The Score (2001)

An aging thief hopes to retire and live off his ill-gotten wealth when a young kid convinces him into doing one last heist.

Director:

Frank Oz

Writers:

Daniel E. Taylor (story), Kario Salem (story),

Stars:

Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Marlon Brando

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert De Niro	...	Nick Wells
Edward Norton	...	Jack Teller
Marlon Brando	...	Max
Angela Bassett	...	Diane
Gary Farmer	...	Burt
Paul Soles	...	Danny
Jamie Harrold	...	Steven
Serge Houde	...	Laurent
Jean-René Ouellet	...	André (as Jean Rene Ouellet)
Martin Drainville	...	Jean-Claude
Claude Despins	...	Albert
Richard Waugh	...	Sapperstein
Mark Camacho	...	Sapperstein's Cousin
Marie-Josée Colburn	...	Woman in Study (as Marie-Josee D'Amours)
Gavin Svensson	...	Man in Study

Storyline

Nick Wells, a professional criminal, decides to leave the business for good, since he nearly got caught on his last job. His plan is to live in peace with his girl Diane, running his Montreal jazz club. Soon afterward, Max, his good friend and financial partner, comes along with an offer Nick can't refuse: A historical and priceless French scepter has been discovered while being smuggled into the country. It is now under massive surveillance in the Montreal Customs House, and soon to be returned to France. Nick has to team up with Max's man inside, the young, talented and aggressive thief Jack Teller to get the precious item. Only one question remains: Who will trick whom out of their share?

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Plot Keywords:

thief | scepter | customs house | jazz club | heist | 

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Taglines:

There are no partners in crime

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Genres:

Action | Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English French

Release Date:

13 July 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Cartada Final

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$68,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$184,599 (Netherlands) (2 November 2001)

Gross:

$1,649,345 (Italy) (2 November 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Mandalay Pictures, Horseshoe Bay Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first scene with Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro talking at a table was shot with DeNiro on a tight schedule, giving the filmmakers only 30 minutes to set up the cameras and lighting.

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Goofs

When Nick uses water from the fire sprinkler system to fill the safe, that should have triggered a water flow alarm. There is a detection switch that sounds an alarm if water begins flowing through the system (as this is typically caused by a sprinkler head discharging water to put out a fire), which would summon the Fire Department. In addition the water flowing out of the pipe should have been a dark brown color, not crystal clear as shown in the movie. The stagnant water in fire sprinkler systems always contains high amounts of rust, pipe oil, pipe sealant, and other sediment.

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Quotes

Max: [to Jack] You're not old enough to know where your dick is!

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Connections

References Hannibal (2001)

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Soundtracks

"Easy Living"
Written by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger
Performed by Clifford Brown
Courtesy of Blue Note Records, a division of Capitol Records, Inc., under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

User Reviews

conventional but stylish caper film

`The Score' is a fun, stylish return to the `Rififi,' `Topkapi' school of crime drama. The object of this particular heist is a 17th Century royal scepter from France that happens to be languishing in the basement of the Montreal customhouse just asking to be taken. One of the would-be takers is Nick Wells (Robert De Niro), a seasoned heister dreaming of the quiet life of retirement but compelled to do this one last job as a favor to Max (Marlon Brando), an old buddy in hock to some pretty dangerous mob figures. Completing the triangle is Jack Teller (Edward Norton), a brilliant but brash young criminal mastermind whose high-risk temperament is placed in direct counterpoint to Nick's cool, levelheaded demeanor.

Perhaps the most amazing triumph for director Frank Oz is his success at pulling together this impressive cast of stellar heavyweights who cut across three generations of movie acting. Of course, one might wish to see them in roles more demanding of their thespian talents, but we moviegoers will take these three superstars any way we can get them. And `The Score' is certainly very entertaining on its own terms. The technical elements involved in the planning of the heist are beautifully detailed from start to finish. And Oz generates genuinely nail-biting suspense in many sequences involving close quarters and close calls. In addition, the Montreal setting is novel and fresh and it is enhanced by some very impressive wide screen photography.

A film like `The Score' lives or dies based on the intricacy of its plotting and the expertise of its craft. In both cases, `The Score' excels as an outstanding example of this noble and time-honored genre. And watching these three acting giants doing their thing in a movie together is OUR well-earned reward.