In both the original and the remake, a master thief is killed, and his final plan carried out. In both cases, and famously, the final caper involves Mini-Coopers going up and down stairs, through tunnels, and other places where only Mini-Coopers can go. Surely the remake was inspired by the re-introduction of the car in question.
The Italian Job (1969) 6/10
Charlie (Michael Caine) was in prison when the failed job took place, leading to the death of his mentor. He is financed through a crime lord, Bridger, who is not at all slowed down by being in prison.
This is a very weird movie. The whole criminal enterprise from within prison, the oddball nature of the crooks, the construction of the crime, it’s all kind of off, sometimes in a fun way, sometimes not. If the movie is famous for anything other than the Mini-Cooper chase (which is delightful), it’s the stunning final scene.
My problem is that Michael Caine is incredibly unpleasant. I imagine the role was under-written, and Caine did some internal character development, deciding that Charlie was controlling, even prissy. Or maybe it was all scripted. Regardless, Charlie is difficult to be with; not an anti-hero so much as an annoyance. Despite the wit of the film, that’s a pretty big obstacle.
On the plus side, the movie has a very Donald Westlake feel, with Caine as Dortmunder.
The Italian Job (2003) 7/10
Charlie (Mark Wahlberg) pulls of a successful heist under the tutelage of his mentor, Bridger (Donald Sutherland). Bridger is killed when a member of their own gang (Edward Norton) betrays them and steals the loot. Now the gang, with Bridger’s daughter (Charlize Theron) plan to rob the traitor.
There are some improvements here, notably that a woman has a real, rather than token, role. The heist is clever, the acting top-notch. There’s an extremely clever flourish with Handsome Rob (Jason Statham), who has the role normally played by a woman—seducing key personnel to gain their cooperation or distract them or whatever. Instead of a woman showing cleavage to a man to get a copy of a key as in most heists, there’s Statham batting his eyes at a female security guard.
All of this is very enjoyable if you like to while away your hours on fun heist movies. The problem is that it kind of blends into its genre. Despite real flaws, the original was unique, and this is just another well-made adventure.
