The Bank Job
Based on a true 1971 event, this thriller tells the story of Terry (Jason Statham), a car dealer who becomes involved in a London bank heist only to find that the contents of the bank vault will draw him deeply and irrevocably into the city's criminal underbelly. Murder and scandal abound in this tale of corruption populated with a surprising mix of offenders, from low-level thugs to government officials and all the way up to the royal family.
Feedgeist
» Currently at the homes of 40 people
» Queued up by 700 people
MK 769400 mwa 899169 CS 282470 uvv 1329507 RF 1293261 MK 193161 WH 1330273 CG 1657503 JC 1658970 OK 852660 dkz 438195 cmq 696116 yxc 249314 qmi 298100 MP 1715675 qky 1065764 JC 20230 PB 1936729 csy 718165 pcn 704310 SS 1210841 vmd 970671 mlu 1788071 DE 1837759 KS 1517591 JM 65368 yzq 126931 hcv 1342662 qbz 130798 Benjammin RJ 377806 PM 1831361 JE 103571 PFunk PFunk lis 1860760 Brian Winebarger ExplodingMan PY 1022802 CO 1696738 WS 682529 kxm 734363 ryc 1922440 glenn! bwidell mhc 1497116 dzo 1652979 JW 1398596 KB 296530 BS 786813 dik 18181 AG 1567183 zmv 1302692 Up to 50 people shown» Reviewed by 16 people
Awesome movie! Thoroughly entertaining. One of the best I have seen this year. The characters were well formed and had great personalities - I found myself really rooting for them throughout the movie. And there's plenty of rooting to be done, since they encounter lots of obstacles. Plenty of thrills, and there's a change of pace about 2/3 into the movie that kept the narrative at a good pace. Five stars.- MrOstrich
The movie that would not end. There are so many major story lines masquerading as subplots in here that they could have made a trilogy rather than stuffing it all into one movie. Maybe the writers wrote it after their Ritalin had worn off. Tremendously difficult to follow at times due to that.
- No1
An enjoyable film, best described as a well-paced heist plus gangster film. It is a definite R rating; with more nudity than I expected, and some cringing but implied violence. Set in 1971, it evokes the time period without resorting to music cues as many 60s/70s films do. The cinematography and editing are well-done and functional -not 'arty' or distracting. The DP (Michael Coulter) has done several dramas so it makes sense that he keeps the camera out of the way and lets the action in the picture tell the story. He follows the characters and scenes without using sharp angles, or very long shots or close ups. The story is not 'dated' except for the use of walkie-talkies by the robbers; but that is part of the real event. The film moves along at a decent pace yet it takes the time to let some of the main characters develop - a rare commodity in 'heist' films. Some would call those 'slow bits', but I have a preference for a bit of character/background in suspense/action films. The nudity is "story related", and all 'upper-frontal' female. Not due to a love scene, the story has a strip club owner, a tertiary character runs a brothel, and someone photographed having sex is blackmailed with the photos. But the nudity could be less: a female at this screening said "there were a lot of boobs in that film". Not exactly the first thought the filmmakers were going for, I am sure. The violence was very well done (for having some upfront violence). There are no 'gun battles', and only a few brief fist-fights. For example, someone is shot in the head, but it is a through a series of cuts: showing the face, then a hand with gun pulling the trigger, then a person next to the 'shootee' flinching away. The reaction is exactly as desired; it is only later than you realize the actual impact is not seen. I'd give it 3.4-3.5 stars. It didn't quite do enough to get 4 stars on NF.
- flm.snb
Not surprisingly, Jason Statham does not shave in this movie. I'm sorry if that's a spoiler, but you should know by now. Sidenote -- I almost gave up on this movie about 30 minutes in, but the story actually picks up, so hang in there. If Jason would've shaved at the end, this would've easily been a 5-star movie.
- Big Erv
"The Bank Job" is one of the best action films I have seen in some time. The story moves quickly; the characters are believable and quickly identifiable to the audience; and the story is also believable--perhaps because it is based on a real event. Saffron Burrows plays a major role in the film and does an excellent job. She is not only an attractive woman, she portrays a combination of self-interest but with qualities that make her more human and likable. Jason Statham has similar qualities--he is a small time crook but aspires to make a better life for his family and takes advantage of an opportunity to make a big score. Unfortunately, he lacks the experience and knowledge to pull off the job in a highly professional way. At the same time, he is smart, savvy, and has a survival instinct that serves him well. If a viewer likes the "Bourne" series of movies or "The Thomas Crown Affair," this will be a popular movie for that viewer. The ending is somewhat unpredictable and will also appeal to our inherent sense of justice. Overall, an excellent film--even better than I expected.
- AtTheBeach
Solid, unspectacular heist movie with fine performances and an appropriately tricky denouement. It takes a bit too long to get to the heist and they give away a big, big secret during the setup that would have been better revealed during the operation. Trimming it by 20 minutes would have resulted in a more exciting film.
