The Score (2001)

Director:

Frank Oz

Writers (WGA):

Daniel E. Taylor (story) and
Kario Salem (story) ...

Release Date:

13 July 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

There are no partners in crime

Plot:

An aging thief hopes to retire and live off his ill-gotten wealth when a young kid convinces him into doing one last heist.

Plot Keywords:

Montreal | Thief | Customs House | Heist | Jazz Club

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Robert De Niro	...	Nick Wells
Edward Norton	...	Jack Teller
Marlon Brando	...	Max
Angela Bassett	...	Diane
Gary Farmer	...	Burt
Paul Soles	...	Danny
Jamie Harrold	...	Steven
Serge Houde	...	Laurent
Jean-René Ouellet	...	André (as Jean Rene Ouellet)
Martin Drainville	...	Jean-Claude
Claude Despins	...	Albert
Richard Waugh	...	Sapperstein
Mark Camacho	...	Sapperstein's Cousin
Marie-Josée Colburn	...	Woman in Study (as Marie-Josee D'Amours)
Gavin Svensson	...	Man in Study

Also Known As:

The Score (Germany)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | USA:R (certificate #38218) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:14A (Alberta/Manitoba) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hungary:14 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:12 | New Zealand:M | Norway:15 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Marlon Brando refused to smile in his last scene in the movie, so his ever-so-slight smile was added in post-production by a computer.

Goofs:

Continuity: During Max and Nick's first meeting in Nick's jazz club, the level of Nick's drink fluctuates randomly.

Quotes:

Steven's Mother: [calling from upstairs] Steven, want some lunch?
Steven: [throwing an empty soda can at the stairs] I'm on the phone, bitch!

Movie Connections:

Featured in Making 'The Score' (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

Clap Your Hands

Average score

A by-the-numbers heist movie.

You won't find anything innovative here. A veteran thief looking for his "last job" so he can retire. A young "know-it-all" thief. The bankroller who brings it together. The girlfriend who wants the veteran to retire.

The roles are comfortable, the characters familiar. At least they're acted well. De Niro turns in one of the performances he *always* turns in of late. He breezes through the scenes providing satisfactory drama but doing *nothing* memorable. You will forget the character's name by the time the credits are done.

Brando... I'm not sure why he was in this, other than to place him in a movie with De Niro. He was fine as the money man but, given his legend, you just expect so much more.

Norton did the best. Maybe he's young enough to still give the extra effort and not just play the role adequately but try to breathe life into it as well.

The job itself is also routine. We have the valuable target. The nearly impregnable holding spot. The plans, the tunnels, the cameras. *yawn*

Oh well. If you just need an evening movie to relax with, this will do. As I said, all elements (acting, story, direction) are fine and you won't feel like you've wasted your time.

You also won't remember it tomorrow.

5 out of 10.