112 min
6.828
2008
Australia
Terry is a small-time car dealer trying to leave his shady past behind and start a family. Martine is a beautiful model from Terry's old neighbourhood who knows that Terry is no angel. When Martine proposes a foolproof plan to rob a bank, Terry recognises the danger but realises this may be the opportunity of a lifetime. As the resourceful band of thieves burrows its way into a safe-deposit vault at a Lloyds Bank, they quickly realise that, besides millions in riches, the boxes also contain secrets that implicate everyone from London's most notorious underworld gangsters to powerful government figures, and even the Royal Family. Although the heist makes headlines throughout Britain for several days, a government gag order eventually brings all reporting of the case to an immediate halt.
Overview
Reviews
The Movie Mob wrote:**The Bank Job appears to be a face-paced exciting robbery and espionage film. While those things did take place, it was long, slow, and not as flashy as hoped.**
With Jason Statham as the lead, I expected The Bank Job to have fight scenes and car chases. It did not. Compared to other Statham flicks, The Bank Job was slow-paced and more dramatic than action-focused. Some of the pacing results from the story being based on an actual bank robbery in 1971. As intriguing as that is, it also made the story drag on. The heist takes place halfway through the film, with a full hour of runtime before the end. The robbery's aftermath is filled with political maneuvering and negotiation between several dangerous groups interested in the contents of the safe. With an hour to tie up all the loose ends, the ending somehow felt abrupt and disappointing. The Bank Job has a few cool moments, but even with a strong lead like Statham, it was average at best.
CinemaSerf wrote:Based on a true story, Jason Statham does his usual as struggling car dealer "Terry" who is alerted to an opportunity to get rich quick by "Martine" (Saffron Burrows). She knows that a safety deposit box facility is going to be without it's alarm systems for a week or so and therefore if they can assemble a skilful team and... yes, think "League of Gentlemen" (1960) only with tunnelling. Now "Terry" doesn't really stop to answer the obvious question - where did "Martine" get this information? Millions of pounds of cash and jewels in these well protected boxes, well of course - but what else might they contain? Who, as importantly, is likely to get a bit narked if their precious cargos are appropriated. Success will come at a price, and that is something that soon descends on them all once they end up with considerably more than the bargained for. This might have worked better with a stronger supporting cast, but neither Burrows nor a motley collection of British regulars really add much to this vehicle for a star who has charisma on screen and a glint in his eye - but that can only take a film so far. This is quite a dry, procedural heist drama that, like so many of the genre, is more fun in the planning but that peters out once the execution and it's aftermath kick in. It's enjoyable enough to watch, and you can only imagine just how many secrets - state or otherwise - are or were holed up in facilities like these all around the world. Somehow, though, this just doesn't ignite nor live up to it's potential and is all a bit flat and forgettable with not enough action and some seriously banal dialogue.
