Le Dernier Tunnel (2004)

Directed by Erik Canuel

Starred Michel Côté, Jean Lapointe, Christopher Heyerdahl, Nicolas Canuel, Marie-France Marcotte, Céline Bonnier...

2004, Canada, French, 109 minutes.

 

Based on a true story, 'Le Dernier Tunnel', also known as 'The Last Tunnel', is a good quality heist movie from Canada, more precisely from Quebec. An old convict, Marcel Talon plans to rob Bank of Montreal after his release from jail by digging up this tunnel which give the movie its name. 

Although the movie uses general pattern of heist movies, since it is based on a true story, it is still somehow little different maybe due to the French touch. 

Michel Côté is one of Quebec's most popular movie actor  with several wins and nominations in his career, including winning a Genie - known as Canadian Oscars - and a Jutra - known as Quebecois Oscars - and Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for his acting in famous C.R.A.Z.Y, and a Lifetime Achievement Jutra 2 years later 'Le dernier tunnel' was released. He does a great job as well as his partner, Christopher Heyerdahl.

This Quebecois heist won a Genie in Best Supporting Actor (Jean Lapointe) and Best Achievement in Overall Sound categories, while received 6 other nominations including Best Actor (Michel Côté) in the same awards. 

Jean Lapointe won the same award in Jutra, as well, where the movie was nominated in 6 more categories.


 

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a heist based on a true story

a heist movie from World Cinema

a heist with good quality heist scenes    
 then this is your movie.

***

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

The Score (2011)

Henry's Crime (2010)

  

***  

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 4/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 2/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

The Ladykillers (1955)

Directed by Alexander Mackendrick

Starred Alec Guinness, Cecil Parker, Herbert Lom, Peter Sellers, Dany Green, Jack Warner, Katie Johnson ...

1955, United Kingdom, English

 

Here is the original The Ladykillers that Coen Brothers made a remake in 2004, also available in the blog. 1955 British production with big stars like Alec Guinness and Peter Sellers offers a great caper movie, a classic in its genre and promises lots of laughter.

I enjoyed this movie very much and although I am fan of both Coen Brothers and Tom Hanks, I like this one much better than its 2004 remake.

A very sympathetic movie, smoothly progresses and makes you often smile. I am aware that comedy is a very special genre, and everybody`s likes or dislikes on the examples of the genre might vary dramatically. But, hell, this one was exactly for me :)

The lead actress, Katie Johnson did a great job in my opinion and I cannot think that I would enjoy this movie without her as much. The interesting thing is she was director Mackendrick`s original choice for the role, but the producers found her a little too frail for the job, so they cast a younger actress who sadly passed away before the filming began. Katie Johnson was 77 years old back then, did only one more movie after this one and passed away only 2 years later after The Ladykillers was released.

The Ladykillers was nominated for Best Writing & Original Screenplay for Academy Awards. Katie Johnson won Best British Actress award and William Rose won Best British Screenplay award in BAFTA, where the movie was nominated for Best British Film and Best Film from any Source categories.

If you like capers, or comedies, I believe you have to try this one if you haven`t already done so.

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a caper movie considered as classic
an award winner heist movie
a nostalgic robbery movie
a heist movie with a great cast
a heist with lots of laughter

then this is your movie.

***

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

Flypaper (2011)
The Ladykillers (2004)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
My Mom`s New Boyfriend (2008)
Crime Spree (2003)
Pink Panther (1963)
Quick Change (1990)
I soliti ignori / Big Deal on Madonna Street (1958)

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

The Ladykillers (2004)

***  

Degree: Caper Movie

Sub-Category: Armored Car Robbery, Bank Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 2/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 4/5

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.

Dog Day Afternoon (1975)

Directed by Sidney Lumet

Starred Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, Chris Sarandon, James Broderick ...

1975, United States, English

 

Another heist movie based on a true story happened in early seventies. The motive of robbing a bank was pretty different this time: a homosexual young man decides to rob a bank for his lover to help him to undergo a sex-change operation and he suddenly finds himself on national TV and becoming a social and political figure throughout the country.


This robbery movie is pretty unusual, and the one can change your perception of the genre sharply. It throws a critical glance at society's and TV networks` approach towards crimes and criminals, which is almost in a level that popularizes them for the sake of high ratings, while questions the taboos and debates over being victimized. 

