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The Italian Job
Directed by: F.
Gary Gray
Written
by:
Troy
Kennedy-Martin (1969 original),
Donna Powers and Wayne Powers
Starring: Mark
Wahlberg (Charlie), Charlize Theron (Stella), Donald Sutherland
(John), Ed Norton (Steve), Mos Def (Left Ear), Jason Statham
(Handsome Rob), Seth Green (Lyle "Napster")
Special Appearance by: Shawn Fanning as himself
Review by : Troy
Brownfield
There's
absolutely nothing in "The Italian Job" that you
haven't seen before. And that's all right. "The Italian
Job" is a fun, slick heist movie that celebrates fun,
slick heist movies. It's enough that the various tropes are
recognized (the initial heist, the betrayal, the team introductions,
the new member, the blown set-up, the first reveal, the switch,
the actual execution of the Big Plan, the chase, and the wrap-up).
For a similar blueprint, witness the Soderbergh/Clooney "Ocean's
11", which also remade a great earlier heist film and
reveled in its very heist-filmness. "Italian Job"
isn't as hip or smooth as "11", but it's fun and
powered by a solid cast.
The biggest
asset to the cast, aside from an early gratuitous scene of
Charlize Theron in boxers and a tank top in a cold room, is
Seth Green. Green is hilarious as Lyle, the team tech that
insists that he invented Napster. To underscore this, a flashback
reveals actual Napster founder Shawn Fanning stealing the
technology from his sleeping roommate. (If you don't get why
the whole tech nerd/Napster/theft connection is funny, why
are you even here?)
Also lending
some cool to the cast are rapper/poet Mos Def as the demolition
man and Jason "The Transporter" Statham as Handsome
Rob. While Statham doesn't get to kick his usual amount of
ass, it's nice to see him getting visible gigs in high-profile
productions. The usually dependable Ed Norton doesn't get
to do much but play oily, but he does it well.
"The
Italian Job" isn't the best movie of a crowded summer
season, but it's certainly fun. And with some of what Hollywood
is shovelling this year, that's quite the accomplishment.
Troy's the Editor-in-Chief. He and a crew pulled a heist once.
You can email him here.
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