Deemed the British equivalent to a watered-down version of "Ocean's Eleven," "The Bank Job," which hit theatres Friday, offers mediocre thrills and baffling characters.
The film is based on the true story of the 1971 bank heist in Marylebone, London.
It is considered one of the most famous robberies in history, largely due to the government issuing a "D-Notice," which prohibited any press from covering the event.
Even with the infamous factor, 'Job' still couldn't pack a punch.
Over the weekend, the film ranked number four at the box office and brought in a mere $6 million.
While the vast majority of the film surrounds the bank heist, much darker themes come into light.
The audience gets a glimpse into the world of black-power radicals, prostitution rings, physical torturing and royal scandals.
According to Roger Ebert, "...you'd sure think 'The Bank Job' would be more fun to watch."
With the lack of plot twists and hardly any originality, it is easy to slip this film in with other action-genre movies.
True to form, the film contains: gun-wielding gangsters, betrayal, bloody torture scenes, numerous wads of money, nudity, British accents and, of course, spousal infidelity.
Hello, cookie-cutter action movie!The film centers around experienced thief Terry Leather (Jason Stratham) and his amateur gang of misfit "villains."
The purpose of the bank heist is to find and destroy promiscuous pictures of the British noble Princess Margaret. Terry and his crew are asked to execute the mission through a wicked and confusing web of characters.
Their grand-master plan includes digging a tunnel underneath the building and then blasting their way through the concrete floor.
Things seem to be going well until Terry finds out that they are being tricked and used by fellow criminal and former flame, Martine Love (Saffron Burrows).
In a predictable twist, the gang gains control of the situation and, in the end, walk away virtually unscathed.
Though the film is typical and predictable, there are a few redeeming qualities, such as the 70s psychedelic wardrobe.
At the end of the movie, we find out that most of the names were changed in order to protect the guilty parties, which left the audience wondering: just who is guilty?
Beneath the heavy British accents and expendable characters, "The Bank Job" is an average thriller film, but certainly not a memorable one. Unfortunately, this is one action film that doesn't quite stand out.
"The Bank Job" directed by Ronald Donaldson
Andrea's rating: 2 1/2 stars
Roger Ebert:2 1/2 stars Rottentomatoes.com: 77 PERCENT FRESH
t&c;
