The First Great Train Robbery (1978)

Directed by Michael Crichton
Starred Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland, Lesley-Anne Down, Alan Webb,  Malcolm Terris, Robert Lang, Michael Elphick, Wayne Sleep, Pamela Salem, Gabrielle Lloyd, George Drowning, ...
1978, United Kingdom, English, 110 minutes.

Originally titled as The First Great Train Robbery, but also known as The Great Train Robbery is a true heist movie classic. It wouldn't be possible to have a blog on heist movies without talking about this movie. 

The largest part of the movie is lengthy and entertaining preparations of a well-detailed robbery. You would find every element of a good robbery without disappointment.  The story of the movie is based on a Michael Crichton novel also based loosely on a real life train robbery took place in 1855. 

An interesting note on making of the film is Sean Connery does all his own stunts on the top of a moving train which travels over 80 km per hour. Also, the actor who played Clean Billy, who climb up the wall and who also does his own stunts was one of United Kingdom's premiere ballet dancers.

It is a robbery movie a true heist movie fan would enjoy very much. Anyway, if you are into the genre, you should know that this movie is often listed in many listings as one of the best robbery movies of all times.

To see the whole blog, click here. 

If you look for;

a heist based on a true story

a well-organized robbery movie

a team-work heist movie

a heist movie with great actors

a period-heist movie 

a heist classic

then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:

(available in the blog)

Entrapment (1999)

Ocean's Eleven (1960)

Rififi / Du Rififi Chez Des Hommes (1955)

***  

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Pickpocketing, Gold Robbery, Train Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 4/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 4/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Organize Isler / Magic Carpet Ride (2005)

Directed by Yilmaz Erdogan

Starred Yilmaz Erdogan, Tolga Cevik, Cem Yilmaz, Ozgu Namal, Demet Akbag, Oner Erkan, Altan Erkekli, Bican Gunalan, Salih Kalyon, Erdal Tosun, ...

2005, Turkey, Turkish, 106 minutes.

 

What happens if you find out that the second-hand car you just bought was stolen and what happens if you can find the thieves, while the police can't?  Here is a Turkish caper movie from magically beautiful Istanbul at the hands of Turkey`s most popular comedians. Organize Isler, also known as Magic Carpet Ride has a look at a gang of small-timers from a humorist angle in a city where the theft is kind of part of the daily routine. And yes, it does feature a "Superman".

While the movie focuses mainly on auto theft, it does feature many scenes from pick-pocketing to fraud in caper style. And the director says 'the funeral fraud' was a true story.

The fun story told by talented comedians is accompanied by beautiful sceneries and music will take you to a magic carpet ride. The movie was a big box office hit in Turkey and offers you a different caper with smart jokes and great actings from another corner of the world.

You might remember, the director and actor Yilmaz Erdogan  and his co-star Cem Yilmaz from Russell Crowe`s 2014 movie 'The Water Diviner'.


 

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a caper with smart jokes

a heist movie from World Cinema

 then this is your movie.

***

If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Maverick (1994)

Quick Change (1990)

The Con Artist (2010)
7 cajas / 7 Boxes (2012)

  

***  

Degree: Caper Movie

Sub-Category: Auto Theft, Pickpocketing, Grifting/Fraud

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 4/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 2/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Maverick (1994)

Directed by Richard Donner

Starred Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, Graham Greene, Alfred Molina, James Coburn, Clint Black...

1994, United States, English.

A very entertaining well-done movie from Richard Donner. Full of turns, twists, surprises, although they aren't big ones.

It isn't often that I enjoy a movie very much, which follows strictly Hollywood typical codes, but I do in this case. And despite a huge hole in the plot in one of most memorable scenes of the movie.

What amazes me with this in particular, the movie is so loaded with cameos from country singers to TV series actors (movie based on a TV series), from western actors to other Donner's movies' actors, from family members of the crew to filmmakers of this movie, it is naturally impossible to recognize all. I love Danny Glover - Mel Gibson scene where there is a very original reference to another movie, Lethal Weapon also made by Donner. And Louis Lane from Donner's Superman :)

The references don't end there, it also references real life gangsters, character's from other movies and western movies doubles etc. Go to IMDb to read all, you will be amazed.

To me, no matter how many cliches the movie offered, no matter how many plot holes, it was a memorable experience.

The movie was nominated for Best Costume Designing in Oscars, lost to The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

an entertaining heist
a heist with full of cameos
western heist
a movie about gamblers and poker
a comedy heist

then this is your movie.

***
If you liked this movie, I believe you might like also:
(available in the blog)

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Nicotina (2003)
Ocean's Eleven (2001)

The Sting (1973)
The Train Robbers (1973)
Tower Heist (2011)
Cop Car (2015)
Now You See Me (2013) 
Organize Isler / Magic Carpet Ride (2005)

***

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Pickpocketing, Grifting/ Fraud
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 5/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.