MyRating: YYY1/2Director: John Luessenhop
Cast: Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy, Tip "T.I." Harris, Chris Brown, Hayden Christensen, Zoe Saldana
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, a sexual situation/partial nudity and some language
A group of professional and well organized bank robbers, consists of Gordon (Idris Elba), John (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christensen), Jake (Michael Ealy) and Jesse (Chris Brown), break their own rules when a former team member who has just been released from prison, Ghost (Tip "T.I." Harris), comes to them with a plan to rob an armored vehicle carrying $20 million. Their rule is never to execute a robbery without a proper and detail planning, but this time, even though their time to plan everything is short, the money involved is just too big to be pushed away. And this may be their biggest heist ever. But the flaw of their rushed plan is ready to strike them back, as not only they are endangered by a potential revenge plot from Ghost, who felt being left alone when he has to serve time in jail, but also they are intervened by two unexpected reckless cops, Jack (Matt Dillon) and Eddie (Jay Hernandez), who may destroy their whole grand plan.
A good heist movie with an interesting ensamble cast. The story was nothing new, but somehow it could grab my interest to follow the storyline till the end. The movie was also not perfect, with some cliche and stereotype, but it entertained. And the casts were fun to watch, even though many of the characters were not fully developed, but with one reasonable reason, there were just too many characters. And the director seemed oblige to give all of them enough screen time, by giving most of the characters their own problems to solve in the movie.
The movie did not lack of actions. It has plenty. And when it came to fast paced action, it could came with a good one. The long chase scene between Matt Dillon, Jay Hernandez and Chris Brown was definitely the one. That was a very exciting and adrenaline-pumped scene. You will never believe Chris Brown (yes, the singer) could run that fast. I have my complains though, for the actions in this movie. The shaky camera works and too many close-ups when it came to action did disturb the enjoyment. And the idea of putting loud music behind a major shootout scene did also ruin the moment a little bit for me. The decision taken by some of the characters while facing a no way out situation near the end of the movie was also a bit too fast.
The actings were quite decent. The most 'annoying' one was Tip "T.I." Harris (the rapper). Zoe Saldana did not have an important role here with a small screen time, as she was only the supporting actress in this movie.
This movie was an example of how an above average script and direction could make the movie to work and entertain as it should. (MJ)
