I was going to say that The Bank Job was the first ‘drama’ that Jason Statham has been in, but a quick IMDb search put the kibosh on that. Perhaps, this is the first non-action driven movie that Statham has bothered to star in. Whatever the case may be, I dug this movie quite a bit. I learned the term ‘mutton digger’ from this film and for that I am forever grateful. It requires no explanation.
The movie is a loosely based upon the 1971 robbery of a London bank. The heist goes off beautifully until the robbers’ walkie talkies are picked up by a local Ham Radio operator. The robbery allegedly has national security implications and the press is quickly gagged. As if that weren’t enough, Statham’s crew is also pursued by a sadistic bookie, crooked cops, and agents from MI5. Did I mention there was a cute girl (Saffron Burrows) in it?
I wouldn’t say the film is extremely well acted, but the characters have that John Cleese sort of humor that keeps my attention. Well, everyone except the David X character. He seemed like a caricature if anything. Statham appears extremely calm throughout the film. His voice and his eyes do all the acting for him. Diehard Statham fans may lament the lack of kicks, punches, and headbutts until the last 10 minutes of the film. I have a feeling that Statham wrote that short sequence into his contract, ‘I must be able to hit a dude with a brick - or I walk.’
The story moves along briskly and does not lag. You get from concept to plan to caper to chase to resolution on schedule, much like the MTA train from New Haven to Grand Central. I find this extremely important to a movie like this. This is not the place for introspective monologues or cathartic breakdowns. I’d like to thank the director and editor for their work here.
The Bank Job is simultaneously plausible, wrly funny, and compelling. You may be tempted to draw parallels to Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, but this film does not rely on slapstick or unintelligible accents to entertain. The plot is simple, the twists are predictable, and it all works. A caper film without all the Hollywood flash - trailer below:
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