Frank Oz truly intrigues me. The man has done numerous Muppet voices and even provided vocals for Yoda in the Star Wars films. His talents extend past the obvious voice-over ability, as he has directed some terrific comedies in recent years. When I think of Oz, films like BOWFINGER and WHAT ABOUT BOB? come to mind. About a month ago I watched the trailer for THE SCORE. It looked like a gritty crime drama, and featured some very serious actors in what seemed like a very serious story. I was shocked to see "Directed by Frank Oz" at the end of the trailer, and have been wondering ever since just what exactly to expect from this film. THE SCORE begins with our protagonist Nick Wells (De Niro) pulling off a seemingly typical robbery from a posh estate, while the owners are holding a loud and lively party just a room away. We follow him through his numerous drop off points, and eventually into his decorative home, all the while getting the impression that this man is obviously a seasoned professional. A few minutes later Nick walks into a fancy restaurant, which just so happens to be his, and is quickly met by Max Baron (Brando) who offers him a rather big job. At this point we can tell that Nick wants out, but the payoff involved with this latest gig creates quite a temptation. There's a woman named Diane in the mix, played by the lovely Angela Bassett, who really likes the idea of our hero leaving his "second" line of work. Nick begins to realize that by pulling this last job he can not only retire to a life of normalcy, but also satisfy the desired wishes of the woman he loves. One major obstacle stands in the way. Max informs Nick that in order to pull this gig off he must work side-by-side with the very man who lined it all up. Enter Jackie Teller, played by the unbelievably talented Edward Norton. Jackie is everything Nick isn't. He's impulsive, hot tempered, hasty and new to the game. But Jackie has all the keys to making things work. His mentally challenged alter ego named Brian just so happens to work in the facility housing the precious prize. Everyone there trusts Brian, and nobody considers him a threat, which makes him the perfect inside man. Just when it seems everything is coming together, our buddy Nick begins to have second thoughts. The whole thing seems like too big of a risk to take. To make matters worse, the job gets more and more complicated with each passing minute. THE SCORE is an effective thriller filled with just the right blend of tension and light comedy. Each character seems good and bad in different ways. We're never really sure who to trust, or how safe anything really is. Frank Oz has constructed a fantastic movie that has everything we could want in a film. The strong cast and solid performances help fuel the story even further, creating an exciting and engaging feel that holds the audience tightly within it's grasp. De Niro is and always will be the man who can play any role and be convincing. Brando is used sparingly, which is good since he is apparently way past the days of oscar-caliber acting. Max is a background character plain and simple. What the enormous Brando does with it is just enough, and that suited me just fine. Angela Bassett, looking incredible as always, plays the troubled love interest with simple yet effective form. This wasn't a big role, nor was it all that important, but it serves the character of Nick and she makes it work. The standout performance here comes from Edward Norton, and for those of you familiar with his work, that should come as no surprise. Watching Norton seamlessly transform from Jackie into Brian is impressive, funny and almost disturbing to a degree. You have to wonder if he's pulled this act before, because it would almost certainly work in the real world. Having the two lead characters as opposites of one another is nothing new for movies, but witnessing two acting greats like these is always fun. I'm very impressed with Frank Oz. He had already proven himself as a capable comedy director. Now he can add the successful ability for drama and thriller to his merit, thanks to this very well-made film. There's isn't anything too terribly surprising in THE SCORE as far a story goes. What you get is a good movie with good acting. That's something that seems hard to find these days.
