Lack of good storyline.

I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

A caper flick was the only impression I had walking into "The Silent Partner", but that's just scratching the surface. This is a very precise weaving together of psychological thriller, can-n-mouse, heist movie with two very well-cast leads. Elliott Gould is the ideal choice for the cunning thief everyone underestimates, and his double-dealings keep you hooked. But Christopher Plummer . . . man, that guy is malice incarnate. He may show up to rob a bank dressed as Santa Claus, but he is thoroughly nasty business.This is currently available in a bare-bones DVD with a very "Ocean's Eleven" cover, and that's is serious misrepresentation. Plot twists are what fuel this thing (that and some acts of surprising brutality). In any case, it's a clockwork piece of film - everybody's playing everybody else, nothing's at face value and you're always guessing.Great movie.8/10

In Toronto, the methodical and lonely bank teller Miles Cullen (Elliott Gould) works in a bank in a shopping mall. He feels unrequited love for his coworker Julie Carver (Susannah York) but she is having a love affair with the married bank manager Charles Packard (Michael Kirby). One day, Cullen discovers a note on the counter indicating that the bank will be robbed and he soon identifies the handwriting of a Santa Claus in the mall as the author of the note. However he does not tell the police about of his findings and he hides a large amount of cash in his lunch box. When the thief heists the bank, he keeps the money for him. Soon the thief Harry Reikle (Christopher Plummer), who is a psychopath, tracks Cullen down, breaks in his apartment and threatens him to give the robbed money to him. However Cullen sets Reikle up and he is arrested for stealing a van. Meanwhile Cullen's father dies and he meets his nurse Elaine Muriel (Céline Lomez) at the funeral. They have a love affair and Cullen finds that she is working with Reikle that is in jail. But she is in love with Cullen and helps him to recover the key of the safety deposit box that he had lost. But soon Reikle is released from jail. What will happen to Cullen and Elaine? "The Silent Partner" is one of the best thrillers from the 70's, with an intelligent story and top-notch performances. Christopher Plummer is scary in the role of psychopath. The gorgeous Susannah York and Céline Lomez have important participations. Elliott Could steals the show with another brilliant performance. The unforgettable John Candy has a minor role in the plot. The cat-and-mouse game between Elliott Gould and Christopher Plummer is breathless and increases the intensity along the story. After almost forty years, this film has not lost the impact. My vote is eight.Title (Brazil): "Parceiro do Silêncio" (VHS)("Silent Partner")

This rather ingenious movie, based on the novel "Think of a Number" by Anders Bodelsen, has a story, complete with fun twists and turns, that really keeps the viewer watching. Elliott Gould stars as bank teller Miles Cullen, held up by psychotic criminal Harry Reikle (Christopher Plummer). Unfortunately for Reikle, he doesn't obtain his entire potential take because Miles has already figured out a clever way to steal from the bank himself. When the robber realizes he was screwed, he's enraged and the two characters indulge in a battle of wits, with each man making moves that surprise the other. It's this whole interplay between these characters that provides this movie with some real meat, and it just goes to show that some people can't be taken at face value, are capable of daring actions, and may be far more crafty than we believe. On location shooting in Toronto is an asset (it's quite clear this takes place in Canada from the get go), as well as a cracking pace and a number of riveting scenes. Gould is nicely understated, as the unlikely thief, and Plummer, in one of his more interesting roles (it's cool to actually hear him curse out Gould), is damn convincing. Miles' bravado extends to his aggressively pursuing both Julie Carver (Susannah York), a co-worker and the mistress of his boss (Michael Kirby), and Elaine (Celine Lomez, an exquisite lady who even does some full frontal nudity), who's not what she initially appears to be. While the occasional bursts of brutal violence are indeed a little jarring, they do go a long way in showing the utter depravity and ruthlessness of the Reikle character. The screenplay is by Curtis Hanson, who also takes an associate producer credit, and the taut direction is by Daryl Duke ("Payday"). It's also fun to see a young John Candy in one of his earliest film roles; although he never gets to do much here, that inherent likability of his still comes through. The story here is a truly entertaining one, from its chilling robbery sequence wherein Reikle makes for an intimidating Santa Claus to his ugly confrontation with Elaine. This movie is a true sleeper that definitely deserves to be better known. Eight out of 10.

There are some interesting ideas and unusual plot elements strewn about but overall this movie is a leaden-paced mess.Gould sleepwalks, York seems lost and both their character's actions make no sense, Celine Lomez is adequate but her character as well does inexplicable things.The only solid performance was Christopher Plummer, what his character does makes some sense and is consistent.During the first 45 minutes (up to the point Gould calls his own apartment and steals the truck) almost nothing of sustained interest takes place and the intriguing parts are belabored long after the viewer is well aware of what is going to happen. The film seems to be trying to flesh out the characters but Gould and York are just odd, not interesting and on top of that the performances are bad. The Celine Lomez character is also introduced in a horribly obvious manner.The film also fails to maintain a consistent tone (Farce? Caper? Thriller? Escapism? Romance? Character?... etc), there are gigantic plot holes and towards the end a slasher-film style murder obliterates the small pleasures. How is the viewer supposed to be entertained with character details and plot twists after a sympathetic persons head is sawed off on jagged glass and then dumped in a cement pit? WTF?? I am supposed to care who gets some money after that?? I sought this film out due to Roger Ebert's glowing review and all I can think is that he was drunk (evidence being how many obvious details he gets embarrassingly wrong).All that having been said though the film IS unusual and I would understand someone treasuring it for that alone after so many years of cookie-cutter thrillers.