The Italian Job Movie Review:

The Italian Job is an exciting remake of a 1969 crime film, but this updated version's traditional subtlety does not offer anything new to the heist genre.

The film opens in Venice, Italy with a group of thieves pulling off a fabulous heist of gold valued at 35 million dollars. The mastermind behind the plan is the sharp Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg). His crew includes inside man Steve (Edward Norton), getaway driver Handsome Rob (Jason Statham), computer hacker Lyle (Seth Green), explosions expert Left-Ear (Mos Def), and experienced safecracker John (Donald Sutherland). Shortly after completing the successful heist, Steve double crosses the crew by taking the gold, killing the father like figure to crew, John, and leaving the rest for dead. After a year passes, Charlie and his crew finally locate Steve in Los Angeles and plan to take back the gold, not for the profit, but for revenge. In steps Stella (Charlize Theron), who is John's safecracking daughter, to join to the crew to take away the gold that led to her father's murder. The film then follows with action sequences and twists, while inserting the flashy MINI automobiles as a vital piece to crew's ultimate plan.

F. Gary Gray's direction keeps this film afloat by never holding a dull moment. Gray, who directed last spring's A Man Apart, seems more intact with this story than the latter. The action chase sequences are admirable and the film moves quickly, however, The Italian Job is a standard heist film. There is nothing really fresh; it contains situations and elements that all audiences have seen before. Even the MINIs, which are very cool, they are only cars, but the production considers them characters. It is pretty shoddy when you have to rely on cars as characters in a film (remember Gone in 60 Seconds).

The script by Donna Powers & Wayne Powers is not that well structured, and I didn't care for the weak Ukraine mobster subplot. Though the cast give the characters commendable flair, the script does not give the actors a lot to work with. There is also no real sense of urgency form the characters when their supposed motivation is to get revenge on Steve. The script is bland, even though it does offer some nice humor, which at times saves the film.

Gray's directorial work overshadows the sketchy script and most of the acting performances help out as well. The supporting performances are more enjoyable than anything else in the film. Seth Green is comically amusing as the computer hacker Lyle, who claims that he is the actual inventor of Napster. Jason Statham has such a nonchalant on screen persona that I knew it would not be long before he was cast in a heist movie. As Handsome Rob, Statham is charismatic and he gets drive some very slick automobiles. After making a splash in Brown Sugar last year, Mos Def continues to be invigorating as the explosions expert Left-Ear. The great Donald Sutherland is also well cast as the John, who is the mentor of the crew. Charlize Theron continues to engulf the screen with beauty and vulnerability as John's safecracking daughter, Stella. One of the film's downsides is that Edward Norton is way too talented to have such a bad role in this film. Norton does not deliver a poor performance, is just he does not have much of a character to work with. Steve is the stereotypical double-crossing villain that has cloaked the screen many times before. Mark Wahlberg also does not have much to work with as the leader of thieves, Charlie. Of all of the characters, Charlie is the least that we get to know, when he is supposed to be the most identifiable of the whole crew. On a good note, the cast does work well as a pleasing group ensemble, even though they all play criminals.

The Italian Job does have many entertaining moments, such as the car chases and explosive sequences. Also, watch closely at the end of the film during one of the explosions, a costumed Spider-Man is seen for a split second as an inside joke. Some of the film's best moments come from the humor by the supporting characters. As a heist movie, The Italian Job is typical, nothing fresh or very inventive. This is also a summer movie that falls into the problem of showing its whole premise in the preview trailer, so the outcomes are more predictable.

Grade: C+

05/30/03
By Joseph C. Tucker

One part “The Score”, two parts “Ocean’s Eleven”, a twist of “The Heist” and shake then serve chilled at a European locale. This is the almost recipe for “The Italian Job”.

“The Italian Job” is a film loosely inspired by the cult British film of the same name. In the way that “Ocean’s Eleven” was a remake of the Rat Pack classic of the same name, “The Italian Job” borrows a couple elements but never tries to clone the original.

In this version of “The Italian Job”, Mark Wahlberg plays Charlie Croker, a protégé to the infamous retiring thief master, John Bridger (Donald Sutherland). It’s John’s last heist and he hopes to bring in a haul worth $35 million dollars in gold. All John wants is to hug his now grown daughter, Stella (Charlize Theron) and retire into the shadows. But all goes to hell when a vindictive and jealous member of the gang, Steve (Edward Norton), decides to double-cross the team. John’s last mission ends in blood-shed and the team loses their 35 million dollar prize. Now it’s up to Charlie and the rest of his gang to take out Steve in one giant heist.

