Haven't seen that one, and not really tempted. He was great in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
FABULOUS film.
My personal favourite is the Long Good Friday, although Mona Lisa and RR are up there somewhere close. I absolutely love Pennies From Heaven.
...but yes, actually, that 'against the odds' thing is right. One of the things that makes Mona Lisa such a good film is that the story is as old as the hills but it feels really new
I've probably seen LGF half a dozen times, never get tired of it. It's right up there with The Grifters and The Usual Suspects in the honor among thieves genre.
As far as Hoskins, he was also great in Last Orders.