The Bank Job
2008 · Directed by Roger Donaldson
Original language: English
- thriller
- crime
- drama
The story
Terry is a small-time car dealer trying to leave his shady past behind and start a family. Martine is a beautiful model from Terry's old neighbourhood who knows that Terry is no angel. When Martine proposes a foolproof plan to rob a bank, Terry recognises the danger but realises this may be the opportunity of a lifetime.
What it’s like
Warm, grimy 1970s London, shot with the flat, slightly sun-faded colour of that era: brown-tinted pubs, mustard and avocado interiors, rain on wet tarmac, and the cramped, low-ceilinged feel of a Lambeth-style street, with the tunnels of the Underground and a sealed bank vault providing cool, fluorescent-lit contrast. The camera stays mostly handheld and close in the working-class scenes, then loosens into wider, sunnier frames when the heist moves toward the Bahamas. The score is jaunty and funky, full of period-appropriate pop and brassy bounce, which keeps the mood buoyant even when the tension tightens. The vibe is cheeky, street-smart and caper-light, with a streak of unease underneath. It suits a Saturday night with friends, a comfort rewatch, or an easy evening when you want a crowd-pleasing caper with a bit of grit. Violence is occasional and sharp rather than gory, with some threats, a few scuffles and bursts of brutality, plus moderate strong language, nudity and sexual content in a strip-club setting. The pacing is brisk and the tone light on its feet, following a small-time crook drawn back into one last job. It's for viewers who enjoy British crime comedy-thrillers in the vein of heist films with a human, blue-collar heart.
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