Jeff Bridges is his usual competent self as Jimmy Berg who knows that trust is not a word that's worth the paper it's written on when it comes to dealing with mobsters like Wayne, his 15 year partner and friend, and Morrison. Who's manipulating everyone like puppets on a string without them ever knowing about it. You soon also begin to realize that theirs a third party, besides Wayne and Morrison, who's more sinister and murderous then the other two. Somewhat slow but interesting film about how the mob works and how the saying that "There's no honor among thieves" is so true. This to get Berg to drop his guard and come out and surrender and eventually be killed by the Milton mobsters. The trick is to convince him that his partner Wayne isn't doing that.
After going back and forth for a half hour the two hoodlums come to the conclusion that the best thing that they can do that will favor both of them is to have Wayne sell Berg out. The movie "Scenes of the crime" just stands still after that with both Wayne & Morrison negotiating for Bergs life with Lenny who up to then was an innocent bystander the main obstacle. There's still Lenny in the van with Berg and with Morrison in contact with him and giving Lenny orders on his cell-phone to stay put is not to let him go. In the middle of a busy street in broad daylight. There's $250,000.00 in cash waiting for Rick, in that locker, after he did the "job" but then all hell breaks loose with the Wayne mob showing up and running down Rick and killing him with a silencer.
Everything seems to go right with Berg taken with out a struggle and Rick getting a key hidden under a mailbox that will unlock a designated bus station locker that he was given instructions to go to. Driving a van with Rick to the Berg home is part-time mob wheel-man Lenny Burrough, Jon Abrahams. Milton's top henchman Trevor Morrison, Brian Goodman, has a hit-man Rick, Peter Green, sent to kidnap and kill Jimmy Berg. ****SPOILERS**** Ripping off the Milton mob of $7.2 million dollars and killing Milton's son Kevin in the process was a big mistake for the Steven Wayne, Bom Gunton, gang and Wayne's partner Jimmy Berg, Jeff Bridges, who executed that robbery. Reviewed by sol1218 7 / 10 Don't Trust No One Lee Ermey, Bob Gunton and Jon Abrahams play some of the other interesting characters in the film. Noah Wyle has a smaller role in the film, but he's just as effective as the man who wants to protect Jimmy's life. Jeff Bridges shines as Jimmy Berg, the object of the kidnapping. Also, there are many things that are obvious to fans of this genre, such as the crazy old man who is in the background of the story and we sense he is nowhere as mad as he wants people to believe he is. It has a lot going for it, but the conclusion leaves many questions unanswered. The only thing is this one takes place inside a van, and not on the street. The comparison between this film and Joel Schumacher's "Phone Booth" comes to mind, as indicated by some contributors' comments. The end result does not satisfies the viewer, but the ironic twist at the end makes one be glad for the young man who finds a pot of gold without even trying.
The people involved with this film probably started with a different idea in mind, but it appears they had no clue as how to resolve the main problem behind the story. Dominique Forma directed, as well as contributed to the screen play. Any film with Jeff Bridges in it, is worth a view, in my book.
I recently caught up with this film on DVD format. Reviewed by jotix100 7 / 10 Cellular phone booth A grim stand-off occurs on the street and in a local deli as negotiations continue on the phone as Lenny finds he has no choice but to act in Trevor's interest. Fearing he'll be killed too, Lenny grabs the gun and threatens to shoot Berg unless the hoods return to their vehicles. When he leaves the van, he's immediately run down by Wayne's men, who execute him gangland style.
Rick contradicts Trevor's plans and seems to be following the agenda of an unknown third party by ordering Lenny to a side street instead of the agreed-upon location. The plan is for Morrison to trade Berg back to his partner, Steve Wayne, in exchange for the return of his money, a million dollar indemnity, and a percentage of union municipal contracts which are very profitable for the politically savvy Wayne. Unbeknownst to Lenny, his assignment includes kidnapping Jimmy Berg, an important gang kingpin who has robbed rival criminal Trevor Morrison of over $7 million dollars and killed three of his men including the son of Morrison's partner.
Lenny Burroughs is a struggling auto mechanic who serves as part-time driver for local gangster Rick in order to earn enough to buy his own garage and pay for his upcoming marriage.