While the earlier heist movies tried to remain in ethical borders by sending the robbers home with empty hands or jail in the final, they tried to neutralize the critics who say the audience is forced to associated with the thieves and glorify the criminals. Then this rule has begun to change and the criminal protagonists of the genre begun to end up with loot in success, but the new formula to humanize them was changing their target to somebody corrupted or bad guys, like robbing mafioso or casinos. More and more the heist movies genre began to loose all these concerns but we have seen so few heist with some moral issues. For a kind of good cause, if there is any justification possible. Dog Day Afternoon was one of them and maybe a milestone in the genre.  

A young and impressive Al Pacino is the one who carries the entire film almost all alone sometimes in dramatic, sometimes in a funny dose. For sure, it isn`t a movie for those are looking for an adrenaline packed heist & action movie, but a very interesting experience in the genre and surely considered as a classic.

Won many awards as well as, Best Original Screenplay Oscar, and 5 major Oscar nominations, such as Best Picture, Best Director (Sidney Lumet), Best Editing, Best Actor (Al Pacino) and Best Supporting Actor (Chris Sarandon). 

To see the whole blog, click here. 

 

 

If you look for;

a heist movie based on a true story
a heist movie with political arguments
a heist movie considered as classic
an award winner heist movie

then this is your movie.

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

Quick Change (1990)

Le Premier Cercle / Ultimate Heist (2009)

Stander (2003)

Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid (1969)

Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

Thieves Like Us (1974) 
Bande à part / Band of Outsiders (1964)

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

Heat (1995)

***  

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 1/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 3/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 4/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Now You See Me (2013)

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Directed by Louis Leterrier
Starred Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, Melanie Laurent, Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine, ...

2013, France & United States, English with some French dialogues, 115 minute.

What happens when a group of magicians decide to pull a heist? This is the starting point of the movie. The magicians, illusionists, mentalists, Las Vegas, heist. Sounds very promising for entertainment cinema. Letterier secures the promising plot with a very intriguing cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Melanie Laurent,  Morgan Freeman and Michael Cane. A mixture of young talents and golden experiences. Just like team of protagonists. Now You See Me might disappoint some audiences, but delivers what it promises for many. In general, the movie deserves 'very entertaining' tag 100% especially for heist movie fans. I highly recommend it!

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a heist movie where magic, illusion and heist meet

a heist movie with a great cast

a team work heist

a very entertaining heist movie

then this is your movie.

***

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

Inception (2010)
Maverick (1994)
Ocean's Eleven (2001)
Ocean's Twelve (2004)
The Art of the Steal (2013) 
Now You See Me 2 (2016)

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

Man on a Ledge (2012)

***

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Armored Car Robbery, Vault Robbery, Bank Robbery, Grifting/Fraud
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 5/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 5/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 4/5

Surprise Level: 4/5

Humor Level: 2/5

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.

Heat (1995)

Directed by Michael Mann
Starred Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Diane Venora, Amy Brenneman, Ashley Judd, Mykelti Williamson, Wes Studi, Ted Levine, William Fichtner, Natalie Portman,  ...

1995, United States, English with some Spanish dialogues, 170 minute.

Considered as one of the best movies, as well as one of the best crime movies ever made, I haven't seen almost no heist movies listings didn't mention Heat. Often you can see this movie as number 1 in such listings, however not in mine, although I enjoyed Heat very much. 

The movie has received great reactions both from moviegoers and critics. Inspired on true events, many scenes you see in the movie indeed happened, however the real heist character was a lower profile thief. 

It is for sure a pleasure to watch two giant actors of our time, Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, the movie offers many unforgettable moments. The first movie ever featured De Niro and Pacino acting together. The famous shootouts scenes, as well as legendary restaurant scene where Al Pacino meets Robert De Niro are only a few of them. Not only dramatically but also cinematic wise, the scene is a real treasure to savour. 

A great cast with Val Kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd and a very young Natalie Portman completes this great team, in case if anything missed :P 

The movie received several nominations in different movie awards such as Saturn Awards, MTV Movie Awards, Young Star Awards, Chicago Film Critics Association Awards etc.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a heist packed with action
a famous heist movie

a movie which bring Pacino and De Niro together

a very popular movie often listed as best crime or heist movie

then this is your movie.

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

Point Break (1991)
The Score (2001)
Inside Man (2006)  
The Town (2010)
Thieves Like Us (1974)

***

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

Inside Man (2006)
The Town (2010)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998)
Ronin (1998)
Snatch (2000)
Reservoir Dogs (1992) 

***

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Warehouse Robbery, Armored Car Robbery, Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers, Character Study/Thieves
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 5/5

Excitement Level: 4/5

Surprise Level: 3/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 3/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 4/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

The Lookout (2007)

Directed by Scott Frank
Starred Joseph Gordon-Lewitt, Jeff Daniels, Matthew Goode, Isla Fisher, Bruce McGill,  ...

