The Bank Job (2008)

On September 11, 1971 - an interesting date, if you think about it - London experienced one of the single biggest robberies in its history. It saw nearly £3 million in cash and goods stolen from a Lloyds Bank branch at the corner of Baker Street and Marlyebone Road in a heist that (appropriately) became known as the Baker Street robbery. Of the thieves or the aftermath little of substance is known, but the two have become widely speculated urban legends ever since.

Which brings us to 2008, and the Hollywood retelling of these events, The Bank Job. The producers took full advantage of the fact that so little is known about the robbery, turning the movie essentially into a 1970s British version of Ocean's Eleven. But instead of being overwhelmed by celebrity (ultimately the downfall of the Ocean's franchise), we end up being enthralled by what's important - the story and its presentation on screen.

Jason Statham shines as head robber Terry Leather in a rare role that doesn't waste his charisma. For every decent film Statham makes, he usually follows up with two or three abysmal ones. (So following The Bank Job...well, let's worry about that when it happens...) Here, he excels as the leader of the group, exuding a certain air of confidence even in the most precarious of situation. It's his handling of things above all that keeps our eyes glued to the screen.

It's hard to tell where reality stops and imagination begins in The Bank Job, but here's the general idea of things: an old fling of Leather's named Martine (Saffron Burrows) presents him the opportunity for the robbery. Terry's had his share of mischief, but this job represents a chance for he and his friends to take the next step and make out big. They take it.

But, as has become incredibly predictable in these sort of films, the crew gets more than they bargained for. Tension from all directions mounts, from the love triangle of Terry, Martine and Terry's wife Wendy (Keeley Hawes) to the continuing struggle against aptly named political activist Michael X (Peter de Jersey). Add in police corruption and a veteran London porn king, and you get a movie whose plot you can never really figure out until the end. Not a bad quality to have in a movie, though, is it?

The biggest success of the film is the crew, with each character as endearing and believable as the next. The lone exception is Burrows, whose importance to the film is undermined by a dry, unsympathetic performance. But then, she's not really part of the team anyway. Oops, did I just give something away?

Oh well, it's a minor detail in a movie with thousands. For all it's Hollywood-ing, The Bank Job is as good a heist movie as there's been in at least 20 years, if not ever. So kick back, grab your popcorn, and get ready to be entertained.

3 stars out of 4