The Robber

Adapted from the same-titled novel by Martin Prinz (which was based on a real-life story), this German film from director Benjamin Heisenberg stars Andreas Lust as world-class long-distance runner Johann Rettenberger, who can't seem to generate enough excitement in his life by competing in marathons, so when he isn't winning races, he's out robbing banks in Vienna—a treacherous recreational addiction requiring a macabre mask, a gun, and formidable endurance. Rettenberger is also an ex-con and rather obvious sociopath who skulks around like a zombie when he's not indulging in adrenaline-spiking activities. His double life seems foolproof until he meets a social worker named Erika (Franziska Weisz), with whom he forms an awkwardly intimate bond—although getting close to a woman turns out to be his fatal mistake. Unfortunately, The Robber fails to truly delineate Rettenberger's obvious psychological complexities, and the absence of at least a few quasi-warm-blooded qualities in this blank-faced automaton of a thief ultimately leaves viewers feeling somewhat indifferent. Still, this should be considered a strong optional purchase. (M. Sandlin)