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DVD Review
The Italian Job
By Lee Tistaert Published November 6, 2003
US Release: May 30, 2003
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Starring: Mark Wahlberg , Charlize Theron , Edward Norton , Seth Green
PG-13
Running Time: 104 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $106,126,000
Directed by: F. Gary Gray
Starring: Mark Wahlberg , Charlize Theron , Edward Norton , Seth Green
PG-13
Running Time: 104 minutes
Domestic Box Office: $106,126,000
C+
I was left thrilled-less by the end of its running time.
The Italian Job is meant for the viewer to just sit back, relax, and come out feeling happy and entertained; unfortunately for me, I wasn?t able to accomplish that. The one major defect is that despite being somewhat of a cool flick (at times), I never really cared about anything ? and for a heist movie, that?s definitely not a good thing.
The story is very traditional and doesn?t have much of a relationship with the original 1969 caper flick (which wasn?t any better) outside of the title. This remake is not a bad one, but it?s just uninspired and bland; the plot curves are very expected and routine, with nothing we haven?t seen before.
For a movie that doesn?t set out to be anything other than a light and loose diversion, it?ll probably do the job for many moviegoers. And while yes, I was looking for something fun, the flick?s cheesy script kept me from enjoying myself. There were moments I liked and definitely moments that I didn?t appreciate; the acting is fairly average with a few reasonable performances and the use of style is classy here and there; but ultimately, I was left thrilled-less by the end of its running time.
Pulling a heist in Venice involving $35 million in gold, Charlie (Mark Wahlberg), Lyle (Seth Green), Handsome Rob (Jason Stratham), Half Ear (Mos Def), and Steve (Edward Norton) attempt the con safely; only they don?t realize that soon, Steve will double cross the team. Steve takes their loot and kills Charlie?s mentor, John (Donald Sutherland), in the process, with Charlie and John?s daughter, Stella (Charlize Theron), now wanting revenge.
Revenge movies can work (see Count of Monte Cristo), but the viewer has to care about the revenge (an element that missed the mark for me in Gangs of New York). With Italian Job, I never truly parted with the characters and never rooted for their success in the heists. When it came to the revenge, I didn?t care how it fell through, as the script offers paper-thin character roles, with the actors? presence being the sole reason of our interest. The Italian Job remake will definitely be mindless fun for many moviegoers, but it?s a little too mindless for my taste.
DVD Features:
- Pedal to the Medal: The Making-of The Italian Job
- Putting the Words on the Page
- The Italian Job Driving School
- The Mighty Minis
- High Octane: Stunts
- 6 Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
- Widescreen
Audio Features:
- (English) 5.1 Surround
- (English) Dolby Surround
- (French) 5.1 Surround
- (English) Subtitles
The story is very traditional and doesn?t have much of a relationship with the original 1969 caper flick (which wasn?t any better) outside of the title. This remake is not a bad one, but it?s just uninspired and bland; the plot curves are very expected and routine, with nothing we haven?t seen before.
For a movie that doesn?t set out to be anything other than a light and loose diversion, it?ll probably do the job for many moviegoers. And while yes, I was looking for something fun, the flick?s cheesy script kept me from enjoying myself. There were moments I liked and definitely moments that I didn?t appreciate; the acting is fairly average with a few reasonable performances and the use of style is classy here and there; but ultimately, I was left thrilled-less by the end of its running time.
Pulling a heist in Venice involving $35 million in gold, Charlie (Mark Wahlberg), Lyle (Seth Green), Handsome Rob (Jason Stratham), Half Ear (Mos Def), and Steve (Edward Norton) attempt the con safely; only they don?t realize that soon, Steve will double cross the team. Steve takes their loot and kills Charlie?s mentor, John (Donald Sutherland), in the process, with Charlie and John?s daughter, Stella (Charlize Theron), now wanting revenge.
Revenge movies can work (see Count of Monte Cristo), but the viewer has to care about the revenge (an element that missed the mark for me in Gangs of New York). With Italian Job, I never truly parted with the characters and never rooted for their success in the heists. When it came to the revenge, I didn?t care how it fell through, as the script offers paper-thin character roles, with the actors? presence being the sole reason of our interest. The Italian Job remake will definitely be mindless fun for many moviegoers, but it?s a little too mindless for my taste.
DVD Features:
- Pedal to the Medal: The Making-of The Italian Job
- Putting the Words on the Page
- The Italian Job Driving School
- The Mighty Minis
- High Octane: Stunts
- 6 Deleted Scenes
- Theatrical Trailer
- Widescreen
Audio Features:
- (English) 5.1 Surround
- (English) Dolby Surround
- (French) 5.1 Surround
- (English) Subtitles
Lee's Grade: C+
Lee's Overall Grading: 3025 graded movies
| A | 0.4% | |
| B | 30.0% | |
| C | 61.7% | |
| D | 8.0% | |
| F | 0.0% |
