Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Mark Wahlberg | ... | Charlie Croker | |
Charlize Theron | ... | Stella Bridger | |
Donald Sutherland | ... | John Bridger | |
Jason Statham | ... | Handsome Rob | |
Seth Green | ... | Lyle | |
Yasiin Bey | ... | Left Ear (as Mos Def) | |
Edward Norton | ... | Steve | |
Fausto Callegarini | ... | Italian Guard | |
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Stefano Petronelli | ... | Garbageman / Thug |
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Fabio Scarpa | ... | Garbageman / Thug |
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Cristiano Bonora | ... | Garbageman / Thug |
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Tiberio Greco | ... | Garbageman / Thug |
Jimmy Shubert | ... | First Detective | |
Tammi Cubilette | ... | Second Detective | |
Mary Portser | ... | Stella's Receptionist |
Led by John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) and Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) a team is assembled for one last heist to steal $35 million in gold bars from a heavily guarded safe in Venice, Italy. After successfully pulling off the heist, a team member, Steve (Edward Norton), driven by greed and jealousy, arranges to take the gold for himself and eliminate the remaining members of the group. Thinking the team dead, he returns to Los Angeles with the gold. Charlie and the survivors of this betrayal follow Steve to L.A. to exact revenge against the traitor. Charlie enlists the help of John Bridger's daughter, Stella (Charlize Theron) - a professional safe cracker - to get revenge. With Stella and the hacking skills of Lyle (Seth Green), the explosives skills of "Left Ear" (Yasiin Bey), and the driving skills of "Handsome" Rob (Jason Statham) this new team plans and executes a daring heist that weaves through the freeways and subways of L.A. Written by CKnapp
The original 1969 film offered something different. Set mostly in Turin-Italy the film is about a group of clumsy English villains who set out to grab a stash of gold bullion during transit. They find themselves up against it with both the Mafia and the Italian authorities. Much of the film is very typically British from the cast and their accents to the Austin Mini cars (red, white and blue with GB stickers on the back!).
This is one of the few films I can think of that doesn't have a happy ending but it does have the feel good factor and an excellent cliff hanger to boot. When viewed today it obviously lacks some of the refinements we have come to expect from the typical Hollywood blockbuster, some of the acting and camera shots are laughable. However 35 years on it still hold it's own and has many merits including...
Good music Lovely cars 60's Fashion Stunning backdrops Good stunts Original and plausible plot Memorable cliff hanger
A very British film with plenty of character 8/10
The new film is very different to the original movie. In fact most of the good features that the original had going for it were lost. In it's place is a blatant marketing exercise for the new BMW mini mixed in with some good but uninspiring action sequences. The new film starts in Italy but then moves to the U.S. which for me misses the point slightly. I found that the plot involving the traffic light control method used in the new film to be rather geeky and unbelievable at best (another feature that worked better in the old film).
Despite it's faults the film contains some nice action sequences and is watchable (although one viewing is more than enough).
If I hadn't already seen it all before, by itself this might be a great film. However I have and this isn't. 5/10