THE ITALIAN JOB

US, 2003, 110 minutes, Colour.
Mark Wahlberg, Charlize Theron, Edward Norton, Donald Sutherland, Seth Green, Jason Statham, Mos Def, Frankie G.
Directed by F. Gary Gray.

Whenever there is a remake of a well-liked film, people ask whether it was necessary and how does it compare with the original. The 1969 was not a great film but it was very enjoyable with a young Michael Caine planning and executing a robbery with the blessing of an old-timer prisoner, played with relish by Noel Coward. And then there was the mini car chase.

Mark Wahlberg has a pleasant rather than charismatic screen presence. Donald Sutherland is the old-timer but disappears from the scene comparatively early. Charlize Theron is his daughter and joins the plan to steal back the gold bullion that the gang has stolen in Venice and which was taken from them in the Alps in a double-cross. Other members of the gang include Edward Norton and Seth Greene (Dr Evil's son in the Austin Powers' series).

There is a speedboat chase early in the film through the canals of Venice. One is tempted to think that they have substituted the minis and are staging the chase early. But, rest assured, there is a mini chase, it is very involved and takes place in the Los Angeles streets, the traffic lights now controlled by computer, and even in the LA subway.

Which means then that this is an OK entertainment, that we participate in the original robbery, carried out with perfect timing, are shocked at the double cross, want the villain to lose out to the gang with whom we now sympathise and trust that Wahlberg and Theron will fall in love. It won't spoil it to say that they do.

1. The popularity of the original film? The stars? The robbery? The chase with the Minis? Memories of the original?

2. The locations: Venice, the robbery, the chase on the canals? Philadelphia? Los Angeles, apartments, office, the robbery, the elaborate chase? The special effects and stunt sequences? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on the robbery in Venice?

4. The focus on the characters: John Bridger, his age, experience in prison, safecracker? His ringing his daughter? The phone call and discussion? A gift for her? His meeting with Charlie, their long friendship, jobs together, the plans? Steve as the inside man? Lyle as the computer genius, Handsome Rob as the getaway driver, Left Ear as the explosives expert? The portrait of the team?

5. The detail of the robbery, each one and their particular still, the timing, the contacts, the safe falling through the floors, into the water? The alternate safe on the boat and the futile chase through the canals by the police? The expert timing?

6. Steve, his contacts? The getaway through the alps, the hold-up of the car, Steve shooting John Bridger? Taking the money? The other members in the car, its going into the water, his shooting, waiting, presuming that they were drowned? Charlie and his quick thinking, the oxygen tank, saving their lives?

7. The transition to a year later? Stella and her work with the police, her father's ability in opening safes? Being a consultant? The offer of jobs? The meeting with Charlie, her being upset with him, accusing him of taking her father away from her? His explanations? Her missing her father, realising that Charlie knew him better than she did? His proposition about getting the money back from Steve, the possibility for revenge?

8. Steve in Los Angeles, with the money, getting rid of his associates? His being vulnerable? The group assembling in Los Angeles, with Stella, elaborating their plan?

9. The plan for robbing Steve: the disconnecting of his equipment, the flirtation with the girl and Handsome Rob, his getting the keys, the truck? Stella going into the house as the electronics expert, videoing the situation and the safe? The timing and the equipment being connected again by Left Ear? Steve and his approach to Stella, inviting her out? Her having to go to the date because of the party next door to Steve's house and the impossibility of taking the safe? Their discussion, his flirting, proposition? Her quoting about the devil inside a person and Steve recognising it as John Bridger's saying? His realising who Stella was, the appearance of the group, the confrontation?

10. The further planning for the robbery of the safe, Steve knowing, the cat-and-mouse tactics?

11. The build-up to the robbery, Steve and his getting the trucks, the security, the helicopter? The three different vans? The group using its ability to work out which was the heaviest van, Lyle and his ability to get distances and heights on his computer? His ability to stop all the Los Angeles traffic? His rehearsal and the confusion, his going into action, green-lighting the group, holding up everyone else? The group in their Minis, the range of practice they had to be able to drive them and at speed (with Stella's initial ability)? On the ready, the pursuit by the Minis, even into the underground in Los Angeles, the precise timing of stopping the train, going along the train lines? Getting the van, dropping the safe through the hole and then covering it, transferring the gold into the cars? Steve and his bewilderment with the helicopter, having to leave the helicopter, the final pursuit? His thinking that he got the gold, their being able to trick him?

12. The comeuppance for Steve, the revenge for his brutality?

13. The gang and their characters, rob and his self-confidence, good at driving? Lyle, the comic, the jealousy of people stealing his programs at university, his wanting to be called The Napster, his ability with giving all the dimensions of buildings, distances? Left Ear and the flashback to the explosion and his becoming deaf in one ear, his ability with explosives, the dangers, success?

14. Charlie, age and experience, friendship with Bridger, with Stella? Falling in love with her - and the happy ending?

15. The popularity of this kind of heist film? The detailed intricacies of the job, the technology, the chases - and their getting away with the money?