The Bank Job (2008)

User Rating:

7.5/10   

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writers (WGA):

Dick Clement (written by) &
Ian La Frenais (written by)

Release Date:

7 March 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

The true story of a heist gone wrong... in all the right ways.

Plot:

Martine offers Terry a lead on a foolproof bank hit on London's Baker Street. She targets a roomful of safe deposit boxes worth millions in cash and jewelry. But Terry and his crew don't realize the boxes also contain a treasure trove of dirty secrets - secrets that will thrust them into a deadly web of corruption and illicit scandal.

Plot Keywords:

Bank | Safe Deposit | Pornographer | Murder | Police Corruption

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Jason Statham	...	Terry Leather
Saffron Burrows	...	Martine Love
Stephen Campbell Moore	...	Kevin Swain
Daniel Mays	...	Dave Shilling
James Faulkner	...	Guy Singer
Alki David	...	Bambas
Michael Jibson	...	Eddie Burton
Georgia Taylor	...	Ingrid Burton
Richard Lintern	...	Tim Everett
Peter Bowles	...	Miles Urquart
Alistair Petrie	...	Philip Lisle
Hattie Morahan	...	Gale Benson
Julian Lewis Jones	...	Snow
Andrew Brooke	...	Quinn
Rupert Frazer	...	Lord Drysdale
Christopher Owen	...	Mountbatten
Keeley Hawes	...	Wendy Leather
Taelor Samways	...	Catherine Leather
Kasey Baterip	...	Julie Leather
Don Gallagher	...	Gerald Pyke
Craig Fairbrass	...	Nick Barton
Gerard Horan	...	Roy Given
Robert Whitelock	...	Alfie Hook
David Suchet	...	Lew Vogel
Peter De Jersey	...	Michael X - Michael Abdul Malik
Johann Myers	...	Stanley 'The Knife' Abbot
Colin Salmon	...	Hakim Jamal
Sharon Maughan	...	Sonia Bern
Ray Nicholas	...	Vogel's Driver
Les Kenny-Green	...	Pinky
Jamie Kenna	...	Perky
Angus Wright	...	Eric Addey - Ham Radio Operator
Mark Phoenix	...	Mr Brown
James Hall	...	Customs Agent
Cameron Anderson	...	Young Soldier
Julian Firth	...	Lawyer
Norma Dixit	...	Customs Matron
Antony Gabriel	...	Reporter
Rupert Vansittart	...	Sir Leonard Plugge
Bronson Webb	...	Chicken Inn Waiter
Omar Mostafa	...	Chicken Inn Cook
Dylan Charles	...	Chicken Inn Customer
Michael Haughey	...	Bank Manager
Ray Trickett	...	Beat Policeman
Steve Gibbs	...	Newspaper Hawker
Ursula Mohan	...	Dave's Mum
Alan Swoffer	...	John Lennon
Louise Chambers	...	The Princess
Bonnie Simon	...	Island Woman
Dimitri Pappadopoullos	...	Island Man
Dai Smith	...	Wedding Band (as The Storys)
Alan Thomas	...	Wedding Band (as The Storys)
Brian Thomas	...	Wedding Band (as The Storys)
Rob Thompson	...	Wedding Band (as The Storys)
Andy Collins	...	Wedding Band (as The Storys)
Steve Balsamo	...	Wedding Band (as The Storys)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Debbie Attwell	...	Wedding Guest (uncredited)
James Fiddy	...	Strip Club Punter (uncredited)
Kas Graham	...	Playboy Club Punter (uncredited)
Mick Jagger	...	Bank Employee - Safe Deposit (uncredited)
John Warman	...	C.I.D. Officer (uncredited)
Chris Wilson	...	CID Officer (uncredited)

Directed by
Roger Donaldson

Writing credits (WGA)
Dick Clement		(written by) &
Ian La Frenais		(written by)

