I don't know enough about theatre to be able to comment on David Mamet's stage 
stature and merits.  Mamet is, however, the quintessential 
playwright/screenwriter.  His theatrical background has led to and fostered his 
distinctive cinematic style.  Personally, I find the character-driven, dialog-
heavy style to be finely crafted and extremely enjoyable.  Because of these two 
germane traits, plot development tends to take place within the characters as 
opposed to around them. This can leave a viewer (not unlike a younger me) with 
an MTV attention span to shift in his seat uncomfortably wondering "are they 
ever going to leave that room?" or "are there any other characters in this 
movie?".  Mamet's answers are often 'no'.

'Heist' is the oft retold story of the veteran thief's last job. Joe (Gene 
Hackman) plays our aging protagonist.  Filling out his inner circle are Bobby 
(Delroy Lindo), Pinky (Mamet mainstay, Ricky Jay) and Fran, his young 
girlfriend, played by Mamet's staple supporting female actress (not to mention 
wife) Rebecca Pidgeon.  Danny DeVito plays Bergman, Joe's longtime fence.  To 
guarantee fairness when this final heist, "the Swiss thing", goes down, Bergman 
insists that his nephew Jimmy Silk (Sam Rockwell) accompany Joe & Co. on the 
job.  Simple premise.  Complex execution...nothing's ever easy when you can't 
trust anyone.

This is not Mamet's finest script, but it is still very good.  I have heard 
criticism saying that the dialog is not realistic and that there were too many 
perfectly coincidental twists.  I love Mamet's dialog, and it's rarely 
realistic.  It's crafted methodically; care is taken in its construction. People 
don't actually talk like that, of course not; it's too perfect, too smart. 
Intelligent dialog is too rare in current films, and it's one reason I enjoy 
Mamet so thoroughly.  As for the second point of criticism, well, yes, the 
twists do go a bit over the top and for too long.  The film could have ended 
without a couple of the switcheroos.

'Heist' is a very enjoyable movie.  For more, arguably better Mamet, I recommend 
'Glengarry Glen Ross', 'House of Games' and 'The Spanish Prisoner'.  (Yes, in 
that order.)