The Art Of The Steal (2010)
89%RT Audience Score: 87%
Awards & Nominations: 5 nominations
Deeply esoteric and unapologetically one-sided, The Art of the Steal proves a documentary doesn’t have to make an objective argument as long as it argues well.
The Art of the Steal is a documentary that explores the controversy surrounding the relocation of the Barnes Foundation art collection. While some critics found the film to be too simplistic in its portrayal of good versus bad, others praised it for its bone-chilling argument. Personally, I found the tangled web of conspiracy theories to be both fascinating and outlandish. The lack of objectivity may weaken the film’s argument, but it certainly doesn’t hurt its entertainment value. Plus, it might just make you want to call your lawyer to go over your will one more time.
Production Company(ies)
Columbia Pictures, Huayi Brothers Media, National Geographic World Films,
Distributor
IFC Films
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Bucharest Metro, Bucharest, Romania
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language throughout including some sexual references
Year of Release
2014
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:2.39 : 1
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Runtime:1h 41m
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Language(s):English, Spanish
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Feb 26, 2010 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 27, 2010
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
documentary, art collection, Dr Albert C Barnes, controversy, Barnes Foundation, significant works, millionaire, foundation, death, scattering, opportunistic individuals, wishes, violated, involvement, parties, genre, English, directed by Don Argott, produced by Sheena M Joyce, written by Don Argott, box office performance, budget, reviewed by David Zuckerman, reviewed by Cliff Doerksen, reviewed by Peter Rainer, reviewed by Kimberley Jones, reviewed by Sara Michelle Fetters, reviewed by Ann Hornaday, reviewed by Dennis Schwartz, reviewed by Alison Gang, reviewed by Christopher Long, reviewed by Kam Williams, reviewed by Rob Thomas, starring Lenny Feinberg, produced by Lenny Feinberg, starring Sheena M Joyce, produced by Sheena M Joyce, MPAA rating, IFC Films, runtime 1h 41m, cinematographer Don Argott, film editing by Demian Fenton, original music by West Thordson, reviewed by John B, reviewed by Walter M, reviewed by Christian C, reviewed by Jeffrey M, reviewed by Walter M, reviewed by John B, reviewed by David Zuckerman, reviewed by Cliff Doerksen, reviewed by Peter Rainer, reviewed by Kimberley Jones, reviewed by Sara Michelle Fetters, reviewed by Ann Hornaday, reviewed by Dennis Schwartz, reviewed by Alison Gang, reviewed by Christopher Long, reviewed by Kam Williams, reviewed by Rob Thomas, documentary film
Worldwide gross: $77,450
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $96,793
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 3,030
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 10,555
US/Canada gross: $64,065
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $80,065
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,689
US/Canada opening weekend: $40,003
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $49,994
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,207
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Lenny Feinberg – Executive Producer
Sheena M. Joyce – Producer
West Thordson – Original Music
Don Argott – Cinematographer
Demian Fenton – Film Editing
Director(s)
Don Argott
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
5 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (60) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (51) | Rotten (9)
[Don] Argott has made a worthwhile contribution to a controversy that deserves an audience.
September 24, 2014
David Zuckerman
Film Comment Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Argott beautifully explicates how this crew pulled off the most daring daylight art theft in history, though his passionate identification with the pro-Barnes faction limits the movie’s political nuance.
January 3, 2011
Cliff Doerksen
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
The film’s good versus bad scenario is, while understandable, too simplistic.
April 16, 2010 | Rating: B+
Peter Rainer
Christian Science Monitor
TOP CRITIC
While The Art of the Steal makes a very convincing — even bone-chilling — argument… the film fails to even ponder why easier access to some of the world’s greatest art treasures might not be an entirely bad thing.
April 16, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Kimberley Jones
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
It’s a tangled web spinning so far out of control if it were fiction no one would ever have believed it to be possible, die hard conspiracy theorists likely to find the scenario too outlandish even for them.
April 1, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
The Art of the Steal ultimately gets mired in the legal weeds, a snare made all the more frustrating by the fact that the move is a fait accompli.
March 26, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
A fascinating good guy vs. bad guy art film about the big business of culture, that puts it on the same footing as big corporations.
June 8, 2013 | Rating: B+
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews
No matter what side you end up taking, you still might be tempted to call your lawyer to go over your will just one more time.
August 11, 2010 | Rating: 2.5/4
Alison Gang
San Diego Union-Tribune
The Art of the Steal paints only in black and white.
August 1, 2010 | Rating: 4/10
Christopher Long
Movie Metropolis
A tragic, true tale exposing America’s ugly, two-tiered system of justice defined by the color line.
July 23, 2010 | Rating: 4/4
Kam Williams
Sly Fox
Its lack of objectivity doesn’t hurt the film as a piece of entertainment, although it does seem to weaken its own argument a little.
May 14, 2010 | Rating: 3/4
Rob Thomas
Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Don Argott’s new documentary makes some of the most outlandish conspiracy theories seem strangely believable.
May 10, 2010 | Rating: 3.5/5
Dan Lybarger
eFilmCritic.com…
Plot
Crunch Calhoun (Kurt Russell), a third rate motorcycle daredevil and semi-reformed art thief, agrees to get back into the con game and pull off one final lucrative art theft with his untrustworthy brother, Nicky (Matt Dillon). Reassembling the old team, Crunch comes up with a plan to steal a priceless historical book, but the successful heist leads to another far riskier plan devised by Nicky. They fail to realize each other’s separate agendas when their plan goes awry in this con movie about honor, revenge and the bonds of brotherhood.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The Art of the Steal features executive producer Lenny Feinberg.
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