A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: The Bank Job

Date Viewed: 3/29/08

Details:

Jason Statham

Saffron Burrows

Stephen Campbell Moore

Daniel Mays

Richard Lintern

Director: Roger Donaldson

Score: 1/2

The Review: In 1971 (if this really is fact-based), the safe-deposit vault of a London Lloyd's bank was robbed of much of its contents, ranking this an even bigger haul than the famous Great Train Robbery. But how many of you remember hearing about this? Ah, that's because it was "D-listed" -- hushed up, in a euphemism of MI5 (which gives you one sort of cue). Perhaps there really was a cover-up? Perhaps there was an underlying political reason both for the robbery and the consequences? The conspiracy buffs would have a heyday with this kind of plot.

This is a caper flick with twists (not unusual) and with so many things that do not go as planned (also not unusual), you're amazed that they actually succeed. This reluctant amateur team is assembled under the auspices and persuasion of an ex-model (Burrows) and the leadership of a used car salesman (and ex-minor league crook, Statham). The movie ends up documenting the tenor of the times reasonably well with music, dress and attitudes. There is a body-count, so there are some problems. But does the team get away with it?

Other than Statham as lead, the cast is mostly unknown in the US.

(29-Mar-08)

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