Review of The Italian Job (1969) by Roberto B — 30 Aug 2011

The Italian Job is one of the most beloved and lauded crime capers in British history, and there are times when this is rightly so. Still, the first hour drags so much with the over explanation and boring character development you wonder why anyone would sit through the next thirty minutes.

There is a great deal of British wit and in posterity a lot of thought put into this film, and watching can let you better understand the action that unfolds later on. Still, Cain's character of lifetime criminal Charlie Croker is a bland playboy with little interesting characteristics, like a down and out Alfie.

Noel Coward was a pleasant surprise on the other hand, playing an imprisoned mob leader controlling everything from his jail cell to the awe of the inmates and the honor of the prison guards. His devilish grin and villainous demeanor made for an interesting twist among the bland bunch of criminals.

Even comedian Benny Hill isn't given anything to work with, though he was wildly popular at the time. Still, the heist itself makes up for a lot of the film's imperfections. Though the amount of time it takes to get there is tremendously annoying, the actual choreography of the extensive car chase was inspiring.

Because we're not directly given the ensuing plan it's this gigantic surprise, the sheer genius of everything coalescing together with so much ease and suave sophistication, that caper is the only word strong enough to describe it.

Warning, of course, that you will compare to Ocean's 11 throughout.