Movie Review by Nigel A. Messenger
Starring: Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Marlon Brando, Angela Bassett
Director: Frank Oz
There’s been nothing like this for a long time. Reminiscent of a crime thriller from the late 70’s THE SCORE is about pulling off the major theft of a valuable jewel-encrusted sceptre, locked in the vault of Montreal’s highly secure customs storage facility.
Robert De Niro is an expert thief and safecracker who is asked to pull off a difficult robbery that seems like it would be too much of a risk. However he agrees to take on the job as the rewards would mean a wealthy retirement at the end of a successful life of crime.
Ed Norton is a young professional thief and the one who found the opportunity to steal the sceptre. He’s taken a job at the customs building undercover pretending to be mentally handicapped but more than capable of holding down a janitors job. No-one suspects that he is casing the joint, secretly copying keys in hi lunch break.
Marlon Brando is the seemingly wealthy fence and long time associate of De Niro who desperately needs the theft to work to pay off some large debt.
THE SCORE’s carefully paced filming with a clever twist towards the end literally sucks you in so at the end of the tow hours running time you’ll think only an hour has passed and want to watch the whole thing over again.
Robert De Niro is perfectly cast and seems to walk through the movie without even blinking and Brando gives his best performance in years.
Ed Norton shouldn’t be forgotten either as his difficult portrayal of a fast thinking criminal one minute switches to his undercover role of a mentally handicapped character the next is pretty much faultless.
As film genres seem to get made in waves, lets hope Hollywood has more to come like this one. Don’t miss THE SCORE.
