As heist films go, Mimi Leder's "The Code", also known as "Thick as Thieves" doesn't add anything interesting to the genre. Maybe it was the wrong project to get involved because, as written by Ted Humphrey, the film is a ripoff that steals generously from other, better made films. It even has the audacity to ask the main characters talk about the great Jules Dassin, his famous caper, "Topkapi", or even "Rififi", as though the creators thought they could improve on what was done better.This time the implausible plot involves stealing from a famous Manhattan Russian dealer that has a treasure of Faberge eggs in his vault. The place is so incredibly tough to penetrate, with the latest technology, we feel the film makers think we, the audience, are stupid, or perhaps they can pull the wool over our eyes.Morgan Freeman has been asked to play the same role over and over. It is about time he realizes he is on auto pilot and try to get a new approach to whatever he decides to do next. We had read sometime ago that Antonio Banderas had fired his agent because of the bad choices he has been asked to make recently. Judging by what he does in the film, one can wish him better luck with whoever he chooses to peddle his services in the future. The torrid sex scenes between Mr. Banderas and his co-star, Rhada Mitchell, seems to have been photographed using body doubles. Otherwise how can we explain the muscular and youthful buttocks Antonio displays.

Hollywood is a vast reservoir of screen talent and when producers, directors and movie stars combine to make a movie, audiences across the United States, indeed across the cinematic world, anxiously await to pay for the right combination of a good movie. Often, their result is a mega production, a Classic, or at the very least a profitable enterprise. However as in this case, the movie is a abysmal disappointment. One asks, with the superior talents Morgan Freeman, the handsome features and sex appeal of Antonio Banderas how could you possibly lose? Annalysis of this movie called " Code " or " Thick as Thevies " proves the old add age of; 'you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.' Briefly this is an often repeated story. You take an aging professional thief, partner him with a young talented version of himself, then challenge them against the most sophisticated impervious thief-proof bank vault imaginable and you have the makings of a classic. Right? Unfortunately not. Although both men are superstars, the movie is not without flaws. The script is so convoluted it loses coherence, among the principals and audience. Again, the romantic character interaction and drama is handicapped by unresolved Stop and Go scenes. Then again, trying to touch base with who's on first, audiences are purposely tripped by not allowing some clue as to which segment of the film establishes the good guys from the bad. Too much sympathy is labored on the dark character only to discover he's the the hero. In conclusion, what should have been a high flying feature, became instead a single wing albatross. ***

Three stars is the best I could muster for this movie. The acting was OK, the directing was crap and the plot was the worst. I saw this in Hughes Theater as a screener and they stopped us for Q&A. Right of the bat the movies had goofs and there were a lot of spoilers from the start. The name was undecided hence the 2 name title, and the climax was very very disappointing. What makes the movie so horrible is that it does not have a follow path and the sexual scene is not needed at all. In the end the entire heist were for some Fabergé eggs that were older than the actual Fabergé eggs. Actual meaning that the eggs were made of wood and wood carvings. One scene in particular I was disappointed in is when they have to enter the vault to get the heist...well I will let you go through it yourself.

"Code" is a mediocre film which substitutes plot twists to hide the missing story.Double, double, double crossing... that about the story.Oh, of course there is a vault which has a remarkable weakness -- the tumblers turn if you enter one number correctly, and of course there are the laser motion detectors (which don't exist in real life), that can be switched off by some mysterious electronic device. A vault with no internal alarms. Really stupid security guards. secured building with easy access to the subway. A bad guy who is a cop. An organized crime boss who is really a murder victim. A very sexy lawyer who somehow manages to associate with criminals without being disbarred. and lots of other non-sense. Hollywood seems to be under the impression that plot twists can hide the fact that the story makes no sense.