The Italian Job

A slick, sexy car chase flick and a stimulating heist picture rolled into one, this enjoyably escapist remake of a 1969 action-caper-comedy is smarter, more tense, and less predictable than its big-budget style and car-product-placement plot would lead you to expect. In fact, this jaded critic genuinely didn't know how the criminal-heroes were going to pull off their elaborate, crook-vs.-crook climactic heist, which involves an armored-car shell game and new BMW Mini Coopers small enough to navigate through Los Angeles traffic jams, onto sidewalks, and into subway tunnels. Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, rapper Mos Def, wisecracker Seth Green, and cockney tough-guy Jason Statham star as an eclectic crew of criminals seeking revenge--in the form of a complex $35 million sting--against smarmy, pimp-mustachioed Edward Norton, who double-crossed them in the film's exhilarating opening heist. Packed with snappy twists and complications--not the least of which is that Norton has wised up and is on to them--director F. Gary Gray's The Italian Job is a crisp, sharp-edged popcorn flick intelligent enough to satisfy audiences looking for something more than hackneyed videogame heroics. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include the 18-minute making-of featurette “Pedal to the Metal,” an eight-minute “High Octane” featurette on stunts, the five-minute featurette on the script “Putting the Words on the Page,” the five-minute featurette “Driving School” about the mandatory 3-4 week stunt driving classes the actors took, the five-minute featurette “The Mighty Minis” on the film's Mini Cooper autos, six deleted scenes, and a trailer. Bottom line: the “special collector's edition” tag seems a bit strong for this mini-featurette-heavy disc that doesn't even feature a commentary, but this is otherwise a decent extras package for a solid thriller.] (R. Blackwelder)