Charming and brutal

Too much about the plot just didn't add up, the writing was bad, some of the scenes were cringey and awkward,

This is a tender, generous movie that likes its characters and presents them as real people, full of flaws and strengths.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

Although I have not seen the original British classic, I feel judging a movie by its remake value sometimes undermines its true potential and should be really reviewed in isolation. Saying that, this heist movie is not as classy as the Oceans, but certainly would not fail to entertain you. The cast is cool and all do fine and to single out one, would mention Mos Def, that one scene with Skinny Pete was hilarious. Liked Theron's part too, she put in a good performance. Norton too was perfectly suited to his role. This one is certainly worth a watch. A generous 7/10 is what I would give. Its fun actually...

Zoom out. I'm 13 years old. The exact year The Italian Job hits screens. A big, early summer slammer! Here I am. I love the "That Don't Impress Me Much" music video that my older babysitting-cousin who has just returned after stealing away to Texas for an abortion is obsessed with.I start seeing trailers for The Italian Job. HooBoy! I had never seen a Mini! These babies are all over the screen! Skidding around! Don't be fooled. There are some important heist-like situations in the movie...the crew even BLOWS UP a roadway in order to completely vanish a semi-truck containing a safe that Charlize Theron attempts to crack only after...Seth...Green...identifies the correct truck (in a lineup of 3) by remotely viewing their tire gauges (the one with the safe is heavier!).I mean, it's a revenge plot. But just try to take your eyes off those Minis!

The Italian Job is the ill-advised Hollywood remake of the much-loved Michael Caine classic about a gold heist in Italy. Now I, like most people, really enjoyed the original film and I expected that this film wouldn't and couldn't hold a candle to it. Surprise, surprise, it doesn't, although it is a solid action film. This movie can best be thought of as a precursor to the FAST AND THE FURIOUS franchise as it feels very similar to those films. The dialogue is snappy and the action is fast paced, with lots of enjoyable car chases. This and the GONE IN 60 SECONDS remake would make a good double bill.A word on the cast: Edward Norton is ill at ease, making a film he has no interest in, but Mark Wahlberg is a solid enough and charismatic lead. Donald Sutherland is ever the professional and Charlize Theron does well in a star-making turn. The real stand out is Jason Statham as one of the crew; he did well enough to turn his back on ensemble movies for many years, instead making a series of fun action vehicles occasionally more entertaining than this film.

Mindless car chase heist thriller apparently a remake of a much better film. The early film is of course not available on Netflix streaming.Cost 60 million grossed 176 million...Had a black director...so won all kinds of prizes...it was not taut and the filming below average so it gets a 5. Usually in this price range Hollywood can crank out tight beautifully crafted camera work....The idea of repeating the tactics of having the 1 ton safe crash through 2 floors into a canal with a 20 ton armored truck was clever and had a nice touch of covering up the hole made with a sheet of steel...why not make it asphalt covered that would have been even more funny. Having them escape on an Amtrak train made me scratch my head as probably the worst idea they could possibly come up with if this was a real heist. I have yet to take an Amtrak train that was not at least 6 hours late.They must have consumed all their money on the stunts which were quasi believable plus car chases all of which are kind of ho hum any more...controlling traffic lights yawn...Amtrak??? pours cold water on any thing.Add better writers. Tight Hollywood film craft for hard to do angles etc...then it would have got a 6 or even a 7 as normal fareI like this kind of genre but there needs to be some suspense this takes skill and subtlety not dollars...this thing has the twists but they are not scary nor suspenseful---it also has sort of corny humor feel good 50s squareness to it (one gang member dreaming of how he would spend his money wanted a stereo that would blow women's clothes off)--added half a star for that oddity though others might subtract half a star.Read some of the 1 star reviews they are entertaining...this thing doesn't exactly bore but I looked at the time left several times....Recommend? if you have time to kill or a female under 16 apparently the largest audience group...(they thought the male stars hot ????--and I am gay they did zero for me--except maybe the 500 pound guy or the Ukrainians--joke) This is your review, you may delete or edit it.