The Bank Job (Review)

Like a real bank job – that being an occupation in the banking industry and not a hold up of a financial institution – here is a film that is quite dry and process driven, often even a little boring, but with a few moments that are racier and action packed than the standard customer might expect.

Like that other bank job it’s OK for a while but drags on the longer it continues, until you wish it would just stop already. When it does, you are neither relieved nor depressed…

Set in the 70s world of luxurious sideburns, interesting apparel and obvious comb-overs, this particular bank job covers the more informal interpretation of the title, that being the theft of goods held within the confines of a local banking institution in London by a small group of perpetrators.

The leader of the hastily thrown together ‘gang’ is Terry (Jason Statham), a hard working family guy who has left his chequered past behind him, until approached by Martine (Saffron Burrows) who has an opportunity that appears on the surface to be too good to pass up. (It also helps by being delivered in the guise of Saffron Burrows at least, most offers would appear too good to pass up.)

But this one really is. It seems an unassuming branch of a local bank actually holds a veritable treasure trove in its safety deposit box room, and as good fortune would have it local works have meant that the alarms and security are offline for a short while, which no-one aside from ‘those in the know’, know.

This brief period of vulnerability affords Terry and Co a one-off chance for a hard earned ‘lucky dip’ at the contents of the vault, and with Terry already in ‘financial difficulty’ at the hands of some local heavies he decides that the purse is worth the risk.

In a short span of time the crew forms like Voltron, makes a plan and gets to work. But that’s the simple part, the behind the scenes ramifications are far more wide reaching.

It seems that as with every vault the assets, documents and lodgments held within are of extreme importance to the depositors – kinda why they are placed there – some of the ‘interested parties’ of this particular facility have boxes filled with things that would not benefit them if the information, photos and records were made public. This sets in motion investigations, cover ups and agreements between a wide array of people from all walks of life. Politicians, black militants, business owners (where the businesses are not especially above board), crooked cops and straight up criminals are all hurriedly positioning themselves behind the scenes to ensure that once the team emerge Groundhog Day style from their job that they are up against a hell of a lot more than they bargained for.

Now most visits to the bank are at best dull and drawn out affairs and this film isn’t immune from those moments, although labyrinthine and using the usual disclaimer ridden ‘based upon’ true events moniker The Bank Job is a little tedious at times, especially with the sheer number of people who know exactly what is going on but apparently aren’t in a position to do much about it. In at attempt to remedy this the film boasts sporadic acts of violence and occasional nudity but in the main the pace is better described as plodding.

But the pacing isn’t the film’s biggest problem, for a film supposedly based upon true events The Bank Job demands a logical flexibility that my tiny brain simply couldn’t accommodate. I can put up with some misinformation and ineptitude in order to further a plot and heighten tension but at times a total absence of common sense is just too much for me to handle, and might I say that there are only so many minor miracles that are allowed before my right eyebrow raises ever so slightly?

On top of all this some of the acting is at various times noticeably amateurish and ragged, again it’s forgivable if the action and events are entertaining or fast moving enough to convince you that is isn’t important, but no good when things are already a little bland and unconvincing to start with. Statham does his usual decent job of playing himself, Saffy Burrows is pleasant to look at even if her role is hardly necessary and the rest of the actors vacillate between forgettable and ordinary.

Again as it is with real life, a bank job is a decent way to fill the hours and kill some time, but in the long haul there isn’t quite enough to hang around for the long haul, especially when at 2 hours they ask that you stand in a queue for 30 minutes longer than necessary for something that wasn’t that rewarding in the first place.

Final Rating – 6.5 / 10. Statham tries his hand at a more straightforward drama. The end result is OK but not nearly Statham-y enough to demand attention.

About OGR

While I try to throw a joke or two into proceedings when I can all of the opinions presented in my reviews are genuine. I don't expect that all will agree with my thoughts at all times nor would it be any fun if you did, so don't be shy in telling me where you think I went wrong... and hopefully if you think I got it right for once. Don't be shy, half the fun is in the conversation after the movie.
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