Despite the ridiculous critical claim on the front of the box which states The Bank Job is “everything action fans could want,” this is not the usual Jason Statham outing. In fact, the only action is limited to one scene late in the film that doesn’t even qualify this as an action film. This is a thrilling heist film, and a fine one at that.
Based on a true story that’s so complex it’s hard to believe, The Bank Job begins slowly. In fact, much of seems pointless or unnecessary. That all changes when every piece of the film becomes critical.
If you’re not paying attention, Bank Job may come off as confusing. It throws a lot of characters at the viewer, sometimes with only limited information. All of them have a purpose in this complex and deep saga in some form. It’s fascinating to see how a clean getaway can suddenly begin to spiral downhill and at such a breath taking pace.
The bank robbery itself is handled well, with small doses of tension built in out of necessity. Director Roger Donaldson makes people digging through dirt under the vault intriguing and fun. The performances, including Statham, may not be top tier but they’re effective enough to keep the plot moving believably. Some of the London-specific dialogue may be lost on US viewers, but it doesn’t affect the story and ensures authenticity.
While some may be drawn in with the overbearing picture of Statham and the action quote on the cover, they’ll be pleasantly surprised with this complex bank robbery tale in the end regardless of the expectations. This is pure entertainment, and for those with knowledge of the actual events, this will be an even stronger film. 
Bank Job is a muted film in terms of its looks. That means it could never have the “pop” of the best Blu-rays out there, although this is still an admirable transfer. Since the color is muted, flesh tones come off in a variety of shades and tones, and none of them are particularly accurate. Aside from that, the sharpness of the transfer is impressive, and detail is reasonably high, if not striking. Black levels are strong and consistent. There are no noticeable instances of artifacting.
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Article comments
1 - Dana
My short review of this movie is that I liked it. I like Jason Statham, especially in the driver movies. I give it 3 out of 5 stars