What the 2003 remake of the "The Italian Job" from 1969 lacks is the original’s light touch. It was a fun movie from beginning to end with Michael Caine as a recent graduate of the prison system who has to break back into jail to get - The Plan - from an irascible Noel Coward. This new take on the earlier film substitutes high tech gadgetry for character. That said, this "The Italian Job" is a one act show that saves all its chits for the thrilling robbery and chase scene through and under the streets of Los Angeles in the movie’s last half hour. The robbery is also a payback for a crew member’s betrayal at the beginning of the story.

After a daring robbery in Venice and a brief chase through the canals, one guy - Steve played by Edward Norton at his sleaziest - turns on his friends and takes the loot for himself. He leaves his partners for dead in the freezing waters of the Alps. Will he be surprised when all - except the one he kills at point blank range (hint! He’s the biggest star in the movie)- end up alive and well and living in L.A. The audience won’t…be surprised. And therein lies the rub. There are few surprises and not much left to the imagination. "The Italian Job" is a by-the-numbers heist/revenge flick that spends most of it’s time on the how and its execution. A standard sub plot is put in motion by another killing over the telltale imprint on the stolen gold bars and Steve’s survival instinct. It involves an almost Sumo wrestler size arms dealer and the Russian mob. The Mafia figured in the ’69 version but not in the same way.

Donald Sutherland has the Noel Coward role in name only. He’s Bridger, the brains behind the heist that takes place in Venice - hence the title, "The Italian Job." Mark Wahlberg has the Michael Caine part as Charlie, the master thief who looks up to Bridger as a father figure. Charlize Theron is Bridger’s daughter who is in business for herself as a consultant. She’s a master safe cracker for the authorities. She’s recruited by Charlie to case Steve’s house, find the safe, and crack it. By far, Seth Green is the most fun to watch as a computer nerd who has to hack into the Los Angeles traffic control center to create the mother of all traffic jams to control the route of Steve’s gold. In an ongoing bit he keeps declaring himself the creator of Napster and accusing his college roommate of stealing his idea. Seth’s performance is a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale build up to the big steal., which, for aficionados of the heist film, is the only reason to see "The Italian Job."

Copyright 2003

"The Italian Job" (1969) - Watch it just to compare with the new one. The traffic jam in this one takes place in Italy - not L.A.

"Topkapi" (1964) - Jules Dassin directs his wife Melina Mercouri and Peter Ustinove in an Oscar winning role as unlikely thieves after a fantastic jewel in the famous Museum in Istanbul. Its most famous breathtaking heist of the jewel was copied by Brian De Palma for the first "Mission Impossible" movie with Tom Cruise. This one’s funny and suspenseful. Also with Maximilian Schell and Robert Morley.

"The Day They Robbed the Bank of England" (1960) - Neat low budget thriller with Aldo Ray as the head of a crew associated with the IRA who plan to rob the bank from underground. Peter O’Toole co-stars two years before "Lawrence of Arabia." Directed by John Guillerman

"The Killing" (1956) - Stanley Kubrick’s film noir dissects the characters involved in the perfect plan - a heist at a race track. With hard s as nails Sterling Hayden, Vince Edwards and the great character actor Elisha Cook Jr. among others.

"Rififi" ( 1954) Fr. with English subtitles. Jules Dassin made this while living in exile

during the McCarthy Era. This one famous for the incredibly long silent burglary scene.

"The Aphalt Jungle" (1950) - John Huston’s analysis of a the crime of robbery from start to finish. With outstanding performances from Sterling Hayden, Sam Jaffe, James Whitmore, and Marilyn Monroe in a stand out bit part as the mistress of the money man behind the caper played by Louis Calhern.