“The Italian Job” is a very subtle heavily encased heist film. There is a lot more talking and planning in this film then the actual action sequences. Because the film is laid out that way it makes sense to have assembled such a colorful cast.

In some ways the casting choices are great but the film also has some hang-ups. In the scenes with Edward Norton, you can definitely see his lack of enthusiasm with the role. There could have been so much more tension and poisoned-filled vengeance if Norton would have put more into the role.

The other casting hang-up is the romantic chemistry between Wahlberg and Theron. I really do like each actor a lot but I found it very hard to believe that there was anything more than a brother-sister or colleague kind of relationship. Did I miss something?

The great casting choices actually are in the film’s supporting cast. The chemistry between Seth Green’s techno-whiz, Napster and Jason Statham’s Handsome Rob were pure magic. These two really are the hi-lights of the movie. I really want to see more of both in the future. How about a Handsome Rob and Napster flick?

I really did enjoy the stunts and action sequences of the film. I especially enjoyed the new version of the Mini. To bad those cars weren’t in the “The Fast & the Furious”. “Italian Job” could have been in the same league as “The Fast & the Furious” if it would have relaxed a bit. I can just imagine what this film would have been like if it would have been revved up some.

(3 out of 5)

So Says the Soothsayer.

Dean Kish

Whalberg Stumbles But Italian Job Still Roars to Finish

Mark Whalberg seems to have a thing for remakes and characters named "Charlie." Three recent films of his have been remakes of classic 1960's pulp hits, Planet of the Apes, The Truth About Charlie (a remake of Charade) and now The Italian Job. In the latter two, he's played the main character, which just happens to be a chap named Charlie. Coincidence, or does the former leader of the Funky Bunch have a yen for that name?

Who knows. What I am certain of is that both of the former two remakes bordered on mediocre despite their talented directors (Tim Burton on the first, Jonathan Demme on the second). A big part of that had to do with the fact that, frankly, as the central lead in a feature film, Whalberg is sorely lacking in gravitas. He just doesn't hold your attention, and while he can be downright stunning in supporting roles - just check out Three Kings or Boogies Nights for proof there - he's just not leading man material.

No matter, because this time in F. Gary Gray's (The Negotiator, A Man Apart) remake the emotional void left at the center of the film by Whalberg's performance ends up not hurting all that much. Closing with one of the most entertainingly exuberant heists and chase sequences in recent memory, this is definitely a summer popcorn thriller that actually delivers on its promised smiles.

Whalberg plays master thief Charlie Croker. With his team of experts; inside man Steve Frezelli (Edward Norton), computer genius Lyle (Seth Green), wheelman Handsome Rob (Jason Statham), explosives guru Left-Ear (Mos Def) and veteran safecracker - and father figure - John Bridger (Donald Sutherland); Charlie pulls off the heist of his career in Venice. Stealing 35-million dollars worth of gold bullion without a single shot fired, he and his team are sitting on cloud nine with none of life's worries sitting on their radar.

Things for the team are perfect, but when Frezelli decides he'd rather not share, shooting Bridger and dumping the rest of them into a frozen lake, Charlie and his remaining team members have more problems than just trying to decide on how to spend their loot. In fact, the metallic haul is the last thing on their minds as finding Steve and exerting a proper form of payback becomes the chief topic of conversation. No matter how long it takes, no matter where he goes, this group will have its revenge.

The "how long" is one year and the "where" is Los Angeles. Charlie and his team find their old compatriot living the high life in the city of angels and, with Bridger's safecracker daughter Stella assisting them, they're off to spring the biggest con of their career and get back their stolen gold. And, hey, if they can execute just a wee bit of payback over their mentor's death, that would be good, too.

Loosely - very loosely - based on the 1969 Michael Caine thriller of the same name, The Italian Job is a rather rote caper thriller that gamely trots through all the motions. But with a final hour that borders on the excellent, Gray and company go beyond the film's humble start and survive their leading man's banality. And while that sounds like a backhanded compliment, it really isn't, because the goods really do get delivered.

It helps that the movie has such a game cast of character actors to help it along. Theron hasn't been this fun to watch in ages. Suffering through junk like Trapped and Waking Up in Reno, I'd almost forgotten how much I liked her. Even better, though, are Statham and Def. The former had a surprisingly entertaining success with last fall's The Transporter, and he just builds on that charisma this time around. Def had small roles in Showtime and Monster's Ball and Gray gives him the opportunity to breakout with this film, and the award-winning musician doesn't disappoint.

