Undoubtedly, if you've had your radio on to NPR or any other movie reviewer, you've probably already heard a bit about this tight British heist flick based (loosely?) on the 1971 Lloyds Bank "walkie talkie" robbery, worth over 4 millions pounds today. So, here's my nickel (inflation has driven up the cost from two cents).
We start with a scene of bacchanalian fun in the Carribean, 1970. 2 women and a man are, shall we say, enjoying themselves, while they are erstwhile photographed.
Flash forward to 1971, London town.
Terry Leather (Jason Statham in his usual gruff but ultra-fit role) is a small time hood who'd been trying to go clean, but can't. Kevin and Dave are his chums from old times, also now on the up and up. Martine (Saffron Burrows, lately of Reign Over Me and Boston Legal) is the old girl of the group, turned fashion model turned drug runner. She gets caught by the "Old Bill," as the Brits like to call their "coppers," amongst other terms. Her way out is through an old associate, Tim, now a man on his way up through the ranks of MI5 (not 007's branch, the other one)...
You see, the photos from the intro are now in the hands of one "Michael X," a Trinidadian black freedom fighter-cum-slumlord-pimp; however, as long as Michael has the pics, he runs free. Solution: get the pics without linking it back to MI5. Along the way, we also meet a porn king, Lou Vogel, and his head madame, Sonya Bern, who have some savory records on Scotland Yard and the British gov't themselves.
Tim sets the gears in motion, as Martine entices Terry and the boys for this job.
Wait, what's the job again? Ahh, right, all these villains all bank at the Lloyds Bank at 185 Baker Street. Get the safety deposit boxes, get the goods.
Though, the lads don't know this. They think they're just going to get millions in cash and goods that no one wants anyone to know about (that part's right, too). Recruit a snooty conman and a foreign digger (let's call him a basher, shall we?) and our job is on its way.
OK, so it's a little bit of Bond meets Ocean's 11, but it's still good fun.
If you're head is spinning by now, not without reason. From here, things move more clearly straight ahead. Boys get the loot (albeit despite a HAM radio operator who happens to catch their walkie talkie com's but can't help the cops to pinpoint where it's all going down), everyone pursues. Can they all get away?
Before I comment on the film directly, a brief commentary on the "based on" tale. The writers, best known in the US for the Nick Park cartoon Flushed Away, say they got a hold of the original tapes of the HAM radio operator, as well as someone in on the original investigation. However, most of the details are lost because, well, about 2 days after the heist was pulled, the Brits issued a "D-notice" --- a press gag order on the whole deal, silencing coverage under terms of national security. So, who's to say what really happened? Still, probably no one in the States will linger on this (particularly as few even remember Princess Margaret or care about any menage a trois she had).
Back to the review. There have been contrasts to Ocean's 11, as this has more edge and seriousness. There will be comparisons to Guy Ritchie's better works, Lock Stock and 2 Smoking Barrels and Snatch, not only because Statham is in all three but because of the swirling stories, the rapid but efficient pacing, and the theme. These are all fair comparisons, but this is a film that stands well on its own. A bit graphic for effect, at times (the first thing we see is a topless form in the water, and later we see what a British brothel for politicos is like), it is well done. The only extraneous part is a side story of a female agent who has infiltrated Micheal X's inner circle --- the entire story line could and should have been deleted, with no loss to the film.
Aside from that, it's fun - sure, mostly foreseeable, but not predictable (filmmakers want you to be able to see where the film is going, but not know it by certainty). Probably one of the more fun big screen flicks this year. If you want fun with a shot of adrenaline, this is the ticket.
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