Intermission: 'Italian Job' takes too many plot twists

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Jim Wunderle is a Springfield free-lance writer and musician.|ret||ret||tab|

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Once summer gets under way after Memorial Day movie-goers always need to kick things off with a good action or caper film, and "The Italian Job" remake is the one that fits the bill this season.|ret||ret||tab|

The original, starring Michael Caine, was a comical take on the classic caper theme. The new version is comical as well, but I can't say if the comedy is intended. There is some cheeseball dialogue being spread about in this picture.|ret||ret||tab|

The principal actors Edward Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron are world class, and it would be hard to imagine how all three (despite the money) could be coerced into something that wasn't on par with their proven careers. So maybe what I took for stupidity in the script and dialogue was tongue-in-cheek comedy that I just missed. |ret||ret||tab|

It happens. |ret||ret||tab|

To say the plot is convoluted would be a disservice to the word convoluted.|ret||ret||tab|

Screenwriters Donna Powers and Wayne Powers, who based their script on the original screenplay by Troy Kennedy Martin, have thrown in more twists than can be easily followed. I was confused from five minutes in. By the last act, which is action-packed and designed to be crowd-pleasing, I couldn't remember who had done what to whom. I was still trying to figure out something that happened in act one.|ret||ret||tab|

But technically, it's a thrill ride. |ret||ret||tab|

Director F. Gary Gray does chase scenes with helicopters, armored cars, motorcycles and little autos (classic Mini Coopers) that are eye-popping. |ret||ret||tab|

The pinnacle car chase, from "The French Connection," has inspired many a great scenario since and even when new movies make an obvious play to outdo the original, it can be fun. |ret||ret||tab|

I'll tip my hat to Gray for his work in that area.|ret||ret||tab|

The setup in "The Italian Job" involves a gang of genteel thieves, all with special skills, and their latest endeavor: a gold bar robbery worth tens of millions of dollars.|ret||ret||tab|

Donald Sutherland, as John Bridger, is the mastermind. His most valuable player is Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg), a strategist without peer. Bridger's second in command, though, is Steve (Edward Norton). |ret||ret||tab|

The heist, a complicated endeavor, goes as planned until Steve proves to be more interested in his own well-being than operating as a team player.|ret||ret||tab|

After the double cross goes down, Steve is certain that everyone else involved is dead. |ret||ret||tab|

In truth (and through one of far too many convolutions) John is the only one deceased and the rest of the gang, now led by Charlie, is bent on getting "their" money back. Charlie thinks of it more as a matter of pride and honor than one of greed.|ret||ret||tab|

At this point in the game, the gang enlists a female safecracker, Stella (Charlize Theron), who does legitimate business as a consultant for big money companies. These folks want to make sure their money is safe while in the safe, and she knows the ropes. |ret||ret||tab|

Her connection to Charlie and crowd?|ret||ret||tab|

She's John Bridger's daughter. |ret||ret||tab|

While he was an errant dad, and she's on the straight and narrow, she's willing to cast her lot with the boys to avenge her father's death.|ret||ret||tab|

This is where the second heist plot kicks in. |ret||ret||tab|

Steve is living large in Los Angeles, pawning his gold bars a couple at a time for cash through a local buyer. |ret||ret||tab|

Charlie and the boys pinpoint all of this and know Steve is storing the gold in a safe in his house. |ret||ret||tab|

So, it's just a matter of stealing it. Again. They've already done it once, and now they have Stella around to do the safecracking.|ret||ret||tab|

This is a hard review to write, inasmuch as the plot is so convoluted and the enjoyment comes from the unfolding of the tale. Also, I really can't decide if I liked this movie or not. In spite of the car chases, the top notch cast and the wham-bam action, I found myself somewhat bored. |ret||ret||tab|

The original, with Michael Caine, is so much more enjoyable and I wondered if director Gray was trying to do for "The Italian Job" what Mike Myers and the "Austin Powers" character did for the James Bond movies.|ret||ret||tab|

It's not a bad film by any means and will surely be one of the summer's top grossing products. |ret||ret||tab|

The audience was large and responsive at the showing I attended, and we all loved the chase scenes in act three.|ret||ret||tab|

But the final word is this: I'd rather see "Reservoir Dogs," or even "The Mexican," again when I'm in the mood for a heist. |ret||ret||tab|

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