The Italian Job

I always enjoy myself when seeing this movie. "The Italian Job" was different from "Ocean's Eleven" and it contained a great cast who played entertaining characters. Whereas "Ocean's Eleven" is full of many big Hollywood stars and has a high sense of glamour, "The Italian Job" takes the realistic approach. You have a great story that stems from the original 1969 British film. This 2003 version is said to be more like an homage to that other movie.

One way to justify a character's actions and choices in a heist movie is to have the thieves steal from a guy who deserves to be robbed. This was the case with the British film and it is carried over in this remake. The opening scenes are fun, action filled and set up the movie very well. There is a great relationship between John & Charlie and this was paramount for a story of vengeance (please excuse the paramount pun). I love the shot that moves out of the water up to the sky over Venice and silently transitions down to the Alps. Usually when you are introduced to the team of thieves in the heist genre, it takes place quite early. In this movie however, by the time Charlie introduces Stella to the guys, we feel as if we already know them well enough. This actually helps the sequence because their back stories reveal why the characters are so appealing. Speaking of back stories, I find it funny how the creators of Napster (Shawn Fanning and Sean Parker) are always antagonists when portrayed in the movies. The big surprise for me at least is that it is the real Shawn Fanning playing himself. I like how in "The Italian Job", Steve uses the gold to buy what everyone else in the team wanted. It makes the job even more personal. Wrench is a fun character, especially in the scene when he tries to hit on Stella. He is disappointed that he was shot down but knows when to quit unlike Steve. The cable repair scene has suspense and humor so that is an entertaining moment in the film. Every heist movie has to contain a major set back for the plan of our main characters. The party near Steve's house and the moment when Stella is recognized make it appear that the jig is up for Charlie & his friends. I also like the Ukrainian mob subplot because it adds suspense. It is portrayed as another problem as we approach the climax.

The climax is very typical for this genre but only in story structure. The climax feels original and that is what matters. The complications of the three trucks, the motorcyclists and the new safe add fun in that they are ultimately overcome. I like how Wrench is walking away during the explosion and the lines "27 million"/"Say it again!" When Stella agreed to help take down Steve towards the start of "The Italian Job", she says that she wants to see Steve's face when his gold is taken. When you think about it, she is making a deal with Charlie in this moment. She will help in exchange for a confrontation with Steve. In the climax when Stella mentions that she is thinking about the look of Steve's face, it is a subtle hint concerning the ending because she is reminding Charlie that his end of the deal still needs to be realized. The punch at the end of the movie symbolizes that both Charlie and Stella have made good on their ends. It truly isn't about the gold because Charlie makes high paying deals with Wrench and others. It is fitting that Steve creates his own downfall. The romance in the movie works because it is not a focus in the movie. It is a subplot that exists only so that a happy ending will be achieved.

As mentioned, the cast and characters have very high entertainment value. Future Oscar-nominee Mark Walberg does his job as leader and Charlize Theron was also a great choice. Theron would win an Oscar that same year by the way for "Monster". Even though Donald Sutherland only appears at the beginning, he is very likable and charming. His character didn't deserve to die which is the whole point of the movie and this is thanks to Sutherland's performance. "The Italian Job" was my intro to Jason Statham who has developed a tough man persona in Hollywood. He would later be cast in the "Furious" franchise so his role in this movie is perfect. "The Italian Job" was also my first time seeing Edward Norton. I like Norton playing a bad guy. Seth Green has been in this kind of role before on "Enemy of the State". He added a lot of fun to the movie and his best scene is when he does voice over for the conversation between Becky and Handsome Rob. Another great character is Skinny Pete. I find it ironic that he doesn't say the F-word when saying not to mess with Ukrainians because Skinny Pete is the roughest looking character in the show. Despite the irony, I am glad his dialgue was changed in post production because it proves that you don't have to swear in movies to entertain. The line is just as funny if not funnier without it. This is yet another great score from composer John Powell.

If you want humor, action and suspense, "The Italian Job" has those qualities. The cast and characters work perfectly with the story. This is a usual plot for a heist movie but originality exists.

4 Stars