Welcome To Collinwood

Welcome to Collinwood Review

Set on the seedy streets of Cleveland "Welcome To Collinwood" tells the story of five unlikely would be thieves who learn of a seemingly perfect crime just waiting to be committed. They include "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" star Sam Rockwell as a woeful amateur boxer, William H Macy as a new father desperate to come up with the fine to get his wife out of jail, and Michael Jeter as an aged thief way past his prime. Oh, and there's small time thief Cosmo (Luis Guzman), the thoroughly unpleasant individual who heard about the job in the first place and isn't at all happy with the way things are going!

Lets get one thing straight: despite what you might think from the press ads that feature man-of-the-hour George Clooney front & centre he is not the star of the movie: he has little more than a cameo role, appearing in just three (admittedly scene stealing) scenes as the wheelchair bound safecracker who, for a measly $500, shares his skills with our band of mismatched anti heroes. Clooney in fact co-produced the movie with partner (and Oscar winning director) Steven Soderbergh, and no doubt his brief appearance in front of the camera helped them raise the funds to give unknown writers/directors Joe & Anthony Russo their first crack at the big time. Unfortunately though you can't help but think Clooney & Soderbergh could have spent the cash better elsewhere: while this dark ensemble comedy certainly has its moments and features some fine performances (particularly from Rockwell and Guzman), ultimately there's just not enough substance to this overly slight tale to keep you thoroughly engaged, even for its refreshingly short 86 minutes.