Produced by
David Alper	....	executive producer
Mairi Bett	....	co-producer
Steve Chasman	....	producer
Luigi Desole	....	line producer: Sardinia
Scott Fischer	....	co-producer
Scott Fischer	....	executive producer
Pete Ford	....	line producer
Alex Gartner	....	executive producer
Alan Glazer	....	executive producer
Gary Hamilton	....	executive producer
Ryan Kavanaugh	....	executive producer
Christopher Mapp	....	executive producer
George McIndoe	....	executive producer
Charles Roven	....	producer
Aaron Shuster	....	associate producer
Matthew Street	....	executive producer
David Whealy	....	executive producer

Original Music by
J. Peter Robinson

Cinematography by
Michael Coulter		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Gilbert

Casting by
Lucinda Syson

Production Design by
Gavin Bocquet

Art Direction by
Phil Harvey		(supervising art director)
Mark Scruton

Set Decoration by
John Bush

Costume Design by
Odile Dicks-Mireaux

Makeup Department
Kirstin Chalmers	....	hair designer
Kirstin Chalmers	....	makeup designer
Sarah Downes	....	makeup dailies
Waldo Mason	....	prosthetics
Donald McInnes	....	hair stylist
Donald McInnes	....	key makeup artist
Laura McIntosh	....	makeup artist
Sharon O'Brien	....	key hair & make-up
Sharon O'Brien	....	key hair stylist
Sharon O'Brien	....	makeup supervisor
Sophie Slotover	....	hair trainee
Sophie Slotover	....	makeup trainee

Production Management
Naomi Cleaver	....	production manager: second unit
Sasha Harris	....	production manager
Charlie Simpson	....	unit manager
Noelle Siri	....	unit production manager: Sardinia
Marc van Buuren	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew Baker	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Matt Baker)
Brendan Campbell	....	first assistant director: Australia
Lee Grumett	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Lee Grummet)
Mark Hopkins	....	third assistant director
Toby Hosking	....	second assistant director
Katy Nagle	....	third assistant director: Australia (as Kat Nagle)
Emily Perowne	....	additional third assistant director
Josh Robertson	....	first assistant director
Greg Spiller	....	second assistant director: Australia
Luigi Spoletini	....	first assistant director: Sardinia
Michael Stevenson	....	additional second assistant director: second unit
Valerio Valente	....	second assistant director: Sardinia

Art Department
Brendan Barlow	....	plasterer
Louise Begbie	....	art department assistant
Steven Carroll	....	lead plasterer
Ben Collins	....	stand-by art director
Emma Davis	....	production buyer
Laura Dishington	....	graphic designer
Justin Dix	....	art director: Australia
Matthew Foster	....	dressing propman
Amelia Marasco	....	set dresser
Tony Marks	....	carpenter
Janine Marshall	....	head painter: Australia
Nick Pelham	....	storyboard artist
Hannah Read	....	art department assistant: models
Malcolm Roberts	....	construction manager
Richard Selway	....	assistant art director
Pippa Sheen	....	art department coordinator: Australia
Nick Turnbull	....	property master

Sound Department
Steve Burgess	....	sound effects editor
Simon Bysshe	....	boom operator: second unit
Arthur Fenn	....	sound maintenance
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer: Los Angeles
Jamie Gambell	....	additional boom operator
Jamie Gambell	....	sound recordist: second unit
Peter Gleaves	....	adr mixer
James Harvey	....	dialogue editor
Simon Hayes	....	production sound mixer
Robin Johnson	....	boom operator
Kieran McVeigh	....	assistant sound editor
Peter Mills	....	sound effects editor
Andrew Neil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andrew Neil	....	supervising sound effects editor
Paul Pirola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jonathan Rimas	....	adr mixer
Blair Slater	....	foley editor
Blair Slater	....	foley recordist
Lionel Strutt	....	adr coordinator
Tim Surrey	....	assistant sound
Mario Vaccaro	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Paul Dimmer	....	special effects floor technician
Brian Holmes	....	special effects coordinator: Australia
Matthew Horton	....	senior special effects technician
Matthew Johnson	....	senior special effects technician (as Matt Johnson)
Jess Lewington	....	special effects production manager
Daniel Williams	....	special effects technician
Joss Williams	....	special effects consultant

