It's not just for the money. It's the job that counts.

Rating: 6/10 (26 March 2005)

F. Gary Gray directs this rehash of a 1969 Michael Caine project of the same name. A group of expert criminal nice-guys led by career crooks Charlie Croker(Mark Wahlberg)and John Bridger(Donald Sutherland)successfully pull off the heist of $35 million in gold bricks in Venice. A crooked partner Steve Frezelli(Edward Norton)gets greedy and swindles the others out of their shares by hijacking the heist and leaving them for dead. They actually survive except for Bridger who is murdered in cold blood.
A year later Frezelli is living in a Los Angeles mansion whole heartedly believing that money damn sure talks. Charlie convinces John's safe-cracker expert daughter Stella(Charlize Theron)to help the crew steal the gold back. The movie seems to get better and really picks up the pace with mini Coopers racing through an engineered Los Angeles monster traffic jam. A clever finale is avenging and brings redemption.
Wahlberg is lost in his own definition of cool. Norton could have phoned in his part. Mos Def could use a diction tutor. And for the beautiful Theron...my heart somersaults in my chest.