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Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, Daniel Mays, James Faulkner ... see more see more... , Alki David , Michael Jibson , Richard Lintern , Don Gallagher , David Suchet , Peter De Jersey , Hattie Morahan , Peter Bowles , Gerard Horan , Craig Fairbrass , Colin Salmon , Sharon Maughan , Keeley Hawes , Georgia Taylor , Alistair Petrie

Jason Statham and Saffron Burrows star in director Roger Donaldson's cinematic account of the true-life 1971 London bank robbery that baffled the authorities and fascinated the public. Terry Leather (... read more read more...Statham) was a small-time car dealer who was trying to leave his shady past behind and start a family. Though he'd never been involved in any major crimes, he wasn't exactly on the straight and narrow his whole life either. Martine Love (Burrows) is a beautiful model from Terry's old neighborhood who knows that her former neighbor is no angel. When Martine proposes a foolproof plan to rob a Baker Street bank, Terry recognizes the danger but realizes this may be the opportunity of a lifetime. As the operation gets underway, the resourceful band of thieves burrows its way into a safe-deposit vault at the Lloyds Bank in Marylebone, quickly hitting a literal treasure trove of cash and priceless gems. But while the crew did know that the safe-deposit boxes contained millions in riches, they didn't realize that they also contained secrets that implicated everyone from London's most notorious underworld gangsters to powerful government figures, and even the Royal Family. Though the crime would make headlines all across Britain for several days after the fact, a government gag order eventually brought all reporting on the case to an immediate halt. Could it be that the most notorious bank robbers in recent memory were actually the most innocent people involved in this scandalous crime? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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74% liked it

232,851 ratings

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79% liked it

142 critics

R, 1 hr. 51 min.

Directed by: Roger Donaldson

Release Date: February 19, 2008

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DVD Release Date: July 15, 2008

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Flixster Reviews (14,796)

  • aquateen2
    May 9, 2012
    aquateen2
    [img]http://images.rottentomatoes.com/images/user/icons/icon14.gif[/img]

    A fairly simple, yet entertaining heist thriller. Although devoid of a consitent tone and pacing that's slightly uneven, The Bank Job is a highly likable and sometimes hilarious movie. It's greatest trait... read more is the brilliant casting and the crisp direction by Roger Donaldson. It's a thoroughly entertaining crime flick with enough tension, slickness and style. It's not the best out there but it redeems itself enough to make it stand out from, your average heist movie.
  • skactopus
    December 21, 2011
    skactopus
    Roger Donaldson decides to go thriller with The Bank Job.

    Sporting nearly 110 minutes of screen time, The Bank Job is a bit long for its own good. Of course, that doesn't make it a waste of time; however, an elaborate heist flick this is not. In fact, the heist

    ... read moreitself is a bit on the discouraging side when compared to the entire second half, which comes across like a mellow psychological thriller when multiple sets of characters are pit against each other.

    While light on the action and violence that can be considered tame, the story ends up with more emphasis on nudity and sexuality that ends up playing an integral role in the plot.

    Jason Statham is Jason Statham. He somehow gets by as the lead, despite being outdone in the acting department by the likes of Saffron Burrows, Stephen Campbell Moore, and Daniel Mays. Not to mention the other plethora of cast members popping in and out as the film progresses.

    Like the heist that takes place in this picture, The Bank Job isn't a masterpiece. Yet, it contains enough to be better than a mediocre movie.
  • cosmo313
    December 3, 2011
    cosmo313
    Based on true events, this is a heavy fictionalized and speculative look at one of the most infamous crimes in modern English history. Even if it may be fictionalized, just the very fact that this has some sort of basis in reality makes it worthwhile and interesting. But let's sa... read morey for a minute that it was totally fictional and had no real life basis: it would still be just as awesome of a stylish caper flick.

    It has a retro old school feel to things (and it helps that it is a period piece), and there's nothing wrong with that. Nothing is cut and dried, and there's a lot of subplots and twists and turns, ins, outs, and whathaveyous, and, while some of it is a bit convoluted and confusing at times, I still found myself able to follow along pretty well for the most part.

    A group of shoody criminals are wrangled into pulling a bank robbery, but the stuff they're after has some serious potential for all kinds of shit to hit the fan, and as a result, makes the possible consequences far more weighty than the benefits. I could sense of bit of Guy Ritchie in here (mostly due to Statham), but Donaldson makes this one his own by having a killer soundtrack, a great sense of style and energy, decent pacing, and some moments of truly genuine suspense and tension. It gets pretty gritty and hairy at times, but it never feels too over the top or out of place.

    Probably the greatest thing this movie has going for it is the cast. Jason Statham is pretty much the only really known performer here. I've heard of Saffron Burrows, but in name only. The rest of the lot are played by a cool cast of unknowns that I'd love to see get some more work. Now, being a crime movie with Statham in it, you might have some preconceived notions of how things might play out. In a wonderful breath of fresh air, this is a film with subdued action, and a more nuanced turn by JS. I dare say he actually has to do a bit more than kick ass and be cool. Awesome.

