Thursday Movie Picks: Heist Movies
1) The Walk
This is probably one of the most unique heist movies out there because there's no guns and no one dies. That doesn't make it any less thrilling and this is also one of the few 3D films that absolutely needed to be shot that way.
2) The Lookout
This is a very quiet heist movie. JGL plays a janitor at a bank who suffered from a traumatic brain injury years before. Because of this, he's suckered into a robbery.
3) Inception
Stealing things from dreams. Now this is one hell of a heist movie and is still one of my favorite movies of all time. I love everything about it. I'm still pissed Nolan didn't get a best director nom for this.
Looks like someone is into Joseph Gordon-Levitt! I loved Inception, it's my favourite Nolan after Memento. I'm yet to watch the Walk because I suffer from vertigo and I was told it was not a good idea to go the cinema. But I'll catch up soon on dvd or netflix.
ReplyDeleteMy JGL obsession knows no bounds. Hands down my favorite actor. Yeah, if you have vertigo I would not have recommended that in theaters. There was a few times where I actually shuddered a bit when he's on a ledge. It felt so real.
DeleteAll-JGL! LOVE IT! I'm still mad at myself for missing The Walk in theaters. It just came out at the worst time and after it flopped it left the IMAX 3-D places faster than you can say "tightrope". Oh well.
ReplyDeleteHaven't seen The Lookout but I hear good things. LOVE Inception. Great picks!
I hate 3D movies, but I'm glad I saw The Walk in 3D. It really enhanced it.
DeleteOh a theme within a theme! Love them. I'm a big fan of JGL myself.
ReplyDeleteInception is a wonderful puzzle of a picture with a great cast, I especially like Tom Hardy in it, and it's full of striking visuals.
I like but didn't love The Lookout but it fits well this week.
I have not, and probably never will see, The Walk. I hate 3-D, it gives me a headache, and I'm not very good with heights. I couldn't even watch the preview with feeling a bit dizzy...so just no. I did however watch the original documentary Man on Wire that it was based on and that was fascinating.
So many to choose from this week but I managed to get down to three and an extra that is just such a signature film of the genre I couldn't leave it out.
The Italian Job (2003)-Sleek adventure of a pair of heists, betrayal and revenge among a group of thieves most of whom are honorable in their way. Beautiful locations, a jaunty tone and sprightly performances by the entire cast filled with familiar faces make this a cut above. Everybody’s good but Seth Green and Mos Def stand out.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)-On a hot summer day in Brooklyn what starts as a poorly planned bank heist quickly devolves into both a hostage situation and a media circus when it becomes a police standoff. Brilliant Sidney Lumet directed film features three award caliber performances at its core from Al Pacino, Charles Durning and John Cazale.
5 Against the House (1955)-Two college buddies Ronnie and Roy are pulled in briefly in connection with the attempted robbery of a Reno casino in which they had no part. Waiting to be released Ronnie overhears one of the cops say the casino can’t be successfully robbed and becomes obsessed with figuring out how to plan the perfect heist. Initially just an intellectual challenge until one of their other buddies, violent war vet Brick, discovers the plan and forces them to proceed involving the unsuspecting Al (Guy Madison) and his girlfriend, nightclub-singer Kaye (Kim Novak) along the way. Decent heist film that is rare among 50’s film in its allusions to Brick’s war experience (Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome) being at the root of his erratic behavior.
Honorable Mention-The Asphalt Jungle (1950)-Ex-con Dix (Sterling Hayden) plans to steal a cool million in jewels. He gathers a team of small-time crooks together to pull the job, which is a success until a stray bullet kills one of the men. As they scramble to cover themselves the men become entangled in a web of treachery and murder. John Huston keeps the tension tight in this landmark noir that provided the first real step forward for Marilyn Monroe in the small part of Angela, one of the men’s kept woman.
Good call on the Italian Job, I liked that one. I haven't seen your other picks.
DeleteOh yeah the Lookout is with Matthew Goode, right? I remember it being quite decent, JGL was very good in it
ReplyDeleteYep! He's in that too. Great little film.
DeleteLove the JGL theme. Inception is just marvelous. Still haven't seen the other two yet, but I'll definitely be watching The Walk soon. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteMe Thinks you love JGL:) I have not seen the 2nd film but saw the 1st just recently which is stunning for the photography and that this is really true. It is a really good movie. I can see that I would have cringed seeing it on the big screen since i am terrified of heights. That friend of his who is scared of heights...is not scared of heights:) Inception is such a great movie and it is one that you have to see more than once...and still have trouble figuring it out
ReplyDeleteYes, I love him so much. lol Inception is one of my favorites, excellent film.
DeleteYES, Inception. One of my all-time favorites. I think I saw this seven times in theaters, and every time it was worth it. Nice picks!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I think the most I've ever seen a movie in theaters was 4 times, and that was Return of the King.
DeleteWith the exception of The Walk which I haven't seen, I can totally say yes to The Lookout and Inception.
ReplyDeleteI hope you like The Walk if you get the chance to see it.
DeleteI'm going to recommend my wife read this post. The two of you would probably spend ours gushing over JGL. She is total "trash" over him as well. The Lookout is a great smaller heist film that I haven't seen in awhile. And Inception is awesome! The Walk was okay. But the doc just does that story so much more justice. Seeing that in 3D was amazing. I almost got sick. My wife was actually getting the sweats watching that sequence.
ReplyDeleteThat scene where he's hiding from the security officer and just casually jumps over the ledge to do so freaked me out so much.
DeleteYaassss your wife has good taste! lol
Joseph Gordon-Levitt fest - love it! I haven't seen The Walk yet but I did love Man on Wire.
ReplyDeleteIt's always a JGL fest here. lol
DeleteI completely overlook The Lookout, maybe it was because I just wasn't looking at bank heists at all, but anyway I love the The Lookout. It's just soo good.
ReplyDeleteYes it is! I'm glad you like it too.
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