Film And DVD Reviews by Phil Boatwright

Matt Dillion, Paul Walker, Idris Elba. Sony Pictures. Action/crime caper. Written by Peter Allen II, Gabriel Casseus, John Luessenhop, Avery Duff. Directed by John Luessenhop. 8/27/10

FILM SYNOPSIS: When a group of notorious bank robbers attempt to pull off one last job, the crew find their plans interrupted by a hardened detective who is hell-bent on solving the case.

REVIEW: It begins like George Clooney’s Oceans 11 or TV’s Leverage, both heavy on style and intrigue, but then gives in to Scarface-like violent action.

I thought there was going to be a moral – crime doesn’t pay – but the filmmakers changed directions. In Takers crime pays pretty well for some. Then there’s my two frequent complaints: the foul language and the bouncing camera.

“Phil, that’s how criminals talk.” I’ll take your word for that, but, as evidenced by all the movies now playing in theaters and on cable TV, so does everyone in Hollywood. We really are getting desensitized to the abuse of language thanks to the media. Same goes for the “stylish” use of the herky-jerky hand-held camera. Meant as a device to cause tension and aid in an antic pacing, this time its use actually gave me a headache.

One other thing I’m saddened about is that if I were to go back to a time when heist movies were as much psychological drama as action adventure, and when the crooks, no matter the lessons learned, had to pay for their crime, well, many would not wish to go that far back.

Just in case there are a few brave souls unafraid of black-and-white pictures, and care not that the film’s stars are all resting in the celestial firmament, allow me to suggest this DVD Alternative: The Asphalt Jungle. Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe and a scene-stealing newcomer, Marilyn Monroe, starred in this gripping tale of a robbery that slowly falls apart. John Huston co-wrote and directed this taut crime caper that’s as much a character study as a suspense adventure. For my younger readers, John Huston made classics, including The Maltese Falcon, The Big Sleep and Key Largo. I know, you haven’t seen them. Trust me they were solid. I mention them, because a great many films of today borrow themes Huston placed in films several decades ago – but not alwys with as much skill.

PG-13 (after the first 40 obscenities – mostly the s-word – and many other expletives, I stopped counting; at least seven profane uses of God’s name, an equal profaning of Christ’s name; explosions, shootings, brutal beatings and car chases/crashes – it’s a violent movie, barely missing the R-rating; drinking; drug references; I felt the film glamorized stealing and law breaking). Running Time: 107 min. Intended Audience: Older teens and above.

For information about Phil Boatwright, go to moviereporter.com.

DEFINITIONS

Profanity – God’s name followed by a curse or the abusive use of Christ’s name

Obscenity – a swear word, indecent language

Expletive – minor curse words such as damn or hell