The Italian Job

10/19/03 - DVD Review

After pulling off a nearly perfect heist of 35 million dollars in gold in beautiful Venice Italy, Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) thought he was home free.  While he trusted everybody that was part of his crew, he did not trust the devil inside them.  That proved to be the downfall for Charlie and his crew when one double crossed them and took their score.  Steve Frezelli (Edward Norton) did leave them with a parting gift though: the murder of long time safe cracker John Bridger. 

A year has past but Charlie and his crew want payback.  Charlie seeks out John’s safe-cracking daughter, Stella, played by Charlize Theron.  They decide that they are doing this not for the payoff but for the death of her father.  Charlie has tracked Steve to his monstrous house in sunny Los Angeles.  Together, along with computer genius Lyle (the real inventor of napster), Handsome Rob, and explosives expert Left-Ear, the five plan their method of attack. 

Everything goes according to plan until their cover is blown which prompts Steve to try and get out again with the gold. The five now have their backs up against the wall and with the addition of a Ukrainian Mob chasing after Steve, things don’t get any easier.  Charlie has the manpower and the technology to get the job done, including taking control of the city’s highway transportation system.  Nothing can get in the way of their goal, payback.      

Unfortunately for me, I was unable to go this movie when it came out back in May.  My friends and I made a bet on whether or not I could go a weekend without seeing a movie.  I won because I basically will do anything for money, well almost.  Now I wish I would have lost that bet because I missed a good heist flick. 

The Italian Job is a fast paced action/adventure caper flick that is fun and entertaining to watch.  The movie has everything from a good ensemble cast, boat and car chases, to 35 million dollars worth of Gold bars.  The story is not too deep but it’s very well rounded that will attract any viewer.  The movie also contains its fair share of humor.  Everything in the movie clicks and you notice this as you are watching it. 

The movie certainly has its fair share of action too.  There are not too many movies out there that contain boat chases.  The opening sequence contains a well done boat chase that helps to put the movie in motion.  Speaking of chases, how could I leave out the adrenaline rushing car chase with the Mini Coopers?  Who would have thought that three souped up matchbox looking cars would have made for an exciting race?  Well it did and it was done without the use of CGI.  The only thing that would have been better is if the chase was a extended a little bit more because it was so awesome. 

The Italian Job contains a good solid cast of actors that enrich the already engaging story.  Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron are good together on screen but I felt they needed a few more scenes together.  Jason Statham, Seth Green, and Mos Def filled their roles effectively as the three remaining members of Charlie’s crew.  Donald Sutherland was way underused but I guess that is what happens when you kill him off early in the movie.  Edward Norton played a great turncoat as you would expect.  He was a good choice to play against our heroes. 

With its fast paced story and testosterone filled chases, The Italian Job should be on everyone’s must see list.  The story is simple but it is still engaging enough to keep you interested from the first chase to the last.  All of the cast shine together as they bring you a fun and entertaining caper flick. 

Paramount has released this movie on DVD as a special collector’s edition but seriously all DVD’s that come out nowadays are all called special editions.  The widescreen presented 2:35:1 image looks excellent with minor  graininess.  The sound is the films selling point with its very active Dolby Digital 5.1 mix.  The chase scenes sound terrific with excellent use of the surrounds and the front sound stage.  Dialogue is crystal clear as well.  As for special features, the DVD contains five documentaries on the making of the film which run about 40 minutes.  There are also six deleted scenes and five of them are deleted Mini Cooper chase scenes.  I said before that the chase could have been extended and with these scenes it could have been.  Damn it, add them back in.  The usual theatrical trailer is also on the disc.  A solid DVD release but I wouldn’t go as far to say it was a “Special Edition.”  Buy it for the movie value which is worth the twenty bucks. 

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