One of the prime positives of the Belcourt’s Robert Redford retrospective is that it introduces audiences to hard-to-find films they’ve probably never seen or heard of before. The Hot Rock, which — as of this writing — is still not available on any streaming or VOD platforms, falls in that category. Bullitt director Peter Yates’ 1972 adaptation of pulp icon Donald E. Westlake’s 1970 comic novel features Redford as prized Westlake creation John Dortmunder, a career criminal, newly released from jail, who assembles a team (George Segal, Ron Leibman and Paul Sand) to rob a rare stone from a museum. Actually, they steal it several times, as they learn how difficult it is to keep the gem in their possession. Complete with a score by the late legend Quincy Jones that’s as amusingly deadpan as the film itself, The Hot Rock is one of the funniest, most underrated heist films of the ’70s — and the best Westlake/Dortmunder adaptation. (What’s the Worst That Could Happen? could never!) And now local audiences will finally get a big-screen chance to see Redford in it. Visit belcourt.org for showtimes.
Jan. 18 & 20 at the Belcourt
2102 Belcourt Ave.
