The Italian Job Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Steal The Day 5.30.03
Get in. Get out. Get even.
It's not about the money. It's about the money.
Chiisana YATSU hodo, karei ni kimeru [Japan]
Nusume! [Japan]
A gang of robbers, lead by career criminal Charlie Croker, create the largest traffic jam in Los Angeles history, giving them time to pull off a theft of gold bullion. They get away in their Mini Coopers, which are small enough to drive on sidewalks so they can make a clean get away before the traffic jam clears.
| Charlize Theron | Stella Bridger |
| Edward Norton | Steve |
| Jason Statham | Handsome Rob |
| Seth Green | Lyle |
| Mark Wahlberg | Charlie Croker |
| Donald Sutherland | John Bridger |
| Mos Def | Left Ear |
| Fausto Callegarini | Italian Guard |
| Tiberio Greco | Garbageman/Thug |
| Jimmy Shubert | First Detective |
| Tammi Cubilette | Second Detective |
| Mary Portser | Stella's Receptionist |
| F. Gary Gray |
6.90 out of 10 (41943 votes)
Visitor Reviews
non-stop action film
posted on 22 Aug 2009I enjoyed the movie very much. Everything in The Italian Job is simple. An explosive guy, a safe-cracker, a computer genius, a wheel-man and a man with a spectacular plan of stealing 35 million without using a gun. This film is entertaining although it has no central idea. It is a non-stop movie with lots of actions. All the stunt work is gorgeous. From the speedboat chase in Venice at the beginning to the chase on the busy roads in Los Angeles involving three mini coopers and even a helicopter. The best boast chase I have ever seen. I like the mini coopers. The expert thieves used mini coopers for the getaway cars. The chase between the mini coopers and the motor-bikes is amazing. They chased underground. I can say there was not a moment I was bored. Mark Wahlberg (Charlie Croker), Charlize Theron (Stella Bridger), Donald Sutherland (John Bridger), Jason Statham (Handsome Rob), Seth Green (Lyle), Mos Def (Left Ear) and Edwin Norton (Steve) really did a good job. I like the actors in this film. I have seen a lot of heist movie but The Italian Job& is one of my favourites. A great Hollywood action movie without a drop of blood. After all, I do love this kind of movie.
A First Class Action Film!
posted on 12 Aug 2009This is clearly an action film, however, it is refreshingly different than anything before it. Without giving away the story, these characters are not children... and the film is not geared towards the teen market as so many action films are. The characters are largely the late 20s and early 30s group, they devise several unique and clever plots to steal gold from Italy and to keep it. They also drive speedy little cars.... not because they are fast, but rather because they can weave in and out of narrow spaces. A feature that is totally unique in "chase films".The characters are also on the educated and sophisticated side.... and are clearly not "trendy". The score is interesting and does not rely too heavily on rock or rap music, but has a totally new "chill" score that lends itself to the sophistication in the tone of the film. The photography is first rate and the BIG chase scene is miraculously performed in the packed streets of Los Angeles and Hollywood with all the crowds and traffic totally intact. How they did it, is truly beyond me. A nail biter from beginning to end. This is everything "The Fast and the Furious" should have been, but was not. I place this on a par with "Gone in 60 seconds" and "Speed" for action, story and trills.
fun, funny, entertaining and well-paced
posted on 23 Jul 2009I liked this, F. Gary Gray comes through once again with another good action flick for 2003 - A great follow-up to A Man Apart which wasn't bad at all neither. Mark Wahlberg is nice to watch in this alongside Charlize Theron who looks delicious in this. Mos Def shows he can hang w/ the big boys, Jason Statham is good as handsome Rob and Seth Green gives a damn good and hilarious performance as "The Napster", the computer wiz of the group. Not at all bad, a lot of fun - well worth the two hours...
