The Italian Job review, The Italian Job DVD review

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Buy your copy from Amazon.com The Italian Job (2003) Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Edward Norton, Charlize Theron, Jason Statham, Seth Green, Mos Def, Donald Sutherland
Director: F. Gary Gray
Rating: PG-13
Category: Action/Comedy

Despite the quiet banter generating amongst the public about how big of a disappointment this film was going to be, "The Italian Job," which has scored early raves from a majority of the industry's critics, gets a big thumbs-up from me as well. Very, very loosely based on the 1969 Michael Caine film with the same name, director F. Gary Gray makes an impressive summer appearance, backing a remarkable mix of action and comedy with an exceptional A-list cast.

Mark Wahlberg stars as Charlie Croker, a master thief who, along with the help of his crew (including Edward Norton as Steve Frezelli), has just planned the ultimate Venice heist of $34 million in gold bars. John Bridger (Donald Sutherland in a refreshing supporting role) is the old man out who has just passed command over to Charlie and is just looking for one final payday before he retires for good. The opening heist is wonderfully directed by Gray and features a spectacular speedboat chase through the canals of Italy, displaying the kind of intense action and suspense that carries throughout the rest of the film.

While the names Wahlberg, Norton and Charlize Theron headline "The Italian Job," it's the supporting cast that truly shines, including Mos Def as a demolitionist, Jason Statham as the getaway driver Handsome Rob, and Seth Green as the techno-wiz who delivers a majority of the film's humor with his impersonations of Handsome Rob and his persistent claims that he was the real creator of Napster.

"The Italian Job" never does anything really spectacular, and you may have already seen summer movies better than this one, but it does offer something for everyone. Simply put, there's no way you won't have a good time watching this one. If you've liked more current heist films like "Ocean's Eleven" or "The Heist," than you will definitely enjoy "The Italian Job."

~Jason Zingale