TOWER HEIST

US, 2011, 104 minutes, Colour.
Ben Stiller, Eddie Murphy, Casey Affleck, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Stephen Mc Kinley Henderson, Judd Hirsch, Tea Leoni, Michael Pena, Gabourey Sidibe.
Directed by Brett Ratner.

Exactly what the title says.

However, like so many films these days, it takes its cue from the global financial crisis and the criminal behaviour of financial investors who take the savings of the working class for crooked investment plans while living the high life.

When one of these charmingly callous crooks is arrested and the hotel staff discover that he has lost all their pension fund savings, and that he might get off, what else can they do but make a plan to raid his apartment and take back the cash he has secretly stashed away? Well, there could be other options but, in the tradition of the movie heists, they decide to go for broke.

The first part of the film consists of introducing us to the characters, the bad (Alan Alda playing smarmy and ruthless), the good (Ben Stiller as the meticulous manager of the tower) and the ugly (Eddie Murphy back to his old style repartee, thank goodness, as a con whom they call in to train them and take part). The ‘them’ includes Casey Affleck as a nice but inefficient concierge, Matthew Broderick who has lost his money and is to be thrown out of the hotel, and Gabourey Sidibe a Jamaican on the staff whose father taught her how to open safes, and Stephen McKinley? Henderson as an old, likeable doorman. Judd Hirsch is also around and Tea Leoni heads the FBI investigations.

No real surprises, but that does not matter. It’s how they do the heist and the twists in the execution, one of which concerns a valuable car which finds itself at one stage swinging wildly from the side of the Trump tower in New York which serves as the film’s tower (with, one supposes, no connection between Donald Trump and financial situations!).

Everyone does what is expected of them. There are plenty of awkward situations, near misses and clever misleading of the police and the audience.

It’s an easy holiday show – which can also get people going about the financial crooks of recent years.

1. Popular theme? Robberies? The atmosphere of the global financial crisis?

2. New York City, the Trump Tower, the interiors, the penthouse, the streets, the parade? The dingy parts of New York? The musical score?

3. The strong cast – and the variety of personalities?

4. The setting of financial mismanagement in the US, pension funds, greedy investors, their living a high style?

5. Josh as hero, living alone, very proper, playing chess with Arthur Shaw, opening the door to Shaw, kowtowing? Manager of the tower, the meetings with the staff, the clashes with Charlie about his efficiency, Enrique and his employment, Mr Simon and his severity? The running of the tower?

6. Josh, seeing slide on his way to work, their encounters?

7. Mr Fitzhugh, his story, finances, everything gone from the apartment, his being evicted?

8. Odessa, the Jamaican background, the pressures for her visa?

9. Lester, his stances at the door, knowing everybody? The news, his going to the subway, ready to throw himself under the train? His being saved?

10. Charlie, his inefficiencies, his charm, thoughtfulness while making mistakes? His pregnant wife?

11. The arrest, Shaw and his lifestyle, everybody’s shock, the staff and disbelief? Josh explaining the situation about the pensions? Their reactions?

12. The car in the penthouse, the explanations, Steve Mc Queen’s car? Its role in the plot later, Josh and his bashing the car? Shaw prepared to bring charges? The irony of the car being constructed and concealing the gold?

13. Claire? The FBI, friendly, the drink with Josh, ideas, the issue of the safe, the plan? Her team?

14. The crew, gathering together, discussions, agreement about the heist? The issue of Slide, his being in jail, Josh providing his bail? Slide and the group, the test, the details of each of them having to do some shoplifting? And his taking their money?

15. The training, cold on the roof, the issue of the keys, the safe – Odessa and her skills?

16. The time, the plan, the use of Thanksgiving? For the law courts and the judges?

17. The parade, the crowds in the street, the floats, the police, the FBI unable to get through?

18. The steps of the robbery, Charlie and his backing out, going into the hotel? Slide arriving dressed up in his suit? Mr Simon and his showing Slide the Fitzhugh apartment, Slide locking him in the cupboard? The elevator, the problem, climbing, the stairs? Slide trapped on the roof of the elevator? Odessa bringing the cake, knocking out the guard? The staff party, looking at the Playboy magazine? The safe, the guns, the safe being empty? The shot – and its damaging the car – leading to the discovery of the gold?

19. The snores, the car, getting the car out, the wall, Fitzhugh and his dangling, the room and the elevator? Lester and the diversion and the car chase?

20. The false case, the return, the arrests? Shaw and his protests? The reality of the gold in the car? The interrogations, Josh and his finding the ledger in the car?

21. The car in the pool, taking the gold, dividing it into parts, sending it to everybody instead of their pension fund? Josh’s heroism and going to jail?

22. A light-hearted look at the serious side of the financial crisis and its effect on ordinary people – in the context of a heist comedy?