Dreck
posted on 23 Jul 2009Aside from the obvious joy of having to look at the lovely Ms. Theron's face and form, this movie just doesnt pull it off. The "Ocean's 11" remake is sassy and has immense Star power, and makes you forget all the holes and improbables in the story. In this case, Wahlberg doesn't have the leading man magnetism of Clooney, and the likes of Seth Green and Mos Def don't play the supporting roles like, say, Brad Pitt and Carl reiner do. This remake just falls short.Ed Norton seems wasted here - I actually think the movie would have worked better with Norton and Wahlberg switching roles.
Brilliant Film!!
posted on 13 Jul 2009I must admit, when i first went to see this i hadn't seen any trailers and thought it was going to be a bad under-funded film. I had not seen the Original Italian Job before i had seen this, although i have now as i was that impressed with this new version of the film. Firstly, many people say that the film is going to be rubbish as in is set in America where the title of the film suggests that the film takes place in Italy. The film explains this as the story goes on, and it does it well too! Right, now onto the film itself. The story line in my opinion is one of the best out of all films in 2003. The character choices are very good, with Mark Wahlberg playing Charlie Crokers part excellently, and i especially liked Seth Greens part as a computer 'genius', being into computers myself, i particularly liked his role in the movie. THey have kept some of the original things in the new movie from the 1969 version, including starting the movie with a heist in Venice and the inclusion of the new Mini Cooper S's, as the original minis were used in the 1969 version. Overall this is my favourite movie in recent years, and i wouldn't normally give a vote of 10 for any movie, but this film certainly deserves it.
One of the worst movies I've seen in a long time :(
posted on 09 Jul 2009I was really looking forward to this movie. I like slick heist movies (Ocean's 11, Good Thief, etc) and i think this is a great cast. But be warned -- there's a reason that Ed Norton didn't want to do this movie and it is very obvious about 2 minutes in.First off, the dialog is terrible. very few "funny" interactions are actually interesting (Seth Green imitating Jason Statham is a notable exception). The director (who has done nothing noteworthy since Friday) clearly didn't care if there was any chemistry on screen or if the words coming out of the actor's mouths actually fit their characters. He just wanted all the words in there. At one point, a Ukrainian does a whole routine about how the CIA rigged the 2000 election -- why even keep that in there?most of the characters have cute nicknames, which just makes the whole script seem even more forced. in the first 20 minutes, you are hit over the head repeatedly about the relationship between Marky Mark and Donald Sutherland so that you know he'll be dead before the second act. obviously there is a romantic relationship that suddenly blossom's between Sutherland's daughter (Theron) and Marky Mark. Like you couldn't see that coming before you even walked into the theater.Speaking of which, Theron clearly filled in for Angelina Jolie, playing exactly the same role that Jolie played in Gone in 60 seconds. there are several points in the movie where she is vulnerable (maybe trying to show more range than Jolie?), and in each of those scenes, when Wahlberg comforts her or says "you can do it", i thought i was going to puke.worst offender of all is Norton who sleepwalks thru one of the least complex characters he has ever played.there are all sorts of continuity problems with the movie and several characters are introduced and then grossly underused (there's a 400 lb somoan looking dude who may have been an interesting character if we saw him for more than 2 minutes).every plot twist is predictable 30 minutes ahead of time, every "funny part" is given away in the trailers (except some of seth green's screen time), and everyone is dragged down by the poor script and direction. STAY AWAY FROM THIS FILM!
Finally, just a great story!
posted on 09 Jul 2009Oh how I loved this movie! There's so much I want to say about it, but I don't want to spoil it for those of you who haven't seen it, because you really must see it yourself, preferably as soon as possible!So, rather than write a full review, I'll just say that this movie is as great for what it is NOT as for what it is. This is a movie that does not rely on video-game special effects, gratuitous violence, sex or contrived romantic entanglements for its excitement and drama.The Italian Job is just a great story with live action, genuine love and affection-- between male friends as well as a man and a woman, plot twists that are unpredictable, dialogue that is witty and contemporary, without being cliched, and, above all, well acted by a credibly eclectic ensemble cast.It's also the best and most fun use of a car as a character I've ever seen. If this movie doesn't have you coveting a Mini Cooper halfway through, you're either in a coma or over seven feet tall.With the Italian Job, someone sat down and wrote, directed and produced a movie that respects the intelligence, sense of humor and taste of the American movie-going public. It's about time!Go see it, and send these people a message of thanks, and maybe they'll do it again (and again, and again, etc...).
