"Armored"
Directed by: Nimród Antal
Starring: Matt Dillon, Jean Reno, Laurence Fishburne, Fred Ward, Skeet Ulrich
Rated: PG-13
Ah, the "heist" film - one of the most beloved genres in movie history.
From classics like "Ninotchka," "Riffi" and Stanley Kubrick's "The Killing," through the modern pop culture iconic films "Ocean's Eleven" and "The Italian Job," there's something about a group of misfits banding together for a big score that really delights movie audiences.
A sub-genre is the "heist-gone-to-hell-in-a-handbasket" movie, exemplified by Wes Anderson's "Bottle Rocket" and taken to the extreme by Quentin Tarantino's debut effort, "Reservoir Dogs." I've watched the latter more times than I can count and never tire of it.
Director Nimród Antal, last heard from with his really nerve-wracking scarefest "Vacancy," is obviously a "Reservoir Dogs" aficionado as well. His latest movie, "Armored" is not of the same caliber that Tarantino achieved with "Reservoir Dogs" but is based on the same template.
When the main character, Mike Cochrane (played by Matt Dillon) tells his ragtag group of would-be gangsters, "Nobody gets hurt ... no bad guys, just good guys," savvy audiences will immediately know that nothing is going to go as planned. And nothing does.
Cochrane is a seasoned driver for an armored car company and is used to carrying large amounts of cash in his truck. He also remembers a story about a group of drivers who faked a hijacking and made off with a considerable amount of cash with impunity.
Cochrane, an unlikely "mastermind," enlists the help of coworkers.
There's Quinn (Jean Reno), Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich), Palmer (Amaury Nolasco) and the youngest, more inexperienced Ty Hackett (Columbus Short). It's not exactly a brain trust, but Cochrane is sure the caper will be a piece of cake. And $42 million split six ways is a sweet payday. The better that things seem to be going to the characters onscreen, the more the awful truth is apparent to those in the theater.
And things get bad. The "Peter Principle" is in full effect. These guys are less capable than "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight."
Ty is Cochrane's godson and a new employee at the armored car company. He's a reluctant recruit but is much needed in Cochrane's plan. He reluctantly comes on board and turns out to be a major fly in the scheme's ointment.
The plan is for two trucks to divert to an abandoned warehouse, unload $42 million in cash, get back on route and claim they were hijacked. It sounds simple.
The first issue comes when one of the gang notices a homeless person in the warehouse witnessing the goings-on. Needless to say, the "nobody gets hurt" promise is abandoned.
The plan begins to unravel. A cop having a meal at a local hot dog stand (sometimes clichés are needed, and this one works fine) thinks he hears shots and heads to the warehouse. Cochrane tries to bluff him but fails. Big mistake No. 2 takes place when the cop takes a bullet.
After this chaos, one member of the team tries to do the right thing, save the cop's life, ditch the robbery and accept the consequences. Not everyone in the gang agrees.
After a rather pedantic first act, "Armored" begins to pick up steam. Director Antal wisely keeps the film short (88 minutes is long enough here), and Act 3 features the most engaging scenes, ones good enough that the viewer can forgive the slow kickoff.
"Armored" is a dyed-in-the-wool "B" picture, one that would be perfect to see as part of a double feature at a drive-in. It's no "Reservoir Dogs," but it's a decent, fun action movie.[[In-content Ad]]
Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield freelance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.
