The Bag Man 2014

Sara Stewart, New York Post: [A] blathery, misogynist indie ... Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: It takes just under two hours of tedium before you find out what's in the bag, and you might be sorry you waited. Read more

Scott Foundas, Variety: What's in the bag? A tedious, self-consciously quirky postmodern noir featuring John Cusack and Robert De Niro in two of the more obvious money jobs of their careers. Read more

Mike D'Angelo, AV Club: Grovic shoots almost the entire movie in darkness so complete that it crosses the line that divides shadowy noir tension from simple incompetence-often it's impossible to see what the hell is going on. Read more

Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: It's clear that Grovic has seen a lot of Quentin Tarantino and David Lynch films. But it's less clear what he's learned from them. Read more

Tom Long, Detroit News: A noirish kill fest stocked with offbeat characters, lots of gunplay, unlikely plot turns and a lavishly coiffed Robert De Niro. Read more

Cary Darling, Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com: By the time the intricate plot and not particularly satisfying payoff are revealed at the film's end, many viewers will feel like they were the ones left holding the bag. Read more

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: There are so many good reasons to bag "The Bag Man." Where to begin? Read more

Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: What does John Cusack get, professionally or personally, from making so many mediocre movies like this empty, ugly thriller? Read more

Stephen Holden, New York Times: At least Mr. De Niro, who disappears from the movie until the end, seems to be enjoying himself. Read more

Steven Rea, Philadelphia Inquirer: Whatever you do, do not look inside the bag. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: The film has a nihilistic tone and its gallows humor may turn off more viewers than it seduces. Not since Killer Joe has a film exerted this mix of attraction and repulsion. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: There's much sub-Coenesque violence, corpse disposal and skulduggery with the underhanded De Niro always maintaining the upper hand. Read more

Nick Schager, Village Voice: Alas, listening to De Niro's criminal bigwig Dragna casually describe how he was motivated to take up his underworld profession by an episode of Full House isn't enough to salvage David Grovic's dreary directorial debut. Read more

Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine/Vulture: Really, it gives us relatively little, and asks for way too much. Read more

Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post: "The Bag Man" has more attitude than panache. Yes, we eventually get to see what's in the bag. But by the time its contents are revealed, you may no longer care. Read more