Simply Atrocious
posted on 07 Jul 2009One of the worst directing jobs I've seen in years. Heist movies, even the weak ones, generally convey a sense of fun. Almost as if the performers were enjoying themselves as much as the audience. Here, the actors perform like they're in a hostage video and their first born child is in danger. With a good cast, cool cars and exotic locations you'd think it'd be hard to screw up but every element of this is bad. Anytime people speak it's like watching a high school play. There's no pacing, no humor, no tension, and zero chemistry. This film should be Exhibit A in illustrating exactly what a director does. F. Gary Gray is a completely talentless hack and if you don't believe me go watch 'Be Cool'. It makes one pine for the studio system, when, at least, you were guaranteed a level of professional competence.
Junk food for the tween mind
posted on 05 Jul 2009"The Italian Job" (2003), a commercial product after the tween/teen buck, is an uninspired action flick with a very soft PG-13 rating and a simple-minded make-it-up-as-you-go plot about a bunch of thieves (the good guys) who are after 7 tons of gold and another thief (the bad guy). A mindless mess of Hollywood action busyness, this flick might have been worth watching if any of the stunts or chases or techno-babble had been new, creative, or unique. However, this turkey is just more of the same-o same-o we've all seen before sprinkled with some contempo buzz words in a new wrapper. No matter how you slice it, this time-waster is just more cinematic junk food and market clutter. (C)
Scenery in Venice- Lyle as Napster- Only Read if you saw the movie!
posted on 21 Jun 2009I love the architectural aspect of Venice;set designs of Steve's mansion; the nod to Philadelphia's Logan Square as Stella speeds through it;and even Marlena Shaw's "California Soul" played in the background as the team flies to L.A. in the minute montage. Ed Norton's portrayal as a bad guy is fantastic.Norton can easily play the good guy innocent(like in Fight Club), but they need to go into (in the Italian Job II) 1.)why Steve turned on his partners;2.)do a montage of past heists together. (Remember the 'Who got you the BeeKeepers in Budapest'line,while Steve is pouring the paint-on explosives?)After all,this was not his first heist with them.Can they do movie magic & bring back John Pritchard (Sutherland);delve into how Charlie and John met.Characters like Skinny Pete, Cousin Moscovitz,Left Ear, Handsome Rob, and Lyle -the 'Real Napster'.Wouldn't it be funny, in a montage,to see a Federal Judge rule in favor of Lyle, that he created Napster, then poor Lyle gets socked with a judgment from the record companies for Napster stealing music files in the same proceeding.So Lyle has to go on more heists to pay off all of the Napster's judgments and court fees, due to his old roommate's misfeasance. Just an idea. (Copyrighted Idea by hectora1a@yahoo.com)
First 15 minutes are OK..
posted on 19 Jun 2009Well, how to start? I saw The Italian Job for the first time some years ago and visiting a rental shop I couldn't quite remember why I had a bad feeling about it. Now I do.After voting for the ratings for this film I saw the statistics. Apparently this film appeals most to under 18 girls. No wonder. They didn't pay enough to Charlize to flash and I guess some girls magazine has rated Mark Wahlbergs abs "AWESOME".Other than that this film is completely predictable, the actors are mainly forever B-stars and even the good ones are being misused horribly, the film is filled with obvious product placement and imagine this: it even manages to repeat itself without doing a sequel! The first 15 minutes are the best part of the film and it's all downhill from there and once they figured this out they decided to use the finest hour again in the end repeating-to-detail their gold heist. All in all, lots of noise about nothing.I think Charlize Theron is good and Ed Norton could be more as he's been before. Apart from Donald Sutherland's "look, I'm here too" appearing in the beginning I'd say this movie ought to have a "pass if you're above 18" all over it.
