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'The Bank Job [2008]' starring Jason Statham and directed by Roger Donaldson. (StaEAN 5060052415066)

A cheerful, energetic, and completely entertaining movie, The Bank Job follows some small-time hoods who think they've lucked into a big-time opportunity when they learn a bank's security system will be temporarily suspended--little suspecting that they're being manipulated by government agents for their own ends. The result is that the movie doubles its pleasures: While the robbery itself has the usual suspense of a heist film, when the robbery is over the hoods find themselves being hunted by the police, the government, and brutal criminal kingpins who were storing dangerous information in a safety deposit box. The Bank Job won't win any awards, but it's enormously fun. Director Roger Donaldson (No Way Out, Species) propels the action along with vigour, zippy editing (with perfect clarity among multiple story-lines) and various colourful characters. Jason Statham (Snatch, The Transporter), as the leader of the bank robbers, successfully steps away from his usual bone-crunching roles to a more human presence. The rest of the cast--including Saffron Burrows (Deep Blue Sea), Keeley Hawes (Tipping the Velvet), David Suchet (Poirot), and many faces familiar from British film and television--give their characters the right degree of personality and flavour without getting fussy or detracting from the headlong rush of the story. A little sex, a lot of action, a sly sense of humour, and a twisty plot. If more movies had these basic pleasures, the world would be a happier place. --Bret Fetzer

The Bank Job is so so as entertainment, but the most fun/pain can be had by watching the cringeworthy Saffron Burrows inexplicably given another film role to demonstrate how she is probably the worst British actress of all time.

This has all the essential ingredients a good old school British gangster movie needs: an outrageous heist, a 1970s setting, horrible villains, likeable villains - and Jason Statham.

On the surface this film appears like a straightforward bank robbery film. A group of small time crooks get some inside information on a bank and after much deliberation decide, in Statham's words, "to step up to the first division" and carry out their first bank robbery. Little do they know that the bank they are robbing holds safety deposit boxes containing extremely sensitive photos and information on all sorts of influential figures in the British establishment. So not only are they embarking on the biggest ever robbery in terms of money stolen, but also potentially the most damaging to the reputations of some very high profile people, including politicians, the secret service, and even royalty.

All the performances are excellent with everyone playing their roles well. The script is also a good one, never resorting to the corny and cliché-ridden stereotypes of cockney villains, instead portraying Statham's gang realistically as just every day small time crooks looking for their next 'job'. Jason Statham can play these likeable rogue type roles with his eyes closed, but it's good to see his character have a deeper and more emotional tone as he tries to balance his criminal ways with his genuine commitment to his family.

As a pure heist movie this film works great, showing the whole bank robbery from conception to completion and superbly recreating all the challenges the robbers had to deal with. But the fact this robbery also ended up having such profound repercussions for such a wide cross-section of society from senior figures in the British hierarchy to notorious gangsters, means the film also makes for a very tense and intriguing thriller. An excellent film, definitely recommended.

Loved this movie - reminiscent of the old British bank robbery films - Jason was great not overacting and trying to be the movie equivalent of Phil Mitchell. Great cast, and as a Brit living abroad the location scenes were great, good story that wasn't just about robbing a bank.

The Bank Job is one interesting film to say the least - Jason Statham actually doesn't have a very violent role like he's enjoyed in other films like The Transporter, and he's got a lot to think about, and gets a lot more dialogue, and more emotion in him. You get to see a very shady side of the law, the governmental system and crooks in general, with the problems of fundamentalists too.

A very interesting look at what happened during one of the biggest heists this country has seen, claiming that the haul was actually bigger than the train robbery that Buster had committed. Some of the best moments include when they send that guy on the roof and he knocks off his radio; oh and when Terry falls down that hole.

I really enjoyed this film, was really pleased it wasn't too Lock Stock, because I'm fed up with this English Gangster genre we seem to have either made ourselves, or had bestowed upon us by America. Jason is great in this and shows he does deserve a leading role with something that requires more than just muscle. The supporting cast were good too, especially Daniel Mays as Dave; and of course Saffron Burrows as Martine, the rather cheeky femme.

The DVD presentation is not bad, good colours and good audio levels, but you don't get any extras whatsoever. This is pretty poor - I would have expected some featurettes on how they did a few things and a look back at 60s crime, but no such luck.

Definitely worth renting, then if you like it, then buy it. I think I will definitely be watching it again.

This is a excellent caper,i watched this at the cinema and from start to finish was glued!I dont usually watch films like this but was very glad i did.Jason Statham brings a charm to the screen with his ruggged looks and husky voice.The story was re-told brilliantly with a great cast and shocking scenes of violence which were portrayed well.If you love action with a bit of mystery then you have to see this,Kelly Brook eat your heart out!
(Rachel,girlfriend of Brian!)