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The Bank Job [Blu-ray]
![The Bank Job [Blu-ray]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51j7RVA-KKL._SL160_.jpg)
RRP: £24.99
Our Price: £17.97 (subject to change)
Not Lock,Stock or Snatch
Review date: 2008-07-05 Rating: 2 out of 10
Directed by the talented Roger Donaldson (The Recruit, Species, Thirteen Days), this movie's direction is all over the place; argueably Donaldson's worst film to date. This is a messy yarn boasting borderline-absurd levels of 1970s bling and Statham in turtlenecks and stubble. The robbery itself is a good, taut set piece. If we're honest, though, Statham is treading water, this one trick pony is lucky to be still employed as an actor.
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Reviews
Jason Statham Crime Flick
Review date: 2008-07-01 Rating: 8 out of 10
Allegedly based on true events (the final credits mention the names have been changed to protect the guilty), The Bank Job is partly a homage to the traditional British robbery film and partly a tale of political and society intrigue. The main premise of the story is that a Black Power activist Michael X managed to obtain photographs of a prominent British royal (possibly Princess Margaret) enjoying a decidedly unregal menage-a-trois while on holiday in the Caribbean. On returning to England, Michael X uses the pictures to blackmail the authorities into turning a blind eye to his criminal activities.
The British Secret Service (MI5 or MI6) learns the location of the photographs in a Bank safety deposit box. Thus they set in motion the chain of events which convinces Terry (Jason Statham) and his cronies to tunnel into the safe and empty the deposit boxes thus retrieving the photographs to 1. Protect the Royal and, 2. Remove Michael X's "Get Out of Jail Free" card. Up until this point the film is an enjoyable, if somewhat risque, crime caper. However things take a darker turn when inevitably this is not the only secret held in the security vault, including some compromising photographs of Secret Service officials and a crime boss's ledger of payments to corrupt police officers. This leads to a classic four way stand-off between the various parties before the final denoument.
In general terms The Bank Job is an enjoyable and entertaining heist movie. The Blu-Ray picture and sound transfer are superb. There are a couple of downers - Jason Statham needs to start working on an act other than the grizzled Cockney "wide-boy", he is really, really, in danger of being permanently typecast. There are a few plot holes and transport enthusiasts will spot the tube trains in the scenes filmed on the Underground are not correct for the era, nor is the main line train at Paddington station.
To conclude, it's not quite as quirky as Lock Stock... or Snatch but if you want a good popcorn movie and a nostalgic glimpse of the early 70's you could do far worse.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Georgia Taylor
Saffron Burrows
Keeley Hawes
Stephen Campbell Moore
Jason Statham
Director(s):
Recording label: Lionsgate
Manufacturer: Lionsgate
EAN: 5060052415103
Binding: Blu-ray
Number of items: 1
Release date: 2008-06-30
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Running time: 110 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)