GENE HACKMAN CAN'T SAVE HACKNEYED MAMET FILM.

Byline: Glenn Whipp Film Critic

David Mamet has always been in love with his own words, and there was a time when he had something interesting to say about the human condition. But with his last movie, the bland Hollywood send-up ``State and Main'' and his latest, a by-the-numbers caper movie called ``Heist,'' Mamet's words have increasingly rung hollow. He's still capable of writing spicy one-liners, but his story-telling abilities (or inclinations) have largely fallen by the wayside.

``Heist'' is similar to this summer's ``The Score'' in that it concerns an aging thief looking to make one last haul before retirement. Here, the crook in question is Joe Moore (Gene Hackman), a hard man wonderfully described by a fellow thief as ``a man so cool that when he goes to sleep, sheep count him.'' Joe's married to a fetching young wife (Mamet's wife and frequent collaborator Rebecca Pidgeon) and owns a boat that he'd love to sail to warmer climes.

Problem is, Joe was caught on security tape in his last heist, which he carried out with partners Bobby Blane (Delroy Lindo) and Pinky Pincus (Ricky Jay, who's very good). Problem No. 2 comes when Joe's fence, Bergman (Danny DeVito), stiffs Joe and his band on their haul from the heist, demanding instead that the boys pull one last job. Bergman also demands that his no-good nephew (Sam Rockwell) be involved.

That's the set-up, but Mamet never provides much of a pay-off. There are countless (too many, in fact) double-crosses and switcheroos, but they're rarely thrilling or surprising and sometimes they're rather difficult to follow. Mamet's charged language occasionally delivers a smile, even when it tries too hard. (Hackman screams at one point: ``He isn't gonna shoot me? Then he hadn't oughta point a gun at me. It's insincere.'')

However, he's certainly done better elsewhere on the movie's themes of loyalty, betrayal and male camaraderie, and he's got to stop casting Pidgeon when she's not right for the part. She's thoroughly unconvincing and awkward here.

But then Mamet seems to be making movies these days for himself, which is fine until his words start to get in the way of originality. ``Heist'' is a phoned-in job.

``HEIST''

(Rated R: language, some violence)

The stars: Gene Hackman, Delroy Lindo, Ricky Jay, Danny DeVito, Rebecca Pidgeon, Sam Rockwell.

Behind the scenes: Written and directed by David Mamet. Released by Warner Bros.

Running time: One hour, 47 minutes.

Playing: Citywide.

Our rating: Two stars

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Photo:

Gene Hackman and Rebecca Pidgeon huddle close in a scene from ``Heist.''