THE Italian JOB (3 outta 5 stars) Okay, this is the original British version with Michael Caine, not the recent remake (which I have not yet seen at this time). I figured I owed it to the UK to see the original first since the Hollywood remakes of their best films (Get Carter, The Ladykillers) usually turn out so lame (though the US version of this one does look promising). Anyway, as far as "caper movies" go... this one is not necessarily one of the best. The actual heist is not much more than a glorified "smash and grab". The main point of interest is the getaway afterward... after creating a huge traffic jam which ties up the police, the thieves take off with their haul in a trio of modified Mini Coopers. Caine performance is adequate but he has played the same sort of role dozens of times and there is nothing much new here... he's the charming, rogue anti-hero who masterminds the big job. The movie has its moments, though and the final chase scene is fun to watch. The ending is quite odd... I thought it was extremely cool... but I'm sure it will tick some people off. ("What? That's it? What happens next?") But movies took these kinds of chances with endings in the 60s... I very much doubt that the remake ends the same way.
Review of The Italian Job
