The Bank Job (2008)

User Review

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  TheMovieDiorama

  5 / 10

  The Bank Job robbed its characters of any personality. This is one of the more mainstream British crime flicks (along with Ritchie's 'Lock Stock' and 'Snatch'), mainly because Statham and a plethora of stars from acclaimed British TV are stamped on the front cover as if it was a gossip magazine. But at the end of the day, it's just another heist thriller that surprisingly has an underdeveloped robbery to make room for corrupted police officers, militant gangsters and members of parliament enjoying some seductive role playing in a brothel. All connected through plot conveniences that even the characters themselves are confused by. Based on the true story of a bank robbery successfully taking place where a safety deposit box containing incriminating photos of powerful individuals is stolen. Statham and his gang of cockneys do their best to keep the story swiftly moving, and with that there are some enjoyable lighter moments. Donaldson's direction is often electric and meticulously weaves various plot strands and a wide range of characters into an involving story. As with most bank heists, it's often formulaic and so therefore we look for character interactions to keep the crime engaging. But due to the robbery (including its conception) actually only taking up a third of the film's runtime, it doesn't allow any personality to shine through. These "propa" robbers were incredibly dull as they unrealistically drilled quickly underground to the bank vault. Plot conveniences were littered throughout, including its conclusion, but the most noticeable would've been the accidental dropping of a certain walkie-talkie which inadvertently fooled the police. Makes for a badly constructed plot if you ask me. The lack of action is certainly appreciated (as I'm sure Statham wanted to wreck gangsters with just a jewelled necklace) and, again, it is watchable. It just offers nothing new in a sub-genre that is pretty tired, the main event being rushed and the characters themselves being borderline sleep-inducing. Best use of the "C-word" however, nearly spat my drink out...

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