Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 24, 2008 11:21:11 PM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

« Back to the grid | Next story »

All in All, Not a Bad Job

Posted Mar 7, 08 7:35 AM CST in Arts & Living 

(Newser) – You probably won't ponder The Bank Job once you've left the theater, but most critics say you're likely to enjoy it while you're there. The heist film, very loosely based on a real bank robbery that happened in London in 1971—which captivated the public because of its rumored connection to the royal family—is "fun but instantly forgettable," writes Jamie Russell in Total Film.

Featuring brisk action, great one-liners, and a '70s vibe that Russell calls "depressingly unironic," the movie has a "good enough plot to keep you watching and wondering," writes Derek Malcolm of the UK's Evening Standard. And while star Jason Statham isn't exactly Daniel Day-Lewis, says Josh Larson in the Naperville Sun, he's convincing enough as a small-time crook in over his head that you'll hope "his Dungeon Siege days are behind him."

Sources Rotten Tomatoes, Total Film, Evening Standard (UK), The Herald News

0 comments | Print E-mail | Digg Seed this on Newsvine Add this link to Del.icio.us StumbleUpon

Related Newser Stories

  • Chan-Li Vehicle Stuck in Neutral

    Apr 18, 08 12:20 PM CDT
    Chan-Li Vehicle Stuck in Neutral The Forbidden Kingdom, packing the one-two punch of Jackie Chan and Jet Li, is "great fun," David Edelstein writes in New York, once the martial-arts flick gets past "the clunky prologue." Other critics are a little more reserved in praising the film, about a modern-day teenager who's magically transported to ancient China and swept up in adventure. More »

  • 13 Must-See Heist Movies

    Mar 13, 08 11:11 AM CDT
    Did The Bank Job leave you itching for more scheme-heavy heist films? Entertainment Weekly names 13 greats:

    1. Ocean's Eleven: Ex-con George Clooney gathers a gang to filch $150 million and get back his girl, Julia Roberts.
    2. A Fish Called Wanda: John Cleese and Jamie Lee Curtis are among the double-crossers vying for stolen jewels.
    3. How to Steal a Million: An art forger's daughter (Audrey Hepburn) joins forces with suave cat burglar Peter O'Toole.
    More »

  • B.C. a Mammoth Waste of Time

    Mar 7, 08 10:58 AM CST
    B.C. a Mammoth Waste of Time The prehistoric adventure 10,000 B.C. isn't just a spectacle of cutting-edge effects, it's "a tedious bore in which grubby people stand around muttering in a variety of badly chosen accents," writes Josh Tyler in Cinema Blend. Unfortunately for writer/director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow), most other critics seem to agree. More »

  • Action Makes a Good Point

    Feb 22, 08 2:20 PM CST
    Action Makes a Good Point It may lack depth, but critics admit that Vantage Point packs a lot of excitement. The thriller, which begins by showing the same assassination from eight different perspectives, "fails the 'reality test' but maintains a certain intensity for its entire running length," writes James Berardinelli of ReelViews.com. "It's entertaining in the same way that an episode of 24 is entertaining." More »

  • 10 Films Every Man Should See

    Feb 12, 08 3:03 PM CST
    Don't worry if you haven't seen any Oscar contenders, says GQ, offering 10 flicks every self-respecting guy should see. Count on blood, revenge, and a little male bonding:

    1. Rififi (1955): Trade Ocean's 11 for this heist masterpiece
    2. Croupier (1998): In his breakthrough role, Clive Owen is the model of cool
    3. The Limey (1999): A Cockney ex-con hungers for vengeance
    More »

In this image released by Lionsgate Films, Jason Statham is shown in a scene from "The Bank Job". (AP Photo/Lionsgate Films, Jack English)   (Associated Press)
Actors Saffron Burrows and Jason Statham attend a Cinema Society screening of "The Bank Job" at the Bryant Park Hotel, Monday, March 3, 2008 in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
"The Bank Job" trailer.   (TrailerGott (YouTube))

« Prev « Prev  |  Next » Next »
Our editors also recommend:

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

London  • British royals  • action movie  • guy movies  • heist


Loading...

Loading...

Today's Most Popular


Other Arts & Living Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »