Film Review: “The Bank Job”

Action star Statham (The Transporter, Crank) plays a London car dealer with a new family and budget concerns. He’s drawn into a scheme to break into a bank vault by a former model from his old neighborhood. What we know, and he doesn’t, is that the real target is a treasure trove of dirty secrets including compromising photos of high-level politicians…and a royal. The story’s based on a real-life early 70s bank robbery, and the movie’s set in that period, so expect velvet Mod suits, miniskirts and Afros (in my next life, I want one of those E-type Jaguars). I’m a fan of heist flicks, which were popular in the 60s and have been enjoying a revival in recent years (Statham was “Handsome Rob” in The Italian Job remake). The success of this type of movie is in the details, and it’s fun watching Statham and his gang of ragtag robbers (most of whom you won’t recognize, since this is a British film and the actors aren’t known here). Veteran director Donaldson keeps things moving along in this enjoyable entry in the heist genre.