by rick grant rickgrant01@comcast.net
B Rated R 110 min
This heist film is based on an incredible true story. Set in London circa 1971 at the Lloyds Bank in Marylebone, London, the details of this actual heist are so bizarre it could only happen in real life. No writer’s imagination could dream up this twisty bank robbery story that involves compromising photos of Princess Margaret, an MI5 black ops unit, former model Martine Love (Saffron Burrows), and a gang of petty street criminals.
Terry (Jason Statham) is a petty crook that wants to settle down with his new family. He sells cars from a chop shop and is on the hook to some nasty shylocks. His ex-girlfriend, Martine, approaches him with a choice bank robbery that involves a period of time when the bank’s alarm system is down. The plan is to tunnel into the vault from a store and steal the contents of the safe deposit boxes. The way she sells it, it would be a crime not to do the robbery.
But what Terry and his mates don’t know is the MI5 spooks are following the operation to recover photos that would embarrass the Crown. Of course it doesn’t take this street savvy crook long to figure out that there’s more to this bank job than just money and jewels. But Terry is in a bind and needs the money, so Martine and Terry’s crew start planning the operation with military like precision.
Statham looks properly sleazy in his dark stubble and proves that he is more than an action star by playing an interesting character. Terry has recently settled down with his wife and kids, so this job is a big risk for him and he doesn’t want to blow it. Statham plays Terry with depth and subtlety.
Director Roger Donaldson’s deft attention to detail and savvy scenecrafting move the scenario with even pacing and unexpected surprises. The supporting cast superbly plays their roles with British-styled droll humor. In fact, the movie harkens back to the old British heist films of the 70s. The fashions and mod backgrounds of the era were accurately represented by the artistic designer of the film. In one scene there are John and Yoko look-alikes to add to the era’s sense of time and place.
Ironically, Terry and his gang turn out to be criminal lightweights compared to the people who have stored secrets inside the safe deposit boxes. The robbery uncovers a host of stored evidence that could ruin many upstanding British aristocrats. Also, the gang uncovers a payoff ledger that belongs to a nightclub owner who has been paying off high-level police officials to operate his sex club with impunity. The madam of the establishment also has photos of high-ranking government officials engaging in kinky sex acts.
The gang is suddenly more worried about retribution from the safe deposit box holders than the police. The MI5 operation is compromised by a leak to the media and the whole scheme blows up in their faces. Now a contingent of bad guys wants blood from Terry’s crew, the cops are clueless, and MI5 is trying to prevent more damage. The story shifts and twists with many surprises.
Overall, this is the true story of a slick and complex heist that almost brought down the British government, and it is told well in this film.
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