Visual Effects by
Nathan Bayliss	....	opening titles designer: Iloura
David Booth	....	visual effects supervisor: Iloura
Paul Buckley	....	lead animator: Iloura
Alan Fairlie	....	lead compositor: Iloura
Dominic Hellier	....	digital artist: Iloura
Neil Huxley	....	graphics designer
Ineke Majoor	....	visual effects producer: Iloura
Glenn Melenhorst	....	lead matte painter: Iloura
Keith Meure	....	digital artist: Iloura
Simon Nix	....	data wrangler
Matthew Pascuzzi	....	digital artist: Iloura
John Swinnerton	....	visual effects advisor
Peter Webb	....	visual effects supervisor: Iloura

Stunts
Nick Chopping	....	stunt performer
Rick English	....	stunt driver
Mike Lambert	....	stunt performer
Russell MacLeod	....	stunt driver
Daniel Naprous	....	stunt performer
Ray Nicholas	....	stunt performer
James O'Donnell	....	stunt performer (as James O'Dee)
Peter Pedrero	....	assistant stunt coordinator
Peter Pedrero	....	stunt performer
Greg Powell	....	stunt coordinator
Joanna Whitney	....	stunt performer (as Jo Whitney)
Danny Baldwin	....	stunt coordinator: Australia (uncredited)
James Grogan	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Roy Taylor	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Ian van Temperley	....	stunt driver (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Alfie Biddle	....	assistant camera
Mike Brewster	....	camera operator: second unit
Mike Brewster	....	director of photography: second unit
Julian Bucknall	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Luke Coulter	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Terry Edland	....	gaffer
Jack English	....	still photographer
John Ferguson	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Tony Hayes	....	rigger gaffer
Peter Hodgson	....	video playback operator: dailies
Stuart Howell	....	camera operator
Andrew Jerram	....	first assistant camera: Australia
Richard Mason	....	electrician
Ray Meares	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Luke Myslowski	....	grip
Peter Myslowski	....	key grip
Chris Plevin	....	camera operator: "b" camera
David Toft	....	video playback operator
Paul Toomey	....	best boy
Karl von Moller	....	director of photography: Australia

Casting Department
Emma Callinan	....	second casting assistant
Kate Ringsell	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Poli Kyriacou	....	costume trainee
Sharon Long	....	assistant costume designer
Marion Weise	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
George Awburn	....	on-line editor
Ruth Coulson	....	first assistant editor
Amelia Ford	....	first assistant editor
Pamela Hammond	....	head of post-production
Justin Heitman	....	digital intermediate colorist
Rachel Knowles	....	post-production coordinator
Tony Poriazis	....	digital intermediate film supervisor
Thy Quach	....	second assistant editor
Nic Smith	....	digital intermediate data manager
Leroy Wolf	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Jez Colin	....	composer: additional music
Ricky Edwards	....	orchestrator
Rebecca Gatrell	....	music clearances (as Becca Gatrell)
Robin Gray	....	music engineer (as Robin Grey)
Kim Green	....	music consultant
Kim Green	....	music licensing
Peter Hoyland	....	orchestral production manager
Brett Kelly	....	conductor
Simon Leadley	....	music editor
Abbie Lister	....	music clearances
Dennis McCarthy	....	orchestrator
J. Peter Robinson	....	orchestrator
J. Peter Robinson	....	score mixer
J. Peter Robinson	....	score producer
Edward Rogers	....	additional music arranger (as Edward L. Rogers)
Edward Rogers	....	music programmer (as Edward L. Rogers)
Chris Scallan	....	score mixer: orchestral score
Jed Smith	....	additional music courtesy of

Transportation Department
Peter Boothby	....	period vehicle coordinator
Rob Hempenstall	....	driver
Marcus Ward	....	unit driver

