The film starts off with a highly trained gang of thieves pulling off the perfect heist, stealing millions in gold bullion from a heavily guarded palace in Venice, Italy. Everything goes exactly according to plan until one of the gang pulls a double cross, taking out John Bridger (Donald Sutherland) the veteran safecracker and brains behind the group, and making off with all the stolen loot. Forced to split up, the gang vows revenge on the traitor, Steve (Edward Norton).
Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg), the group’s new unofficial leader, finds the perfect opportunity to get even and reassembles his crack team – computer geek Lyle (Seth Green), motorman Handsome Rob (Jason Statham), explosives expert Left-Ear (Mos Def), and new recruit Stella Bridger (Charlize Theron), the daughter of John and an expert safe cracker in her own right.
Via a con game that toys with but never crosses the line of believability, “The Italian Job” takes off on a riotous ride over and under Downtown Los Angeles. With Lyle controlling the flow of traffic by hacking into LA’s traffic control system, the gang use their patriotically painted Mini Coopers to fly down stairs, zoom through the Metro Rail tunnels, and outrun the pursuit by bad guys on motorcycles and in helicopters.
What makes this film stand out from the standard heist film is the fine bit of casting done to match character with actor for even the most minor player. “The Italian Job” works because all of the actors are totally believable. You believe Charlize Theron can crack safes, Mark Wahlberg is a criminal mastermind, Edward Norton is a creep, and Seth Green invented Napster. Each and every player in “The Italian Job” gives a Grade A performance.
Wahlberg has said that “The Italian Job” is his best work. While I still believe “Boogie Nights” is right up there, Wahlberg can stand by this claim without fear of bringing on an onset of laughter. “The Italian Job” is just the hit Wahlberg’s been in need of and is indeed a ‘job’ well-done.
GRADE: A
"The Italian Job" was directed by F. Gary Gray (full cast and crew list) and is rated PG-13 for violence and some language.
