries that rock theGrio: ‘This Is It’ a final act fit for a king Best actress category looks slim for Oscars theGrio: Tyler Perry can’t do bad all by himself Is ‘Wild Things’ too scary for young children?   Add Movie opinions headlines to your news reader: