The Italian Job

Rating: 7/10 (19 July 2004)

First point: this is a Disney movie so Disney ethics will prevail in the long run. Also, Disney movies excel at making environments artificial, as what happens here. Look at how plain Libya looks compared to Zucchabar in 'Gladiator'.
Second point: this is a post-'Legend' Ridley Scott movie. Hence this is more of an experiment than an accomplished film. Also, Scott thinks more about the eye (particularly in rhythm with the scene) rather than the script. This is unlike Scorcese, Spielberg, and Jackson.
What makes this interesting is Scott's crew. Marilyn Vance is one of the best costume designers in the business, a plus if you're into that sort of thing. The photographer and composer are mindless (the latter wants to be Hans Zimmer, just listen), but more importantly, this marks the start of collaboration between Scott and Pietro Scalia. Pietro didn't quite catch on to what Scott was trying to do here (especially compared to his work on 'JFK'), but by 'Gladiator' the two had achieved a rhythm.
You can see Bruckheimerisms here that haunted Tony Scott, Ridley & Pietro learned and evaded them the next time. This was their primer for 'Black Hawk'.
Final Analysis = = Midrange Material