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Created Mar 09, 2008 05:22PM PST • Edited Mar 12, 2015 07:28PM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   Very Good 3.5

   A quality caper movie based on a still murky true story from the early 1970s, The Bank Job efficiently entertains with a combination of larcenous derring-do and salacious scandal. Engagingly performed by Jason Statham, Saffron Burrows and a crew of quality character actors, the movie judiciously employs sexual perversions, a bit of ultra-violence and a sense of historical integrity to motivate it along to a reasonably satisfying conclusion.

4. Acting

   Very Good 3.5

   Jason Statham plays somewhat against type by holding his punches till late in the movie, and then downing only a handful of adversaries. But his glowering presence effectively anchors the movie, giving his band of wannabe bank robbers the spine necessary to complete the job.

   Saffron Burrows employs her gorgeous facial structure to great femme fatale effect. Her high and mighty cheekbones are the most spectacular since the glory days of Faye Dunaway, while her lips purse in a way that melts the will of stouthearted men (and women too, if her real life biography is to be believed).

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

6. Female Stars Very Good 3.5

7. Female Costars Very Good 3.5

8. Male Costars Great 4.0

10. Film

    Very Good 3.5

11. Direction Very Good 3.5

12. Play Great 4.0

13. Music Very Good 3.5

14. Visuals Great 4.0

    London circa 1970 comes to life, from the Minis to the bell bottoms.

15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 2.5

    A bit of the “ultra” (see Violence below) and glimpses of an orgy or two give this movie the necessary touch of vice.

17. Sex Erotic 3.2

    Peeks at a royal threesome, a parliamentary whipping, and a semi-professional porn movie give The Bank Job jolts of sexual energy.

18. Violence Brutal 2.6

    A bit of ultra-violence goes a long way, here employed by an underworld enforcer on a fool of a bank robber.

19. Rudeness Salty 1.8

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

    As I always say: “Based on a true story” is Hollywood-speak for “Bring on the dancing girls.” Here the true story remains murky at best, but the depiction of it feels real enough.

22. Circumstantial Glib 1.8

    The use of walkie-talkies and the enterprising ham radio operator who overheard them strikes a wonderful 1970s chord.

    As to the corruption of Scotland Yard and MI5/6 during this time period, who’s to say.

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0