Lead Cast: Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays; Peter De Jersey, David Suchet; Director: Roger Donaldson; Screenplay: Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais; Cinematography: Michael Coulter; Editing: John Gilbert; Producer: Steven Chasman, Charles Rovenl; Music: Peter Robinson; Location: London; Genre: Action Drama; Running Time: 110 minutes.
Technical Assessment : 3.5
Moral Assessment : 2
Cinema Rating : V-18
Just when Terry Leathers (Jason Statham) was having a bad day with some thugs who want their money back fast, he meets his ex-girlfriend Martine Love who tells him of a possible way to hit it big time. The proposal is to round up Terry’s boys and rob the safety deposit boxes of the Lloyd Bank along Baker Street. Terry and group pull off the robbery despite some close calls and hitches, including having their walkie-talkie conversation monitored by police. After the heist, the group safely retreats to their hideout and are about to part their loot when they realize that they have been set up by Martine and now possess several documents which will seriously incriminate high profile “villains” and put them all at risk. Apparently, Martine has to retrieve the scandalous photos of London’s princess taken by Michael X (Peter De Jersey). But in the process, Terry and company are also able to get other compromising documents including the list of corrupt police in the payroll of pornographer Lew Vogel (David Suchet) and photos and film of politicians’ sexual tryst. Now, they must not only evade police but also the people whose secrets they posses while cutting a deal with Martine’s contact.
The movie is based on a real London Bank robbery in 1971 where after being hyped by media was suddenly given a news blackout. The production is smooth and flawless, keeping the drama and suspense tight and clean. The exhilarating plot development is intensified by brilliant cameraworks and skillful editing. The production design is creatively authentic and stylish. Statham is suave and charismatic as a bad guy turned hero. Overall, the movie is technically and artistically superb with the right amount of grit, cunning and drama.
Evil begets evil. Even the smallest misdeeds can lead one to be tangled in a bigger and deeper mess. No one should believe that a simple offense, even those done in private, will not have any social repercussion. No one gets away with crime as justice always has a way of coming back. Unfortunately though, the movie has Terry and some of his group members get away with their crimes because seemingly theft and deception are a lot tamer than murder, torture and pornography. Hence, since Terry’s crimes are tamer that the other villains, he comes off as the “good guy” despite what he has consciously done and laws he has deliberately broken.
The movie should be strictly for mature viewers because of several scenes with sex, nudity, cursing and bad imitative behavior. The fact that the robbers were allowed to get away free, richer and almost heroes might also send a misleading message especially to impressionable young audiences.
