Takers

Takers is a frenzied yet formulaic heist movie punctuated with shootouts and explosions, particularly a stylized machine-gun spray job with Russian mobsters that decimates a Los Angeles hotel suite. The action commences with a cleverly staged bank robbery involving the slick hijacking of a TV news helicopter as a getaway vehicle. The GQ-attired, cool-as-cucumber thieves led by Gordon Cozier (Idris Elba) include strutting brothers Jake and Jesse Attica (Michael Ealy, Chris Brown), along with buddies John Rahway (Paul Walker) and A.J. (Hayden Christensen). Stymied by the gang’s success, hardworking L.A.P.D. detectives Jack Welles (Matt Dillon) and Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez) are nevertheless determined to track down the culprits, and they catch a break when a recently released ex-con named Ghost (Tip “T.I.” Harris) approaches the champagne-sipping, cigar-puffing thieves in their posh penthouse hangout with a tantalizing offer they can’t refuse: to orchestrate a complicated multi-million-dollar armored-car takedown in just five days. Co-written and stylishly directed by John Luessenhop, this complicated caper was obviously inspired by Michael Mann’s Heat, along with countless Quentin Tarantino gangster epics. Double-crosses and betrayals abound, along with—unfortunately—laughable clichés, caricatured portrayals, and exhaustingly jerky handheld camerawork. Optional, at best. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary (by director John Luessenhop, producers Will Packer and Jason Geter, and actor Tip “T.I.” Harris), the “Yeah Ya Know (Takers)” music video by T.I., and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release are two “making-of” featurettes—“Executing the Heist” (11 min.) and “Take Action!” on stunts (10 min.)—and the BD-Live function. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an uneven film.] (S. Granger)