Other crew
Monika Agorelius	....	electronic press kit
Yasu Asami	....	monitor wrangler
Philip Ball	....	stand-in
Celia Barnett	....	researcher
Nathan Bayliss	....	title designer
Kate Brontë-Stewart	....	floor runner
Daniel Budd	....	assistant accountant
Julie Burnham	....	unit nurse
Mally Chung	....	location scout
Tom Crooke	....	location scout
Mary Cybriwsky	....	assistant: Mr. Glazer
Neale De Silva	....	script supervisor assistant
Giles Edleston	....	location manager
Jo Farrugia	....	assistant to director
Hollie Foster	....	assistant production coordinator
Tania Gordon	....	unit base runner
Ella Harris	....	production runner
Polly Hope	....	script supervisor: second unit
Andy Horwitz	....	assistant: Mr. Roven
Demetri Jagger	....	video projectionist
Polly Jefferies	....	production coordinator
Stuart Johnson	....	fire safety
Pat Karam	....	location scout
Charlotte Keating	....	assistant to producers
Tamara King	....	daily crowd runner
Frankie Lindquist	....	assistant: Mr. Glazer
Hsinyi Liu	....	daily crowd runner
Nick Miller	....	assistant: Alex Gartner
Mark Munnelly	....	auditor
Nick Oliver	....	assistant location manager
Joseph Palmer	....	assistant: Mr. Roven
Sylvia Parker	....	script supervisor
Natalia Pizzey	....	production coordinator: second unit
Candice Preddy	....	assistant to director
Luke Scully	....	monitor wrangler
David Shojai	....	assistant: Mr. Chasman
Graham Smith	....	unit publicist
Tracey Taylor	....	assistant accountant

Thanks
Kent Houston	....	special thanks (as Kent Huston)

Production Companies

• Mosaic Media Group
• Relativity Media (in association with)
• Omnilab
• Arclight Films
• Skyline (Baker St)
• Atlas Entertainment

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2008) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Benelux Film Distribution (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Lionsgate (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Movie-Eye Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2008) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Paramount Pictures (2008) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Pinema (2008) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2008) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Castello Lopes Multimedia (2008) (Portugal) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2008) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Hollydan Works (2008) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2008) (Germany) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2008) (USA) (DVD)
• Lionsgate (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Maple Pictures (2008) (Canada) (all media)
• Pantera, La (2008-2009) (Italy) (all media)
• Top Film (2008) (Russia) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Digital Pictures Iloura (visual effects)
• Effects Associates

Other Companies

• ARRI Lighting Rental  lighting (as Arri Lighting)
• ARRI Lighting Rental  special thanks (as Arri Lighting UK)
• ARRI Media  Arriflex D-20 camera provided by
• ARRI Media  grip equipment (as Arri Media)
• ARRI Media  high-definition camera equipment (as Arri Media)
• ARRI Media  special thanks (as Arri Media GB)
• Allan Eaton Studios  orchestral music recorded at
• Clearing House, The  clearances
• Compuhire  video playback
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  international publicity
• Digital Pictures  digital intermediate (as Digital Pictures Melbourne)
• Digital Pictures  post-production facilities (as Digital Pictures Melbourne)
• Ealing Studios  special thanks
• Firstar Films  bridge financing
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  Avid Adrenalines and Unity LanShare supplied by
• Gearbox Sound and Vision  editing facilities and equipment (as Gear Box)
• Getty Images  stock footage and images (as Getty)
• Hothouse Music  music clearances (as Hot House Music)
• Lionsgate Records  soundtrack
• Mayflower Studios  adr recording studios
• Metro Color London  stills processing (as Metro)
• Midnight Transfer  post-production telecine facilities
• One8Six  video playback equipment
• Peerless Camera Company  special thanks
• Pinewood Studios  movie studio (exterior London street set)
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Rebrush Music Studios, Los Angeles  score production and mixing
• Sing Sing Studios  orchestral music mixed at
• Soundfirm  sound post-production (as Soundfirm Melbourne)
• Wavevend Communications  walkie talkies (as Wavevend)

Also Known As:

Baker Street (UK) (working title)
D-Notice (UK) (working title)
The Bank Job (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

Ireland:15A | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #43693) | Portugal:M/16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Norway:15 | Malaysia:18PL (cut) | Singapore:R21 | Germany:12 | Brazil:16 | Philippines:R-13 (MTRCB) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Australia:MA | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Japan:PG-12 | Denmark:11 | Austria:16 | South Africa:16LV | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | Iceland:16 | Mexico:B15

Filming Locations:

Aldwych Underground Station, Aldwych, Holborn, London, England, UK

Company:

Mosaic Media Group

Trivia:

Cameo: [Mick Jagger]As a bank employee.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: The movie's opening sequence ("Caribbean 1970") plays the T-Rex song "Bang A Gong (Get It On)," first released in September 1971. But it is only in the soundtrack, and the characters in the scene do not hear it.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Eddie Burton: [while drilling a mileage meter back] Another Terry Leather low mileage here.

