The Italian Job

release year: 2003
genre: crime action
viewing setting: home DVD, 5/27/13 and theater, 6/28/2003

synopsis: After a $35 million gold heist, a team of thieves is double-crossed; a year later, they begin plotting to get their gold back.

impressions: Good crime caper. It had a lot of neat planning and execution stuff. There were some good driving/chase scenes too. Last but not least, there were plenty of funny scenes and lines scattered throughout.

things to watch for: The big chase at the end.

something this movie has that no other movie has: A trio of customized Mini Coopers in a long chase through a subway and on the streets.

acting: Mark Wahlberg did a good job as the leader (or should I say successor to the leader.) Jason Statham (see The Transporter) made a convincing and funny getaway driver. Charlize Theron was okay as the daughter of the team's slain boss, and a safecracker besides. Seth Green was annoying as a computer hacker, and the Napster joke got old. Edward Norton did a good job as the unpleasant a-hole traitor bad guy. Rapper Mos Def was the explosives expert, and actually had a good low-key role.

final word: Good caper/chase flick.

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