Red, White and Blue Mini Coopers Tear Around Los Angeles
posted on 26 May 2009Thirty years on from the original film starring Michael Caine, which featured scenes actually shot in Coventry (doubling for Turin) the British classic, The Italian Job has been given the Hollywood treatment.The story, incorporating themes from its predecessor, sees a group of master thieves pull off a $35m gold robbery in Italy. Meticulously planned and perfectly executed, it's later that things turn nasty. After they are double-crossed by one of their own, the gang plan to recover their stolen gold, and take revenge.Mark Wahlberg takes on the character of Charlie Croker but seems to struggle with elements of the role.Contractually obliged to appear, the ever independent and immensely talented Edward Norton was not impressed, consequently he does not produce his best work.Jason Statham manages to look pretty with some aplomb. Although it's Charlize Theron, as beautiful as she is accomplished, who shines. Seth Green also adds to the film, stealing a few notable scenes, playing a comedic role perfectly.Allusions to the original are respectful. Indeed F. Gary Gray, director of the indifferently received Vin Diesel vehicle A Man Apart shows his talent here by directing a slick well paced film, which is a fine successor to Collinson's classic.With so many recent films such as The Heist, The Score, Snatch and the remakes of Ocean's Eleven and Gone in Sixty Seconds is this one caper film too far? What with the excitement factor of supercharged, super-cool red, white and blue Mini Coopers tearing around Los Angeles, impressive stunt work, effective plot twists and comedy elements? Of course not!Perhaps not the classic that the original was but it's still a worthy addition to the genre.It won't quite blow the bloody doors off your local Cineplex but it's a fun ride.
Enjoyable but pointless
posted on 24 May 2009I really enjoyed the Italian Job with Michael Caine i thought it was a exciting,funny and a perfect Brit action/comedy. This one though i had mixed emotions, Maybe if i never saw the original i could give it 9 or maybe even a 10 but after only recently seeing the original i just couldn't like it as much. But i do admit that it was better than expected i will give the producers and writers a pat on the back because mainly when Hollywood remake a classic British film it is awful but this beats the average remake, I liked the cast even though i'm usually not to fond of most of them though like Mark Whalberg even though he seems like a nice guy i just think he makes to many poor choices and he same for Charlize Theron i think she's talented and very pretty i think a she has quite a long list of bad choices but i liked them both in this.Overall-I found it better the than expected i taught the acting and writing were very good and the way they make the truck "Disappear" gives two thumps up from me. But it lacks the humour and action of the original.I am relieved they didn't ruin "You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" none of the cast could have pulled it off better than Sir Michael Caine
"Italian Job" nails down all the elements of a fun, modern heist film
posted on 20 May 2009"The Italian Job" is a great getaway film and we're not just talking about robbery getaways. This movie never bores and is solely focused on action, technology and crime strategy lore, moving along at a brisk pace and giving the bare amount of drama to provide fuel for its characters and story line. It's a 110 minute vacation that has all its bases covered, delivering a smooth ride with little to no chinks. While it may be a remake that doesn't really improve on the original, it successfully defines itself in a modern context as a fun heist flick.The film takes us straight to Italy for a job being done by well-acquainted accomplices. There's the mastermind John (Donald Sutherland), his protégé Charlie (Mark Wahlberg), the odd explosives expert named Left Ear (Mos Def), the trying-to-be-cool hacker (Seth Green), the lady's man driving expert Handsome Rob (Jason Statham) and the inside guy (Edward Norton). This is a pretty good ensemble with a wide array of talents. Wahlberg doesn't carry this film and that's how it should be. It's a very "Ocean's Eleven" style formula, but director F. Gary Gray gives this film its own more relaxed vibe, limiting the comparisons.The job is successful, but after the getaway, Norton's character goes rogue and takes the loot for himself. He retreats to California and the guys plan to get it back, with the help of Charlize Theron. The rest of the film they devise their plans and execute them, with the script incorporating character development into those scenes. Still, it's not particularly dialogue heavy and no moments ever lag.This is not a very flashy heist film like "Ocean's Eleven." The action and car chases are much more subdued, with little gunfire and no extravagant crashes or explosions. It's not going to wow you, unless you're a 30-year-old single woman who loves Mini Coopers, but it's definitely creative. The elements of the heist will interest you if you're into that whole crime strategy stuff, though there's no unforeseeable twists. Best of all, the drama is minimal and not distracting from the film's objective of pure entertainment.So "Italian Job" doesn't exactly raise the bar with action/heist films, but it understands the genre and knows how to deliver it the right way, providing exactly the kind of entertainment one would expect watching this kind of film.
