The Bank Job on DVD (2008)

* * * This review contains spoilers * * *

CashOnTheNail from Manchester [Highly rated reviewer] , 24/03/2008

Shifty car-dealer Jason Stantham [Transporter], harassed to repay loan-shark, is approached by Saffron Burrows [Perfect Creature] to rob the security-boxes stored in the basement of the Marylebone branch of Lloyds Bank. Saffron, in turn, is the victim of corrupt officials planting drugs in her luggage forcing her to recover incriminating-photographs held by Jamaican drug-dealer & pimp Colin Salmon [Freeze Frame] with the help of her known underworld-associates. MI5... seeking 'clean hands' wants nothing to do with the recovery of photographs though lends asistance from-a-distance.

Unbeknown to Jason & his crew, the haul of cash... contains photographs of politicians in compromising-positions with hookers, pay-off [e.g., corrupt Met' Police officers] book held by sleezy strip-club owner David Suchet [Executive Decision]...

Seperated Muslim friend was embarrased by scenes of nudity & confirmed her teenage-kids [youngest 14, eldest 19] would not get to see the DVD; 15-rating should be considered 18 if you are in any way prudish or offended by violence.

  63 out of 68 people found this review helpful

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PaulaWestwood from Ashton-Under-Lyne [Highly rated reviewer] , 07/03/2008

Theres something about these British robber films, like this and The Great Train Robbers etc' that just have an atmosphere - something less violent than our U.S. counterparts, but menacing nevertheless. And this one is no exception, as it captures the period superbly. The whole thing is fantastic as a film in its own right, but the fact that it is a 'let the cat out of the bag' based on real events film makes it all the more interesting and worthy of a watch. Put that with the fact that Jason Statham has had parts like these in a bag for some time now, and again does not let us down, this is well worthy of a watch.

  47 out of 48 people found this review helpful

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Martin77 from PLYMOUTH [Highly rated reviewer] , 02/07/2008

not exactly awful ( apart from Saffron Burrows who can't act her way out of a paper bag ) but all in all this was so poor that I switched off before the end. Not remotely authentic though there was a good story in there shouting to be let out. You could put 2 or 3 episodes of The Sweeney or Minder back to back and they would have been better than this feeble effort.

  31 out of 33 people found this review helpful

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A customer from SW London , 09/03/2008

This is one of the best British movies I have seen in ages! What makes it more interesting is that it is based on true events. To say that is a bank heist gone wrong, but actually not is an understatement. Simply because this wasn't just any straight forward bank job. For details I would strongly recommend that you watch the movie, it will be worth your while! As far as the robbers are concerned, except for about 3 members or so who couldn't escape the snatch of death the rest of the robbers are probably the luckiest thieves in history having got away with their freedom and money. What's even more amazing is that these thieves were amateurs of the worst kind: you have to be to think of using walkie talkies while robbing a bank!!!!Clueless!

  28 out of 28 people found this review helpful

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Bots from Leeds , 09/10/2008

The lack of imagination with the naming of this film says everything about its flaws. Although a very good premise, based on a true event, you can't help but imagine what a better fimmaker could have done for a movie like this. The whole film came across as a 'Lock Stock..' minus the humour, and the casting of Statham didn't help in trying to remember this wasn't anything to do with Guy Ritchie. The rule seems to be...if you are making a film about London wide boys caught up in major crimes, then the song must only be sung one way. Wrong!!

Better fimmakers have proven that, given a simple premise, a gem can be created with innovation and imagination. Just look at what Michael Mann did for the crime genre with 'Heat'. Maybe in this country, we're only capable of the Ritchie style of modern crime drama...which to be honest, does get boring after a while.

A cracking story delivered on a plate...a mediocre movie which you will soon forget. A great shame.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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Kwaz from Tonbridge , 08/10/2008

I wasn't sure when I rented 'The Bank Job' that I was going to enjoy it. However it pulled up to what I what I wanted, with a good mix of characters who compliment each other well. The heist is based on a true event, with the background and in's and out's of the story being fiction (as far as anyone knows...) which makes for a believable plot. There's a few slip ups you may notice throughout where you're left wondering why a character hasn't worked something out already, although this doesn't detract much from the overall viewing. I've given the film 4 stars but I'd go more 3.5-4 It's essentially an easy to watch film and not just for those who like the typical hiest/crime films. Worth a watch if you've got a an hour and bit spare.

  1 out of 1 person found this review helpful

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