Movie Connections:

References "Pinky and Perky" (1957)

Soundtrack:

Those Were the Days

Slow beginning but brilliant pay off

I'll be honest, I only saw The Bank Job because I had some free tickets for an advance screening, had I have not got these tickets I would not have bothered seeing it. The only trailer I had saw for it just didn't really appeal to me, I do enjoy Jason Statham movies, but this one seemed a bit serious in my eyes. Still I went today to the 6.30 screening and was surprised to enjoy it quite as much as I did. Admittedly for the first half hour I did get quite bored, the characters weren't really memorable and the set up seemed really dull. Thankfully when the heist gets under way, and especially the aftermath, the movie hits top gear and left me thrilled. The fact the movie is based on a true story still leaves me quite amazed, as the events that happen seem purely like the stuff that you see in the movies. How much of it is real and how much of it is purely to make it a better movie, a fight involving Statham I am certain didn't happen. The performances are surprisingly well rounded, Statham doing a brilliant job and the majority of the supporting cast getting some great scenes. Alas the movie does start to fall apart under close inspection, the plot is never concluded quite as well as I would have liked, and the movie does have some long stretches where not a lot is happening. If you can overlook this fact then you will a lot to enjoy in this very well made movie.

So onto the performances. As I have said Statham does a surprisingly admirable job in the film. When you look at his CV of films you realise he isn't exactly the most talented actor. In fact all he generally has to do is grumble and hit things a lot. But there is just no denying that the man has a hell of a lot of charisma, in this film he truly gets to display his acting skills. Of course on occasion he delivers a dodgy line, but then if you watch some of the smaller scenes with his characters wife you realise how much potential he has. If given the right material I am sure Statham can truly develop as an actor. Saffron Burrows is brilliant as the slightly suspicious Martine for the first half, unfortunately after the heist she has little to do and the character never felt fully concluded. Still she does have some great moments in the earlier part of the film. Daniel Mays runs off with the majority of the movie as Dave, in fact this looks set to launch Mays career a bit further, he has the best lines and is a funny character. Richard Lintern (who I have to confess I thought was Dougray Scott for half the film) is brilliant as the man behind the heist, in some way that is, and his character is one of the most rounded. Peter De Jersey as Michael X is menacing in his all too brief screen time, but like Martine his character never felt fully dealt with. Still he and the other chief villain, David Suchet, are quite menacing.

The Bank Job when advertised does come across as a typical gangster flick with a lot of humour in it. However when watching it I have to be honest and say it isn't that funny. There are a couple of lines here and there but the movie doesn't really make you laugh that much. Neither is it that big of a gangster flick, of course there are the local gangster running around, and the movie becomes more along that line towards the end. But for the majority of the film it comes across as a slightly grittier and far less flashy Ocean's Eleven. The scenes where they try to rob the bank are definitely some of the highlights, however its the final 45 minutes that stick firmly in mind. What happens after the robbery is just thrilling to watch, will they get away with it, won't they? Things also get a lot darker near the end, also quite violent one scene, or the idea of what was going to happen, made me wince a bit. The film is superbly directed as well, its not too flashy but there are some great shots in there. Unfortunately the music does start to irritate after a while, everything seems overdone, a scene which is meant to be funny is ruined because the music sounds like its from an action movie, it just doesn't truly suit the film all the time. Also as previously mentioned the beginning as well is quite boring.

Overall The Bank Job is a great movie that with a bit of fine tuning at the beginning could make it even better. If you want a smart thriller that will surprise you because of it being based on real events that I highly recommend this. Don't expect an all time classic though.