The Italian Job
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Movie Reviews of The Italian Job
Movie Review: Classic crime caper from the 60's
Summary: 5 Stars
The 60's Italian Job is well known to British audiences, for whom the movie is as regular a fixture of Christmas television scheduling as James Bond films, The Great Escape and the Queen's speech. Negative reviews by US viewers are as much a result of the lack of a culture context and unfamiliarity with many of the ensemble cast. The film has aged well and provides an amusing, if rather rose-tinted, snapshot of 60's British culture.
The cast includes Noel Coward as Mr Bridger, the criminal mastermind, and Michael Caine as the foppish Charlie Croker. British audiences will recognise a host of well known actors in cameo roles, including Benny Hill and John Le Mesurier.
The stars of the film though are undoubtedly the cars. Amusingly, the array of 60's supercars including a Lamborghini Muira, E-Type Jaguars and Charlie's Aston Martin are overshadowing by the three Mini Coopers which lead the Italian police on an amazing car chase through Turin. Remy Julienne and his stunt driving team produced one of the most amazing and well known, at least to British audiences, car chases on film. Arguably it still rates as one of the best car chase sequences and all the more so because the stunts were actually filmed on location in Turin (and Coventry in the case of the sewer scenes) and in cars with minimal modifications.
There are many memorable moments in the movie beyond the Mini Cooper sequence. Caine's 'blow the doors off', Benny Hill's larger lady obsessed Professor Peach on the tram in Turin and the 'hanging' ending stick out in my mind.
The extra features on the DVD are good but not truly outstanding. The 'Making Of' documentary provides a number of interesting insights into the movie. The commentary overlay track is a little stilted but worth a listen. There is only really one deleted scene, the rather amazing 'Blue Danube' car ballet on ice.
In summary, this is a true British classic with a great cast, score and storyline. A nice snapshot of 60's London, a fantastic (at least for UK audiences) cast and the superb car chase scene make this one to buy. The Hollywood remake, whilst not a bad movie in its own right, shares only the title, a storyline based on a gold heist and the updated BMW Mini with the original.
And for anyone wondering about the original Mini's, they really are that small and that much fun to drive.
Movie Review: Classic British comedy
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a classic British comedy from the time when Alec Guiness, Michael Caine, Peter Sellers and other British comic actors (as differentiated from comedians) ruled the roost.
The story is simple. Michael Caine is released from jail. A colleague of is murdered in Italy and his not-terribly-grieving widow brings Caine a message - on film, no less. The sight of Michael Caine sitting next to a film projector watching the outline of the planned heist is hilarious in this day of digital cameras and video iPods.
The story involves Caine getting the permission and assistance of Mr. Bridger, a crime boss who leads a life of luxury behind the walls, recruiting a gang and making arrangements to steal a $ 4-million dollar gold shipment in Turin, Italy. (Four million sounds so small these days, doesn't it?)
The story, frankly, is very thin. This is comedy, not drama. The real pleasure comes in the execution of the heist. A rogue "computer expert" (a hilarious Benny Hill doing his usual schtick) substitutes a tape - yes, a tape - at the traffic control center, which in turn sets off a massive traffic jam.
The armored convoy carrying the gold is trapped in the midst of this jam and the rest of the film is occupied with the getaway. The getaway features a classic, very funny and very long car chase. Again, this is a comedy, not drama and almost cartoon-like . . . and great fun.
The ending comes as a bit of a surprise and leaves the audience hanging, so to speak.
All in all, a fun film. Funny almost as much for how dated it seems as it is for the humor of it. A fun way to idle away 90 or so minutes while looking back at life in a much simpler time when moviemakers didn't take themselves so seriously.
Jerry
Movie Review: A Time When The Best Skirts and Cars Were Mini
Summary: 5 Stars
"Self-preservation-society" Ahhh,, the delightful tune stays in your head as you remember the times when a Mini Cooper was a Mini Cooper (British and all) and England's footballers were on top of the World. I remember this movie as a child, and as I got older, my love affair with it blossomed as did my love affair with the Mini. Michael Caine at his ultimate "Cockney" best and a cast assembled to perfection. Benny Hill as the technical genious behind the gold plot, with his love for "BIG" women, was a classic role for this much missed comic master. A fantastic plot, stunning scenery, the best car chase sequence EVER in a movie, and an ending that defies logic, make this movie a classic amongst classics. The new remake may have the big star cast, the multi-million dollar production team and the new (dare I say it?) German Mini Coopers, but the original will never be matched for it's wonderful piece of 60's nostalgia. The Mini Cooper, sharp suits, mini skirts, Vespa's, England World Football Champions ...sigh... where did it all go? Bring it all back with this MUST HAVE crime caper Classic. Finally on DVD in America ...Thank You!! Thank You!! Thank You!!Movie Review: Enjoyable, mesmerizing and genial picture!
Summary: 5 Stars
Following the essential canons of the golden ages of the British comedy in the Fifties, this light thriller is masked with a set of memorable vignettes and suggestive flashes of acidic humor a la English way; where two brilliant minds (each one in its field) are planning to rob four millions $ in pure gold, thanks to the biggest traffic jam that Turin ever knew thanks to the collapse of the breakthrough of the computation system that rules the traffic signals.
There is big difference between this first op. and the remake of 2003. On one hand, we have a sinister challenge to a respectable mob' s executives who made disappear to the pioneer of the idea; so it's not a simple match; the revenge spirit underlies. On the other hand, the leading acting of Michael Caine (one of his best performances); the spectacular locations, the brilliant chases and the disturbing and ironic finale that to my mind is a very smart homage to "Wages of fear."
Under any circumstance you should not miss this singular and amusing film.
Movie Review: Alfie on the job
Summary: 5 Stars
A British institution (shown there on TV almost every Christmas) this is a movie not to be taken seriously but with a pinch of salt. If you don't understand that statement then forget it! Be aware - especially if you have seen the remake first - that this is a comedy first and foremost with some classic chase scenes. Some reviewers complain that it is dated, well that because it is - get over it this and enjoy a 60's romp with Michael Caine in full Alfie mode. This is not a film for those looking for social messages, deep meaning or plot cohesion, but one for those appreciative of British humor, ingenious car chases and who do not get hung up over the (nowadays) politically incorrect cultural stereotypes. There are some great lines ("the only way to get through it is, we all work together as a team - and that means you do everything I say" ) and the special features are worthwhile checking out. Could be considered more of a lads' movie but goes down great with kids too. Get your skates on mate, grab a beer, sit back and enjoy.