THE ITALIAN JOB (2003)

MORGAN'S RATING

A band of thieves, led by Charlie Croker, pulls off the ultimate heist by rigging the stoplights of the city of Los Angeles so that they can drive right out of the city with a car full of gold (in a safe that they are stealing back after Croker's double-crossing ex-partner stole from Croker first), with nothing but greenlights, while everyone else gets reds, thus keeping the roads plugged with the largest traffic jam in L.A. history, and the police from pursuing them. Aiding their escape is the fact that the bandits are driving BMW Mini Coopers, so they are able to use sidewalks and the subway system in addition to the L.A. streets.

Mark Wahlberg (Charlie Croker), Charlize Theron (Stella Bridger), Donald Sutherland (John Bridger), Jason Statham (Handsome Rob), Seth Green (Lyle), Mos Def (Left Ear), Edward Norton (Steve), Fausto Callegarini (Italian Guard), Stefano Petronelli, Fabio Scarpa, Cristiano Bonora, Tiberio Greco (Garbagemen/Thugs), Jimmy Shubert, Tammi Cubillette (Detectives), Mary Portser (Stella's Receptionist), Shawn Fanning (Himself), Christopher Moore Jr. (Young Left Ear), Terrelle Jones (Kid on Left), Valentine Ebunilo (Kid on Right), Joel Homan (Young Charlie), Erik Walker (Bully), Scott Adsit (Actor), Boris Lee Krutonog (Yevhen), Julie Costello (Becky), Oscar Nunez (Security Guard), Franky G (Wrench), Marty Ryan (ATSAC Supervisor), Aaron Speiser (Danielson), Olek Krupa (Mashkov), Gawtti (Skinny Pete), Melanie Jayne (Skinny Pete's Girl), Gregory Scott Cummins (Ukranian), Thomas Alexander (Vance).

GET IN. GET OUT. GET EVEN.

PRODUCTION INFORMATION

DIRECTOR: F. Gary Gray (A Man Apart). WRITERS: Donna Powers and Wayne Powers, and based on the screenplay by Troy Kennedy-Martin. PRODUCER: Donald De Line. ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Lynsey Jones. EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Tim Bevan, Jim Dyer, Eric Fellner and Wendy Japhet. LINE PRODUCER: Guido Cerasuolo. ORIGINAL MUSIC: John Powell, Photek (additional music), James McKee Smith (additional music) and John Ashton Thomas (additional music). DISTRIBUTOR: Paramount Pictures.

FACTS

RELEASE DATE: May 30th, 2003 (USA) DVD RELEASE DATE: October 7th, 2003 (USA) BOX OFFICE OPENING: $19.4 million (USA) BOX OFFICE RESULT: $106.1 million* (USA) BUDGET: $60 million (USA) SHOOTING DATES: August 2002 -- Early 2003 - Edward Norton has made it clear that his participation is a result of contractual obligation, not choice. - While the thieves are spying on Steve Frezelli in his home, Michael Caine is seen on the large screen television in a clip from the movie Alfie (1966). Caine starred in the original Italian Job (1969). - Lyle (Seth Green) claims he was the creator of Napster, and that Shawn Fanning stole it from him. It shows a flash back of Lyle sleeping, and a person taking a disk out of the PC that has Napster on it. The person is really Shawn Fanning, the creator of Napster. - When Shawn Fanning steals the idea of Napster, the bottom of a Metallica poster can be seen on the wall. Metallica was one of the bands that brought about the end of Napster. - Two electric-powered Mini Coopers, and one Mini Cooper S works had to be specially built for the film, since gasoline-powered vehicles are not allowed to operate in L.A.'s subway system. - Director F. Gary Gray was unsatisfied with the film's box office performance on its first run and had it re-released in theaters in late August 2003. - In interviews, Jason Statham said that in addition to the stunt driving course they all received, he got two days' driving tuition from Damon Hill, the British ex-world champion Formula 1 driver. However, all the cast members acknowledge that Charlize Theron was easily the best driver among them. - 32 Minis were used throughout the shooting. - Screenwriters Donna Powers and Wayne Powers say in an interview featured in the DVD that they hadn't seen the 1969 original movie before agreeing to write the script. After that, they only watched it once. This was on purpose because they didn't want to copy the movie, they wanted to make their own movie inspired by the original one.

QUOTES

Lyle: [impersonating Handsome Rob and girl] You're not very bright are you? Lyle: [in girl's voice] No. Lyle: [in Handsome Rob's voice] Perfect.

Charlie Croker: You've got no imagination. You couldn't even decide how to spend 35 million dollars on your own. You had to get what everybody else wanted.

Stella: I trust everyone. It's the devil inside the person I don't trust.

Stella: I'm fine. Charlie: You know what fine stands for? Freaked-out, Insecure, Neurotic, and Emotional.

Lyle: I am The Napster!

Lyle: And then he's just the media darling...He's on the cover of all the magazines, I should of been on the cover of wired magazine. You know what he said? He said he named it Napster because it was his nickname because of the nappy hair under the hat. But he, it's because I was napping when he stole it from me. He didn't even graduate. Handsome Rob: I think it's time to move on, don't you? They shut him down, I wish they would do the same to you.

Lyle: You'll never shut down the real Napster.

Stella: I don't go out with strange men. I just met you five minutes ago. Steve: Well, I'll just have to sabotage my cable till we get to know each other better?

CRITICAL COMMENTS

"Probably the most distinctive thing about this version is that the Mini Coopers have more charisma than the star, Mark Wahlberg." -- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

"A slick caper movie with stupendous chase scenes." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times

"An entertaining picture, classy and well executed." -- Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune

"All summer movies should be this much fun." -- Margaret A. McGurk