Strictly for fans of heist films, The Hard Easy depicts another robbery gone wrong. It stars Henry Thomas and David Boreanaz as two men who need money desperately and -- even though they don’t know each other -- become accomplices in a hold-up that looks easy but ends up being something else entirely. Thomas and Boreanaz receive fine support from a Vera Farmiga, Bruce Dern, Peter Weller, Nick Lachey and Gary Busey as characters also involved in the crime. Unfortunately, the film’s excessive use of the f-word detracts from its interesting storyline.

Thomas (The Last Sin Eater) plays Peter Weston, a Las Vegas used car salesman with a serious gambling debt. Peter hopes his participation in the heist will enable his ex-wife to keep the house she lives in rather than having to use it as payment for his debts to some very unsavory people. Boreanaz (from TV’s Bones) is Roger Hargitay, a Los Angeles stockbroker who has to make good on a deal that didn’t work out. Both men are told the jewel robbery is a sure thing because of help from someone “inside.”  

When the two hold-up teams arrive at the same time, a shoot-out transpires, forcing Peter and Roger to flee the scene together, along with a couple of other survivors, and to face the truth of what actually happened.

Thomas and Boreanaz deliver convincing performances as flawed guys in crisis, and we can’t help feeling sorry for their characters, despite their stupidity in becoming part of the criminal activity depicted here.  Standing out in the excellent supporting cast is Vera Farmiga (The Departed) in the role of a doctor with more than medicine on her mind. It’s a treat to watch this up-and-coming actress show off her ability to match the male actors with a macho all her own.      

Twist endings seem to be all the rage these days, so it’s no surprise to find an intriguing one in The Hard Easy. With a little more attention to dialogue -- instead of relying on that tired, overused f-word -- this heist film could have been a winner. (Capsule review.)         

(Released by HBO Video and rated “R” for violence and pervasive language. Bonus features include bloopers, behind-the-scenes interviews with cast and crew and an audio commentary with director Ari Ryan and producer Scott Gold.)