Action Plus

Rating: 8/10 (26 May 2003)

As action thrillers go, The Italian Job is first rate. This film unfolds in a predictable but interesting way. We have all of the usual characters, the tough guy (Jason Statham, the smart guy (Mark Wahlberg), the nerd (Seth Green), and the quirky guy (Mos Def). All of whom bring their characters expertise to the plot and have their screen moments ala every team film ever made since Mission Impossible. Edward Norton proved that he can play a character the way it's written and still put his own individual stamp on it. While the characters are interesting, the story and the special effects moments it presents are what drives his film. While I'm sure there is some computer manipulation going on, this film does not make its FX as blatant The Matrix. For me there are only a couple of problems. I couldn't figure out why, Handsome Rob didn't make a hit on Stella (His character would have) , why the characters didn't all freeze to death in the mountain lake (except the movie would have been over in twenty minutes) and I never can figure out why Mark Whalberg keeps getting starring roles.