Heist with Twists

Generous brushstrokes of noir and well-chosen sepia tinted scenes and soft lighting are an unexpected canvas for The Hessen Conspiracy, a World War II whodunit. Jack Durant(Billy Zane) and Lt. Kathleen Nash (Lyne Renee) fall for each other, and for the crown jewels of Princess Sophie of Germany. While the extrication of these jewels to the United States is rather cleanly orchestrated, how does the couple get legitimacy over the jewels and get the wartime police off their backs? And are they truly with one another, or is it that they are looking to double cross each other? The movie manages to generate a surprising degree of suspense even as it maintains its retro feel.

13/20