The Bank Job

I have to admit, Jason Statham (The Stath) movies are a bit of a guilty pleasure. Ever since seeing his definitive performance in Snatch I’ve followed his career. He's moved from ‘Cockney Geezer’ to martial arts 'Bad Ass' through the Transporter series and Crank.

Obviously the guilty pleasure is that he is a pretty poor actor, that usually sticks to c grade action movies...So I was quite looking forward to The Staths return to ‘Cockney Geezer’ territory in The Bank Job.

A cross between The Italian Job and Buster, The Bank Job is a 70's heist movie set in London.

Statham plays the 'Cockney Geezer' / petty criminal with a heart. Statham and his cohorts get are persuaded by an old colleague to do 'one last job'...all pedestrian stuff so far.

Of course there is an inside man, a general splattering of unsavoury types, cops and MI5 or 6!

It’s all been done before...some including Statham. It's obviously a UK film, but doesn't show London of at its best. Obviously filmed on a very small budget and unable to dress streets and sets to give it the authentic feel of the 70's. It's no Long Good Friday.

Some nice work by the supporting cast and the usual from The Stath, though he keeps the 'action man' at bay for most of the film. A fun distraction for an evening 5/10.

The International

Another thriller starring Clive Owen, probably with a huge twist at the end where his boss is actually the orchestrator of the whole affair. I'm such a cynic.

To my surprise I was proved....right...almost.

The story revolves around Owen, an Interpol agent tracking down clues that lead him to uncover a corrupt bank funding global criminal activities, but that’s too simple...obviously all the major governments and agencies are involved or aware. How can one man fight such a huge organisation and win. No spoilers...just watch and find out.

My expectations weren't high, but some nice camera work and tasteful direction help as well as a standard performance from Owen help to keep this at 5/10