London, 1971 - a barefaced Lloyds Bank heist uncovers a chain of corruption leading right to the doors of government and the British Royal Family.
Starring rising action star Jason Statham and Reign Over Me's Saffron Burrows, The Bank Job is the 'true story' of a robbery where no money was recovered and nobody was ever caught. Actually £231,000 was recovered and four of the thieves were caught, but we will let that slide for now.
They say:
Total Film: "Statham's less Britain’s Steve McQueen than Dennis Waterman."
Channel 4: "A highly entertaining crime thriller."
Times Online: "This film is formulaic in all the wrong ways."
We say:
"How long does it take to rob a bank?" utters a weary MI5 agent as he waits for Statham and co to get the job done. Well, being as the gang has time to take a nap during the heist, too long apparently.
After an intriguing first act of snakelike plot diversions - The Bank Job paces itself backwards and actually slows down for the robbery.
Following the raid various story events converge in a convoluted face off, but by now fatigue has set in. It's difficult to remain interested when you feel you could leave the auditorium at any time and still take away the same experience.
The Bank Job isn't intended as a gritty thriller - it's a high gloss retro affair with shiny cars borrowed from collectors, pristine big collared jackets bought off eBay, lots of sideburns (not so much on the women) - movie land's 1971 in other words. Such a polished approach is initially welcome and wheedles the film from its obviously television orientated roots.
Director Roger Donaldson is a Hollywood purveyor of everyday exciting cinema (The Getaway, Species, Dante's Peak) with some occasional sparks of brilliance (No Way Out, Thirteen Days, The World's Fastest Indian). His zealous approach helps overcome the slapstick accents and a yen to view anything involving small time London crooks as just another Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels rip off.
Much has been made of The Bank Job’s gamble in uncovering a long buried governmental conspiracy. Though in actual fact exposing MPs strung up S&M style in their underpants has been commonplace now since the late 1980s. The same too for illicit state funded activities or Royal bedtime shenanigans. Nobody is moved over such indiscretions in this lurid day and age.
Yet, somewhat cleverly, the sketchy script manages to mix real life figures and the aforementioned randy revelations without ever really showing its hand.
As the credits roll and an essay of subtitles attempt to address the many unanswered questions, you realise you have not only been left none the wiser, but also rather bored. This is a jip, because school was boring and even that taught you something. In spite of its sluggish narrative, this caper remains just about watchable thanks to Donaldson's boyish enthusiasm.
Donaldson's characters are thickly drawn and instantly likeable (even the politicians), with Statham and the striking Burrows in particular, well suited to their seventies wardrobe - a pity then she puts in a performance that could be kindly described as adequate.
Spotting familiar faces from the small screen is an enjoyable excursion (Poirot! Dan from EastEnders! Woman from the coffee ads!), but is hardly worth buying a ticket for.
As British crime flicks go, we're still properly waiting twenty eight years after The Long Good Friday. File The Bank Job under 'nice try' and catch it on TV where it belongs.
CAST
Jason Statham
Saffron Burrows
Stephen Campbell Moore
David Suchet
DIRECTOR
Roger Donaldson
TIME
111 mins
POSTED...
Mon 3 Mar at 10:23am