    All in all, not a bad little film. It's not perfect, and some of it could have been a little more straight forward, but it's fun, has good performances, and sets up a really interesting scenario with how it tweaks this fun little subgenre (mostly having to do with the plot that I don't even want to try to explain). I give it a solid B.
  • ironclad1609
    October 13, 2011
    ironclad1609
    It is nice to see that Jason Statham can still get roles in smart films like from his Guy Ritchie past, not just the dumb actioners he filmed so many of recently. This British heist thriller is based on a true story, which is sometimes hard to believe when you look at the events,... read more that start out a little confusingly but soon create an inescapable undertow, making for a very enthralling second half. The heist itself is not even the end of it, the events afterwards are the real highlight of the film. Some rather surprising and cruel deaths remind you that this isn't Ocean's 14, but a rough British story where no one is safe. The exciting showdown does give Statham a moment to show his fighting skills, but that's not what this film is about. The likable characters and complex plot make for a highly enjoyable, sometimes cruel, sometimes light-hearted film that takes no prisoners.
  • 76Majikat
    August 28, 2011
    76Majikat
    Surprisingly a very good film. If you're expecting a Hollywood Action film as I was (yes I didn't read up on it before I watched it) you'll be pleasantly surprised by this story. based on true events, told in a true London gangster tradition kind of way, with high ranking envolve... read morement.

    A very enjoyable Brit film, with a great cast. Statham is back playing the roles he is good at.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    July 1, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    I was pleasantly surprised by The Bank Job. I thought that it be another run of the mill Jason Statham vehicle, but it wasn't. The film was a departure from his usual work, which I thought was refreshing. A group of novice criminals are hired to do a bank robbery, one that would ... read moreshock Britain, and one that would involve British intelligence and the Royal family. Statham displays his talents very well, and I think that this is best role since Snatch. The Bank Job is a well crafted heist film, one that is very different from all the other films in the past. The Bank Job is a solid, tense action film with a good dose of drama to boot. The story is inspired by real events, and that makes it much more enjoyable and interesting. The cast are terrific on screen, and the film is yet another solid directorial effort Roger Donaldson who is a phenomenal director, helms this production, and he yet again creates a film that is stunning, entertaining and appealing to the viewer. Donaldson's previous resume of work speaks for itself. With The Bank Job, director Donaldson has made another fine film. The Bank Job is a must see film for any heist film fan, and they will not be disappointed. The Bank Job is one of the best heist films, and given time it will surely become a classic of the genre. A must see.
  • FiLmCrAzY
    June 12, 2011
    FiLmCrAzY
    i labsolutely love this movie, its not often that i dilike Statham movies anyway (accept for crank 2) but this is a very funny (if not typical) Statham movie.
    Its funny, exciting, and action packed what more could you ask from a movie.
    A very enjoyable movie and worth the watch.
  • gokhale1
    June 6, 2011
    gokhale1
    First up, do not be bogged down by the title..."The Bank Job" is not yet another done to death formula featuring the bank robbers' "one last heist before going clean, that has to go wrong"...something that you may have seen in countless pictures recently. If it is any consolation... read more, this is quite possibly one of the most refreshingly original caper movies I've seen in recent times..quite different from the usual fare; what's more, it is based on the true story of the 1971 Baker Street Robbery of central London (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baker_Street_robbery).

    It is kinda difficult to put down the plot synopsis of "The Bank Job" in words...I mean there is so much going on here, you hardly have time to blink. But I will make an attempt to state it in a nutshell (I hope).

    1970: Somewhere in the Caribbean, a raunchy threesome act is being captured on camera by an unknown person.

    1971: A militant gangster and a self-proclaimed black revolutionary and civil rights activist by the name of Michael X (Peter de Jersey) is operating freely and carrying on with his activities without fear of the metropolitan police, because he has a trump card under his sleeve which renders him untouchable. He claims to have scandalous pictures of a British Royal, Princess Margaret in compromising positions (possibly the aforementioned incident in the Caribbean?).

    The pictures are believed to be hidden away in a safety deposit box in the vault of Lloyds Bank and it is the task of the MI5 (Military Intelligence, Section 5) to retrieve these pictures somehow and save themselves and the Royal family a lot of embarrassment. Tim Everett (Richard Lintern) a shrewd MI5 operative has been given the difficult task, which is to become "The Bank Job". Can he pull it off?

    Parallel stories centering around one mobster by the name of Vogel (David Suchet) who keeps a record of all the corrupt cops he has to pay off to run his business, and a high class brothel owner Sonia (Sharon Maughan), whose clients include some top government officials somehow find a way into this chaotic situation!


