Fresh
Argott beautifully explicates how this crew pulled off the most daring daylight art theft in history, though his passionate identification with the pro-Barnes faction limits the movie's political nuance.
Cliff Doerksen, Chicago Reader
The Art of the Steal
The true story of a multi-billion dollar art heist and how they got away with it.
2010 · 1h 41m · Unrated
Documentary
Directed by
Don Argott
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The Art of the Steal
Overview
A gripping tale of intrigue and mystery in the art world, this film traces the history of a collection of Post-Impressionist paintings - worth billions - which became the subject of a power struggle after the death of its owner. Dr. Albert Barnes.
Director and cast
Critics on Rotten Tomatoes
Top critics, in their words
85%
Tomatometer
Fresh
The film's good versus bad scenario is, while understandable, too simplistic.
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor
Rotten
The Art of the Steal ultimately gets mired in the legal weeds, a snare made all the more frustrating by the fact that the move is a fait accompli.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Fresh
It's impossible not to be moved by the almost eerie film footage of the walls of the Barnes' original home with the art removed, revealing bare hooks and patches of unfaded paint: ghosts, doomed to wander.
Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times
Fresh
A blunt, persuasive documentary.
Kyle MacMillan, Denver Post
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