2007, United States, English.

This movie mainly focuses on how a member of a robbery team is got involved. This point of view, of course, is somehow different than the most of the heist movies we see. Slow in pace, the movie might loose some heist movie fans who look for action, in the beginning of the movie, but more you go, the better it gets.

I am not sure if everybody would appreciate this movie, but if you call yourself as a heist movie fan, then you might want to give a shot. Nothing big, but worth to see.

This is the first feature movie for director Scott Frank.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a slow pace heist
a little different POV on a heist movie
a character study heist movie

then this is your movie.

***

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

Le Premier Cercle / Inside Ring (2009)
Reservoir Dogs (1992)
Armored (2009)

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

The Town (2010)
Stander (2009)

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 2/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 3/5

Actors' Performances: 3/5

Excitement Level: 2/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 1/5

Originality of the Story in General: 2/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 2/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Public Enemies (2009)

Directed by Michael Mann

Starred Christian Bale, Johnny Depp, James Russo, Jason Clarke, Stephen Dorff, Channing Tatum, Billy Crudup, Chandler Williams, Marion Cotillard, Giovanni Ribisi, John Ortiz, Bill Camp, Stephen Graham, Stephen Lang, Matt Craven,  ...

2009, United States, English.

Here is the story of a real life bank robber's, John Dillinger's last few years' story. Dillinger is considered one of the most dangerous bank robbers in American history. At the same time, he was end of an era. After him, stealing has changed.

Not only, a very interesting milestone on bank robberies, Public Enemies is a first class real-life gangster movie with a large and classy cast. Signed by Michael Mann, the movie brings a closer look how Dillinger was hunted by Agent Pulvis in the early years of FBI. This movie is also offers another perspective and opportunist to understand Bureau's founder director, J. Edgar Hoover.

The robbery scenes are classy, a very high quality. It is very well-done movie from costumes to acting. The sound wasn't so great though. The pace is somehow dull but the movie overall gets much better after the first watch.

If you watch it on DVD, make sure not to miss special features.
Nominated for several awards, but most notably for SAGA.

To see the whole blog, click here.

If you look for;

a real-life bank robber's story
a based-on-a-true-story heist
a serious heist movie
a nice team work heist
a heist packed with action
a heist movie with an extensive cast

then this is your movie.

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

The Sting (1973)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Stander (2003)
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972)
Bonnie and Clyde (1967)
Thieves Like Us (1974)

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

The Town (2010)
Inside Man (2006)

*** 

Degree: Alternative Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery, Bank Robbers
Excellence of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 3/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 3/5

Surprise Level: 2/5

Humor Level: 2/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 3/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 3/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.

Inside Man (2006)

Directed by Spike Lee

Starred Denzel Washington, Clive Owen, Jodie Foster, Christopher Plummer, Willem Dafoe...

2006, United States, English

It is one of the best heist movie I have ever seen. If you are looking for a movie with full of action, well-planned heist, twists and well-acting, then this movie exactly is for you. Almost entire movie is focused on robbery.We have surprises as almost all the robbery movies has. But not the kind of, you would really expect. If the story is absolutely more important for you than action in a heist movie, you will be thrilled.

If you watch it on DVD, make sure you see the 'Deleted Scenes'. It can help you a lot, if you couldn't get what happened :D

To see the whole blog, please click here.

If you look for;

a heist movie with complicated robbery plan

a puzzle-like robbery

a serious robbery movie

surprises

a movie fully focused on the robbery
  
then this is your movie.

***

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

Inception (2010)
Nine Queens (2000)
The Sting (1973)
Heat (1995)
Man on A Ledge (2012
Le Premier Cercle/Inside Ring/Ultimate Heist (2009) 
The Town (2010)

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

The Town (2010)
Public Enemies (2009)
Heat (1995)
Le Premier Cercle/Inside Ring/Ultimate Heist (2009) 
The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 (2009) 

***

Degree: Pure Theft Movie

Sub-Category: Bank Robbery

Excellence of Robbery Plan: 5/5

Originality of Robbery Plan: 5/5

Quality of Robbery Action Scenes: 5/5

Actors' Performances: 4/5

Excitement Level: 5/5

Surprise Level: 5/5

Humor Level: 0/5

Originality of the Story in General: 4/5

Rating As A Robbery/Heist Movie: 5/5

Rating the Movie As A Whole: 4/5

Important Reminder: Below trailer might contain important spoilers.