But the real showstopper is Green. Ever since he played Oz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I've been a huge fan of the pint-sized thespian. A gift for improvisation and a sure bet to bring energy and verve to every project he's in, Green makes hacker Lyle the film's true star. I loved the way he played off the movie's running gag about him and Napster creator Shawn Fanning (making a truly amusing cameo appearance), and his constant effervescence gives the picture a real shot in the arm.

Not faring quite as well is Norton. While always a treat for the eyes, the gifted actor is obviously going through the motions here. Upset with Paramount over having to complete his three-picture deal with this remake, Norton makes Steve an ineffectual villain to say the least. This is a guy I should have hated and wanted to see done in. Instead, all I could think to myself every time he was on screen was just how lucky Salma Hayek is to have the delicious hunk of a man laying beside her on a regular basis.

In any other movie, I'd have to believe that an uninteresting main character and an dreary rapscallion would sink the entire enterprise. Instead, Gray stages the most audacious car chase in recent memory. Using the original's central conceit of a traffic jam to end all traffic jams, The Italian Job features a chase through the congested streets of downtown Los Angeles. Using red, white and blue Mini Coopers (same as the 69' original), Gray sends his cast down the walk of fame, in and out of subway tunnels, and racing though viaducts.

It's so much fun to watch I didn't really care that the entire sequence was really nothing more than an extended car commercial. And even if this movie does end up increasing sales for the undeniably cute little car - I admit I sort of want one now - I'm not going to cry foul too loudly as I was just so darned entertained by it all.

Still, I don't want to be unclear: The Italian Job is not a great - or really even a good - movie. It's fun on the eyes and some of the performances border on excellent, but it is just too bad the central character doesn't register. But with the year's best chase sequence - and yes, I'm including The Matrix sequel in that assessment - Gray and company more than get the job done. The Italian Job may not start a renaissance in heist films, but it sure as heck kept me entertained. On that level, it more than passes the requisite summer popcorn movie interview.

Sara Michelle Fetters

After pulling off an elaborate job in Venice with a $32 million dollars worth of gold bullion as the score, Charlie (Wahlberg), Lyle (Green), Handsome Rob (Statham), Left Ear (Def) and John (Sutherland) are planning what they are going to spend their share on. What they didn’t plan for was the last member of the gang, Steve (Norton) double crossing them and taking the loot for himself. One year later, Charlie finally tracks down Steve to L.A. and starts formulating a plan to get revenge by getting the gold back.

Remaking a movie that has become a British institution, where does Hollywood get the nerve? Well that’s what everyone thought until you actually see it.

The film should be labelled “inspired by” and not a remake as it only has four things in common with the original 1969 classic, the title, the Charlie Croker character, the gold and the minis. Everything else is different. There is an opening heist in Venice, where the movie gets its title but the rest of the film takes place in the US. While there is an injection of humour, mainly coming from the banter between the supporting cast, the film is played straighter than the tongue in cheek original but it benefits from this as it distances itself from any preconceptions you may have had.

The cast is good and easy to get behind. Mark Wahlberg doesn’t have the charisma or style of the 1960s Michael Caine but this is a decent role for the actor. He is the apprentice taking over the reigns from the master and even though he is slightly too young for the part, Wahlberg plays the leader well. Jason Statham is making a name for himself in Hollywood playing the hard Brit with a certain amount of humour and cool. Seth Green is a good as always as the obsessed computer nerd with a grudge and is the brunt of most of the jokes. Charlize Theron is a beautiful as ever playing safecracker Stella and Edward Norton, even under contractual obligation and on autopilot, brings abit of class and menace to any screen villain.

The movie comes into its own when the real stars take centre stage, the Mini Coopers. The car chases above and below the streets of Los Angeles are terrific, showing what good stunt driving can really do without the need for any computer enhancement.

This version of the Italian Job is more akin to the Ocean’s 11 remake. While it doesn’t have the style and flare of the Steven Soderbergh homage, director F. Gary Gray has done enough to make this movie suitably different as to not offend fans of the original nd give new audiences a really good time.

Those of you how are saying “I’m not going to see that” because of a heart felt feeling of patriotism should think again, this update is pleasantly entertaining and really has nothing to do with the movie that you love and treasure. Now where is the nearest Mini dealership?

Star Rating = * * * *

Jamie Kelwick

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