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Poster (c) Paramount Pictures
Move over, Sharon Stone! Somebody who was once at the top of their game is now reduced to this. Yes, I’m talking to you, Charlize Theron. Of course, it isn’t as bad as an amorous night with the little AOL man, but when you’re second billed to MARK WAHLBERG, your career’s in hock. Although when other actors such as Seth Green, Donald Sutherland, and Jason Statham, you can look and see that it’s not all bad.
What I’m talking about it The Italian Job, F. Gary Gray’s addition to the ever-popular genre of heist movies. In fact, Gray is a big fan of these type of movies, naming Snatch the greatest heist flick ever. Unlike straight heist films like Heist, The Italian Job has humor and takes itself more humorously. Of course we don’t understand everything that the computer whiz/geek Lyle says, but neither do the people in the movie, adding to the mocking tone of the movie. It’s not exactly a parody of crime movies, just an homage.
Donald Sutherland must have been aching for a paycheck. He stars as John Bridger, an aging thief who is doing…guess…one last job! Clichès run high, but so does fun (I’ll get to that later). He’s with his team doing a job in Italy, and they successfully steal about $35 million. One of the team, Steve (Edward Norton) turns against them, shoots and kills John, and runs off with the gold. The rest of the crew plan to steal the gold from Steve because of revenge, including Stella, John’s daughter.
PT Cruisers used to be the fad car, but now Mini Coopers are becoming steadily more popular. Thanks to The Italian Job, where everyone drives one, that is. The car chases weren’t that many, but the culminating one was great. When three Minis were driving on the subway tracks, it was just amazing, I really loved it. Of course, there was a lot of advertising. It’s basically a two-hour car commercial, with a few Pepsi adds added in.
However, there’s an interesting note I found. Wahlberg, who plays Charlie, the ringleader, said that The Italian Job had some of the most amazing special effects he had ever seen, while Norton repeated several times that he joined this movie only because of contractual agreements. Wahlberg is most definitely not a leading man…his acting’s like a log on a stream. It starts off high but then falls down. Theron, who plays a beautiful safecracker, also isn’t that great of an actress. When the high point of your career is a RECENT Woody Allen film, you’re in trouble. Norton, my second favorite actor, heaps on the camp, but still doesn’t come off that well. Other actors, including Mos Def, Stathem, and Green, were all funny, especially Green.
The Italian Job is very fun and entertaining, but can’t stay away from clichés. Sutherland does one last move, Norton has a moustache, Green is geeky, Theron is beautiful, there’s a token African-American. Also, the ending is more predictable than, well, a Disney movie. Overall, The Italian Job is a fun two hours. If you’re looking for more than that, stay away.
Rated PG-13 for violence and some language.
Review Date: June 7, 2003