- Mercurywaxing
This is truly a very well made action/thriller. There is an interesting mix of characters, who for the most part are developed very well. Most of the characters live or are involved in the seedier side of London. Low level hoodlums, corrupt cops, black activists, self-serving politicians, an adult film distributor, and safety deposit boxes full of more than just money. All is brought together to make an entertaining and very event filled movie. Back stabbing, deals and broken deals, several interesting twists and very good acting make this a movie that is well worth a watch! 4 Stars. 7/24/08
- frgodbeyjr
Another 'based on real events' movie with creative license taken to make it more interesting and add a little more action to show off Statham's better skills. Not your typical thugs robbing a bank, this one has two parts, the robbery itself and the aftermath, where the action happens. Cool '70s threads and a good story. Recommended for Statham or heist fans. 7/08
- Skorpean
The Bank Job is a very taut bank heist movie. It's a great throwback (See the poster) to older buddy heist movies, and it takes that generalization seriously. The cast could not have been better, Jason Statham gives his best performance yet as the "leader" of the gang. The movie is not really a thriller, but that didn't matter at all to me. Bank Job has an excellent story to tell that is not at all hard to follow (When compared to similar bank job films), and I am in love with it!
- MCWHAMMER
Entertaining, suspenseful, and a tight story with some unexpected twists just to keep it fresh. We thoroughly enjoyed this bank robbery caper. The story starts out somewhat slowly, but picks up speed quickly. But the speed isn't car chases, it's a heightening of tension and suspense. The only suggestion I have is to use the subtitles. Even though the actors speak English, it contains heavy British accents with an abundance of British slang and colloquialisms - some of them are downright hysterical, which adds to the charm of this heist thriller.
- Southern Belle 1
The tagline for this is, The true story of a heist gone wrong... in all the right ways. I didnt have high hopes for this one. I enjoy Jason Statham movies but lately theyve begun to feel like I was watching the same film over and over. Then I saw the bank job. The Statham mold is broken. The bank job is fundamentally good cinema in its most basic form. The story, based in real life, has all you could ask for. Its clever, unusual and moves at a good pace. This is not a drama you sleep through. It has expected and unexpected twist in all the right place meaning you may anticipate a few but there are some you cant see coming. There is text and subtext and threads going everywhere. Crooked cops run amok while pimps blackmail administrators and politicians. Meanwhile a local Madame photographs her highly appointed clientele, shall we say, in the act, then squirrels away the evidence in a safe deposit box; just like everyone else. The target of the heist just happens to be a bank vault filled with safe deposit boxes. This is not Hollywood trying to run you over with a Abrams Main Battle Tank. This is British film makers giving you a lift in a Mini and letting you feel every bump in the road. Thats what makes this movie so good; the attention to detail. The Bank Job is technically excellent from sets to cinematography. The performances are masterful and the script lays a blanket of suspense that continues to thicken right up to the end credits. Down to earth and gritty in that British sort of way, the movie gets even better when the heist is over! I think the way to say it is, The Bank Job is a good movie! I hope my thoughts are helpful 08/09/08 ~~~Wingz
- Wingz
Wow! What a difference over the last two movies I saw Jason Statham in. Those were "War" and "Chaos". They both had ridiculous plots that I found irritating if not insulting. This movie out classed those by a mile. Every part of it was excellent. It joins the ranks of other Jason Statham movies I love including "Snatch", "the Transporter" (the first one) and "Crank" and this may even be his best movie to date. I'm sure any fan of J.S. will enjoy it. Based on a true story, I understand that the bank robbery really did occur and the rest is pretty much fiction. That's okay because it's a great story with great acting and never a dull moment. The plot is complex but not too hard to follow and actually quite believable. For a really fun time rent this movie. You won't regret it.
- couchdog53
The Bank Job was a very nice surprise. It was one of the few movies where the third act was better than the first or second act. There was some nudity and sleaze during the first 15 minutes but for a change it was necessary to the plot. The film is loosely based on true events that happened in London in 1971. It is much more than a simple heist movie. I highly recommend this picture.
- Rascal
This finely-tuned heist film is both exciting and well-paced with an authentic 1970s look perfect for its story. The ensemble cast is full of characters from many different groups (e.g. secret agents, politicians, businessmen, cops, etc.) all with an interest in part of the stolen goods. And the variety is amazingly well handled; every plot turn is clear and characters easily identified. Laced with clever humor, The Bank Job endears an audience to the central players but suspense and intrigue are never short-changed. And fans will be relieved to hear that Jason Statham redeems himself nicely after a string of questionable movies with material that gives him room to breath. The "true story" elements here are pretty thin considering the rumor swirling around the actual event but the supposition itself is quite entertaining. Even if it's unlikely to win any formal awards, The Bank Job is a quality movie I think most will enjoy for its fun story and well done look and feel.
- Creeper
There's a lot going on in The Bank Job with many complicated sub-plots and narrative strands, but Anderson never loses control of the story and it always feels light and breezy despite the edgy subject matter. He has a keen eye for the details of the period ('70s), yet also manages to guide us along the labyrinthine plot without making us feel pandered to. But most importantly, he allows us buy into the heist, even with its stripped down simplicity and lack of high-tech tools or over-thought methodology
- Frank W
THE BANK JOB is a heist movie with some bite. Set in the peace-and-love early 70's, this story finds the Jason Statham character, a low-level criminal improbably named Terry Leather, set up to knock over a bank to retrieve some incriminating photos featuring a member of the royal family. Only, Terry doesn't know that's why they're tunneling into the bank; he thinks they're just robbing the place. So, in addition to being a rousing caper with its share of comic relief, this movie also has political intrigue, featuring the clash between MI-5 with corrupt government officials, corrupt police, corrupt civil rights activists, and major criminals themselves involved in prostitution and pornography. Of course, the criminals are supposed to be corrupt. The story is simple and straightforward, with some nudity and violence that is sudden and brutal. I liked this one a lot and would recommend it to all my friends.[07-16-08]
- Firewater