ARMY OF THIEVES

US/Germany, 2021, 127 minutes, Colour.

Matthias Schweighofer, Nathalie Emmanuel, Ruby O. Fee, Stuart Martin, Guz Khan, Jonathan Cohen.

Directed by Matthias Schweighofer.

With The Army of in the title, it is a quick reminder that this is a prequel to the zombie battle in Las Vegas actioner, Army of the Dead. This prequel is a story of origins, focusing on the character of the safe cracker, Dieter Ludwig, the attention-drawing Mattias Schweighoffer, who had his moment of glory in breaking into the crack-defying safe, Gotterdammerung.

But, this time he is not only the central character of the action, it is very much his film. And, instead of originator, Zack Snyder, is also the director.

In many ways, this prequel is far more simple in its plotting than for Army of the Dead. It is basically Sebastian (Dieter Ludwig is only a game name), a fairly simple banker with an uneventful routine daily life in Germany, making a little video online and immediately being contacted, mysteriously, for an underground sports event. No, not martial arts. Safe cracking experts are assembled for a knockout competition, eager crowds betting. And, before you know it – and before he knows it – he is the champion and recruited again but this time for a larger, illegal venture.

We know this because Sebastian has told us a story at the opening of the film, about a genius safe maker who created four incredible safes and named them after Richard Wagner’s operas. But, sadly, the disillusioned inventor made a huge safe, went inside, locked himself in and died. The legacy is of the challenge to crack the Wagnerian safes.

Which is really what this film is about. Sebastian is recruited by a mysterious young woman, with a wealthy background, but wanting more excitement and having a flair for pickpocketing and thievery (Nathalie Emmanuel as Gwendoline). Also in the team are various nondescriptive experts, Korina (Ruby O.Fee) who was able to illicitly download Pirates of the Caribbean to when she was 12! Then there is Rolf (Guz Khan) the getaway driver who could take a guest limousine from the hotel, travel around town and have it back instantly on demand. Then there is Alexis, a weedy little boy who decides to body build and become a martial arts champion in superhero, admiring the films of Nicolas cage, and coming up with his pseudonym, Brad Cage!

The cracking of each of the safes is enjoyable, lots of editing and pace, slow, quick, ingenious getting into the various banks, Korina activating all kinds of doors and entries, Brad Cage having to intervene with Plan B, a masked diversionary robbery (mask: Richard Nixon), with the touch of violence, in love with Gwendoline but moved by some jealousy – even jettisoning poor Sebastian in the street who has to steal a pushbike and, instead of a car chase (well the car chases him) an extraordinary feat through Prague of bike riding.

In the background are the Interpol experts – though their leader, continually frustrated, could be a relative of Inspector Clouseau.

Those who want zombie action (and the film cleverly inserts anticipatory sequences from Army of the Dead as well as directly linking it in the final sequence) have complained about how slow it is. Maybe that is the European sensibility and pace. However, and this reviewer agrees, quite a number of people like the tongue-in-cheek irony of so much of the dialogue and the blending of Sebastian as an innocent abroad gradually taking more delight in his skills and notoriety, with heist conventions.

1. The title, the focus on thieves, prequel to Army of the Dead? Scenes from this film incorporated? Sebastian’s nightmares and the zombies, and his cracking the Gotterdammerung safe?
2. The European film, European tone and director, pacing, ironies? Locations, Paris, Prague, St Moritz? And the downbeat ending in Las Vegas? The musical score and style?
3. The opening story, the inventor, his skills, the three safes, calling them after Wagner, the achievement in Gotterdammerung? His dismay, sealing himself in the safe, his death, the safe at the bottom of the sea? His heritage and challenge to cracking the safes?
4. Sebastian telling the story like a fairytale? Making the video, explaining himself and his skills? Followers? His being recruited for the underground competition, the parallel with martial arts, betting, the crowds, the presiding, the safes, cracking the safes, Sebastian coming second, in the final, the champion and his anger, Sebastian waiting till the end, winning?
5. The encounter with Gwendoline, the restaurant, spilling the coffee, the discussions, her pickpocketing, rousing his curiosity? The contrast with his routine, going to the bank, teller, his lunchbreak and sitting outside? Prospects?
6. The explanation of the plan, to crack the safes? For the money, it also for fulfilling a quest? The challenge? Korina and her skill with technology, the story of downloading movies illegally? Rolf, the cars, his skill in driving? Alexis, weedy, exercise, muscles, superhero, martial arts, Nicolas Cage films, Brad Cage? The relationship with Gwendoline? The plan to recruit Sebastian and then jettison him?
7. The portrayal of the safe cracking scenes, the different cities and their background, the technological skills, getting into the banks, Gwendoline and the safe deposit, letting Sebastian in, the challenge, playing Wagner music, opening the safes? Each safe more difficult? Prague, Interpol observing, the dangers, Gwendolyn fighting the guards, Brad Cage and Plan B, the masked robbery, Richard Nixon, the doubts and not killing anyone, the final escape, pulling Gwendoline into the van, Brad letting Sebastian fall on the street, his running, stealing the bike, the chase, his adventures on the bike, on the back of the train, meeting Gwendoline and Korina again?
8. The third challenge, St Moritz? Interpol, staking out the bank, the previous mess in Prague? The leader, vengeance, mistakes, Beatrix as his assistant? The discovery that the safes had already been removed? Korina pretending to be Interpol, the arranging of the safe to be transferred, in the truck? Sebastian and the tumble of the truck, eventually unlocking the safe? Brad and Rolf, surveillance, pursuit? Holding up the truck, Gwendoline turning the tables? The arrival of Interpol?
9. The final confrontation, at the boat, the head of Interpol, the guns, Gwendoline urging Sebastian to escape, his finding the passports, going to the US, setting up his shop and calling it after Gwendoline?
10. The visit from the cast of Army of the Dead and the invitation to Sebastian to crack the Gotterdammerung?