    One has to compliment director Roger Donaldson. He does a pretty solid job of handling the taut screenplay by Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, one where there are so many characters involved, yet at no point are we confused about any particular character regarding his/her purpose in the film and the basis of his/her actions. It all plays out smoothly and the proceedings are clear enough, in spite of the razor sharp editing by John Gilbert. Things move at breakneck speed in this film and you don't have time to even blink or go in the kitchen to grab a drink or a snack. Right from the first frame, featuring T. Rex's "Get it on", "The Bank Job" sucks you into its rapid pulsating rhythm that never lets up and keeps you on the edge of your seat. Like all British crime thrillers, this one is stylishly shot and with a slightly sepia tone (to get that "70s" feel perhaps?). But while at the outset it may seem to look like a "Lock Stock..." like crime thriller with a crime scenario juxtaposed with a dose of dark humour, so is not the case, as "The Bank Job" takes a pretty serious tone in the latter half.

    The film picks up more steam in the latter half when 'the job' is on the verge of completion and is eventually discovered. It is here that things start to take an unexpected turn for everyone involved and they try their best to stay afloat in the whole matter. Thankfully none of the events or outcomes seem forced (well...maybe barring one or a couple at the most) or unconvincing and it all falls in place, leading us to a fairly satisfying ending. Some situations may seem a tad implausible, but then let's not forget that this is a true story and minor instances of cinematic liberties taken by the filmmakers are excusable in this kind of a film.

    The actors..most of them do a decent job; Jason Statham does his job dependably well, but for some reason doesn't get the 70s look right, and looks just like he did in Transporter, with the addition of a week old stubble. Keeley Hawes is good too in a small role as Statham's wife. David Suchet, Saffron Burrows and Richard Lintern are just fine.

    Check out "The Bank Job". It is a well-made, thrilling tale of sleaze, scandal and corruption and could very well be one of the finest caper films of recent times.

    Recommended!
  • fb732260458
    May 12, 2011
    fb732260458
    A refreshing entry into the Heist-film genre.
  • RossCollinsUK
    May 5, 2011
    RossCollinsUK
    Tense crime thriller inspired by a conspiracy theory about a real bank-heist in 70's London. Jason Statham is great in the hard man role but utterly useless when his character requires any more depth. An engrossing plot with many entertaining British characters and a Cypriot too!

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Critic Reviews

Wesley Morris
March 7, 2008
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe

It's something new for heist pictures: a movie that can't even rip off its predecessor with any panache. Full Review

Peter Rainer
March 7, 2008
Peter Rainer, Christian Science Monitor

The Bank Job is nothing more than an efficient time-killer with the added bonus of being based on a real misadventure. But, unlike its benighted cast of characters, it gets the job done without a hitch. Full Review

Tom Long
March 7, 2008
Tom Long, Detroit News

A tight, classic-feeling film about losers banding together for one big score, then scrambling furiously as they realize they're in over their heads. It's fast, nifty, sharp and sweet. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 7, 2008
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Thanks to the twin pens of screenwriters Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, what a jam-packed and misanthropic fiction this is. Full Review

Kevin Crust
March 7, 2008
Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times

Longtime screenwriters Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais have woven a masterful narrative full of odd twists and dark humor from which Australian director Roger Donaldson and a prime cast mine plum char... Full Review

Kyle Smith
March 7, 2008
Kyle Smith, New York Post

With its cockneys and coppers and the caper that comes a cropper, the movie is fully engaging on several levels. Full Review

Manohla Dargis
March 7, 2008
Manohla Dargis, New York Times

The workmanlike title The Bank Job is a nice fit for this wham-bam caper flick. Full Review

Stephen Whitty
March 7, 2008
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

There's nothing here as lively as In Bruges or as arty as the recent London to Brighton. But if we are in a mini-renaissance of U.K. thrillers, even the so-so The Bank Job is a good reminder of what m... Full Review

Carrie Rickey
March 7, 2008
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer

All in all, the film written by Dick Clement and Ian LaFrenais feels both absolutely of the 1970s and absolutely fresh. Full Review

Stephanie Zacharek
March 7, 2008
Stephanie Zacharek, Salon.com

You need the right actors to make a movie as intelligent and as engaging as this one is, and [director] Donaldson knows how to make each character in this rather complex ensemble seem whole and distinct. Full Review

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    • Lew Vogel: I have a very jaundice view of life, from what I see most of it is corrupt, venile, and vile.
    • Lew Vogel: I think drugs are responsible for the moral decay of this country's young. Smut, smut, and more smut - that's my special area of interest.
    • Dave Shilling: Be lucky!
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The Bank Job Trivia

  • Which movie features the quote, "You are not your job ? you are not how much money you have in the bank ? not the car you drive ? not the contents of your wallet. You are not your kahkis. We are the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world."   Answer »
  • In which movie does Brad Pitt say this? "You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your fucking khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world."   Answer »
  • Which movie is the following quote from? You're not your job. You're not how much money you have in the bank. You're not the car you drive. You're not the contents of your wallet. You're not your f&%$?@g khakis. You're the all-singing, all-dancing crap of the world.   Answer »
  • What is Jack Sternfield's job at the Seattle bank he works at in Firewall ?  Answer »
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