Make no mistake, Burt Reynolds can act. When he wants, he can be a very thoughtful thespian. In "Gregory's Girl" director Bill Forsyth's charismatic but low-key crime caper "Breaking In," Reynolds plays 61-year old career burglar Ernie Mullins who sports spectacles and a limp. Not only does he prefer to work alone, but also he doesn't want a boss. He serves as his own boss and shows no desire to take orders from the mafia. When the action unfolds, our conscientious burglar is laying out his tools of the trade when he hears another intruder in the house that he has come to burglarize. By day a grease jockey who changes flat tires, Mike Lafebb (Casey Siemaszko of "Back to the Future") likes to break into residences, raid the refrigerators, and short-sheet the beds. Ernie sees potential in Mike and takes him on as his partner. Despite the disparity in their respective ages, the two men get along well with each other. Ernie teaches Mike the tricks of the trade. You don't flaunt your cash and you don't call attention to yourself. Ernie lives in a small house out by the airport. He is anything but conspicuous and maintains a low profile. Although he did a stretch behind bars, Ernie is smart and doesn't like to take chances. The worst thing that you can say about "Breaking In" is that a prospective criminal might copy Ernie's lifestyle. On the other hand, Mike refuses to abide by Ernie's strategy and he winds up getting busting. The ending is something else.
Nevertheless, this crime movie doesn't indulge in brainless antics and histrionics. The modest budget doesn't hurt this thriller and often enhances it. The screenplay by John Sayles of "Eight Men Out" is literate, witty, and filled with irony. "Breaking In" is not a tent-pole movie, but it is a very good movie about a collection of oddball characters told with warmth, humor, and class. This was Albert Salmi's last film before he committed suicide. He appears in one scene with Harry Carey as poker players at Ernie's house. As a director, the Scottish born Forsyth likes to craft small but meaningful films that people who appreciate the finer things in life. One of the best scenes is a supermarket burglary where the Doberman guard dog follows our heroes around during the caper and watches while Ernie blows the safe. Understated but effective crime yarn is pleasant all the way without getting too violent, profane, or sexy. "Breaking In" couldn't have been made back in Hollywood's Golden Age because the lessons that Ernie teaches Mike would never have been allowed by the Production Code Administration.
Nevertheless, this crime movie doesn't indulge in brainless antics and histrionics. The modest budget doesn't hurt this thriller and often enhances it. The screenplay by John Sayles of "Eight Men Out" is literate, witty, and filled with irony. "Breaking In" is not a tent-pole movie, but it is a very good movie about a collection of oddball characters told with warmth, humor, and class. This was Albert Salmi's last film before he committed suicide. He appears in one scene with Harry Carey as poker players at Ernie's house. As a director, the Scottish born Forsyth likes to craft small but meaningful films that people who appreciate the finer things in life. One of the best scenes is a supermarket burglary where the Doberman guard dog follows our heroes around during the caper and watches while Ernie blows the safe. Understated but effective crime yarn is pleasant all the way without getting too violent, profane, or sexy. "Breaking In" couldn't have been made back in Hollywood's Golden Age because the lessons that Ernie teaches Mike would never have been allowed by the Production Code Administration.