Plot
The plan was flawless. The execution was perfect. Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) pulled off the crime of a lifetime. The one thing that he didn’t plan on was being double-crossed (by Edward Norton). Now he wants more than the job’s payoff... he wants payback. Along with a beautiful safecracker (Charlize Theron), Croker and his team take off to re-steal the loot and end up in a pulse-pounding, pedal-to-the-metal chase that careens up, down, above and below the streets of Los Angeles. This time it's personal!
Analysis
Mark Wahlberg is Charlie Croker, the leader of the gang. Other members are Handsome Rob (Jason Statham), Lyle (Seth Green) and Left Ear (Mos Def). They all are pretty average characters and in all honesty the minis stood out more. John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) is Charlie's mentor featuring at the start of the film but is killed very early. His onscreen daughter Stella Bridger (Charlize Theron) joins Charlie’s team to revenge her father. Therons character is again very average. I read that Edward Norton, who played the bad guy Steve, admitted he only took on the role as he was contractually obliged.
Based very loosely on the 1969 British film of the same name starring Michael Caine. Some of the characters share the same name; it has minis, gold and a traffic jam. This is about as far as similarities go. Having seen both movies I can clearly state before I analyse any further that the original in England is classed as a classic, the remake had much to live up to.
When anyone mentions “The Italian Job” you instantly think of minis escaping full of gold. This in my opinion is the big let down with this film. The whole movie builds to the final revenge as the gang steal the gold back. We are shown the gang preparing the minis for the job. The gold is stolen and what the viewer is then shown is a chase sequence, but it’s just so average. The minis are chased by 3 motorbikes and a single helicopter, but the chase is so short and uneventful when compared to the original movie. Viewing deleted scenes from the DVD did show that several clips were removed from the end chase which probably would have added to the movie by increasing the end chase time and tension.
A very average performance with a very average plot. The ending of the original movie was perfect. The ending we are given here is all sewn up, and like all Hollywood films, the good guys triumph so you leave the movie not having to think about a thing.
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Rating (out of 5)
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Action
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Some shooting, robbing, chasing and escaping. But in all honesty I felt the action was pretty mediocre. The end mini sequence was something of a let down when compared to the great classic mini chase from the 1969 original Italian Job movie.
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Tension
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No attempt to build up any tension or much of a thrill.
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Violence/
Gore
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A few people get shot but on the whole a very low gore factor.
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Bare Flesh
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None
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They lift the bonnet on a mini!
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Plot
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A very average plot which really did not throw in any surprises. I felt that the film could have been so much better with a stronger plot.
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Verdict
A 2nd class action movie which should have been so much better than what was churned out. The minis where not allowed to feature enough in the end chase. I also looked at my watch which is never a good sign.
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Facts, figures and boobs
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1.
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Edward Norton made it clear that his participation is a result of contractual obligation, not choice.
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2.
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Lyle (Seth Green) claims he was the creator of Napster, and that Shawn Fanning stole it from him. It shows a flash back of Lyle sleeping, and a person taking a disk out of the PC that has Napster on it. The person is really Shawn Fanning, the creator of Napster.
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3.
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When Shawn Fanning steals the idea of Napster, the bottom of a Metallica poster can be seen on the wall. Metallica was one of the bands that brought about the end of Napster.
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4.
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Two electric-powered Mini Coopers, and one Mini Cooper S works had to be specially built for the film, since gasoline-powered vehicles are not allowed to operate in L.A.'s subway system.
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Movie Pictures
(Click picture to enlarge)
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