Edward Norton?
posted on 14 May 2009I was not too fond of this movie. It definitely had some good action and the heist scenes were awesome, but c'mon this is not Ed. This movie was a chip off the ol' action block. Nothing unique about it at all. Edward Norton is awesome as a bad guy, but I hate seeing him duped by Mark Wahlburg. It's a disgrace.
Good movie for light summer entertainment
posted on 10 May 2009I was lucky enough to see this movie as part of a premiere in SF, so my opinion hadn't been jaded by reading any reviews in advance. Admittedly, half the fun of the evening was riding around in a Mini before the show started :-)I enjoyed "The Italian Job", even knowing it was a remake. I haven't seen the original, so perhaps I was lucky, not having anything to compare it with. The acting was good but not great, the dialog was a little on the weak side but I've heard worse, the plot was a tad thin and predictable, but even with these minus points, the movie overall was enjoyable. And you do get to see some great stunts with the Minis!If you're looking for something to escape to this summer, you could do a lot worse than "The Italian Job".
An agreeable romp and a nifty heist flick
posted on 06 May 2009THE ITALIAN JOB is a good entertainment. You won't learn any deep truths about the human condition, you won't really see any oscar winning performances, but you will be entertained. Which really is what most movies should try to do.Okay, I've never seen the original Michael Caine ITALIAN JOB (I keep missing it on BBCAmerica), so I cannot compare the two. What I can compare it to are recent heist flicks, like CONFIDENCE, THE HEIST, THE SCORE, the OCEANS ELEVEN remake, and (as my Dad pointed out) THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR. It compares quite favorably. You know the gang is going to get screwed by a confederate (thanks to the trailer, grrrr!) and that they are going to get their revenge. The fun is watching how the intricate plot they plan is going to be carried out. And the greater fun is watching how, when the first plan falls through, they improvise the second plan.I am especially impressed that the film is a true heist flick, like THE SCORE and THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, rather than a shoot-em-up like THE HEIST. When John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) says "We pulled it off without drawing a single gun", he sets the ground rules for the gang's later revenge plan. Any dumb crook can shoot people; it takes brains to pull off a nonviolent heist.One interesting little cameo-by-proxy. Watch closely when Steve Frezelli (Ed Norton) turns on his giant TV. The image on the screen is a closeup of Michael Caine (I'm assuming from the original ITALIAN JOB).
Ridiculous Remake; Use the old script!
posted on 28 Aug 2009A remake, just to include advertising or make money from someone else's ideas. The characters of the original were cool but this script tries to make them cool by the cars they own, etc. (a la Gone In 60 Seconds). Lame.Not only that, they've change the original script to be cheesier and also suit their purposes. To bring the story partly to the concept of the original they've even included completely non-sensical situations. For example, in the first half of the movie, why on earth is there so much preparation, equipment, hacking, etc. when it could have been a simple heist on the guys house? Why do they need getaway cars when there's no idea of anyone to be chasing them? My points are only for having concepts of the original film.