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Stand Up Guys

Stand Up Guys

Thriller · Comedy · Action · 2012

After serving 28 years in prison for accidentally killing the son of a crime boss, newly paroled gangster Val reunites with his former partners in crime, Doc and Hirsch, for a night on the town. As the three men revisit old haunts, reflect on their glory days and try to make up for lost time, one wrestles with a terrible quandary: Doc has orders to kill Val, and time is running out for him to figure out a way out of his dilemma.

Movie details

Stand Up Guys

“They don't make 'em like they used to.”

2012 Thriller · Comedy · Action 1h 35m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

After serving 28 years in prison for accidentally killing the son of a crime boss, newly paroled gangster Val reunites with his former partners in crime, Doc and Hirsch, for a night on the town. As the three men revisit old haunts, reflect on their glory days and try to make up for lost time, one wrestles with a terrible quandary: Doc has orders to kill Val, and time is running out for him to figure out a way out of his dilemma.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Stand Up Guys?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Fisher Stevens

Written by

Noah Haidle

Al Pacino

Al Pacino

Valentine "Val"

Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken

Doc

Alan Arkin

Alan Arkin

Richard Hirsch

Julianna Margulies

Julianna Margulies

Nina Hirsch

Addison Timlin

Addison Timlin

Alex

Vanessa Ferlito

Vanessa Ferlito

Sylvia

Mark Margolis

Mark Margolis

Claphands

Court is in session

Put Stand Up Guys on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Adrenaline Seeker

“Momentum is a formal choice.”

The velocity sharpens instinct and tension, making every beat land before self-importance can settle in.

The prosecution The Auteur Devotee

“Speed as an alibi.”

The film races past its weak spots and hopes acceleration will keep the audience from inspecting the evidence.