Genre: Action/Crime
Release Date: 28 October 2010
Distributor: Sony Pictures (Screen Gems)
Running Time: 110 minutes
Directors: John Luessenhop
Producers: William Packer, Michael Ealy, T.I., Tom Lassally, Jason Geter, Gary Gilbert
Writers: Peter Allen, Gabriel Casseus, John Luessenhop, Avery Duff, John Rogers
Casts: Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, Michael Ealy, T.I., Chris Brown, Hayden Christiensen, Zoe saldana
Plot: Police detectives Jack Welles (Matt Dillon) and Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez) investigate a daring heist by a group of well-organised bank robbers who left no traces. The crew are led by Gordon Cozier (Idris Elba), consists of John (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christensen), and brothers Jake (Michael Ealy) and Jesse (Chris Brown) Attica. The crew is missing out a former member, Ghost (T.I.), who was caught during a previous robbery five years ago. In his absence, Jake has begun a relationship with his former girlfriend Rachel Jansen (Zoe Saldana), who has accepted his proposal for marriage. Things change when Ghost surprises the crew after getting paroled after serving time in a penitentiary, and now a shot at a $30 million heist.
THE VERDICT
What can go wrong with a bank heist is shown on Takers. "We are takers. That's what we do." A punchy line but does this movie lives up to its expectation considering the amount of awesomes around the movie casting line ups? In any heist, there is a risk and I won't need to remind you the same risk in expecting too much from this movie. Is this movie terribly made or it is just been too classy and clumsy? Read on.
Two detectives, Jack Welles (Matt Dillon) and Eddie Hatcher (Jay Hernandez), investigate a daring heist by a group of well-organized bank robbers. The crew, led by Gordon Cozier (Idris Elba), consists of John (Paul Walker), A.J. (Hayden Christensen), and brothers Jake (Michael Ealy) and Jesse (Chris Brown) Attica. The crew is without a former member, Ghost (T.I.) who was caught during a previous robbery 5 years prior. In his absence, Jake has begun a relationship with his former girlfriend Rachel (Zoe Saldana), who has accepted his marriage proposal. Ghost surprises the crew after getting paroled. He insists he harbors no ill feelings toward the crew for abandoning him and draws them into a heist of an armored car for a $30 million dollar payoff.
Now, do you trust someone you been forced to abandon in a mission and later coming back and telling you he has no ill feelings? I bet 70% chances of feeling no I don't trust him. Well, bingo, isn't this predictable now. Takers borrows heavily from everywhere; with even one of the mission supposedly to heist big bucks from an armored car feels like it is rippen off from The Italian Job. That's it - blowing up a street, creates a crater and hopefully the armored car will go in. If that is not enough, try banging the doors like how Keanu Reeves did in Street Kings. It is undeniably that Takers is sharing the commons and concepts like the films aforementioned.
With such a heaviy borrows, did Takers left behind any markings? Unfortunately, no. Taker is a shambles of messiness and mercilessly taking in too much of unnecessary styles but the efforts seem unworthy. Now, you can blame the cameraman. He did it in purpose to make this movie like Cloverfield. Shaky cameras are annoying enough when you made them together with a fast-paced action. Dialogs are not slicky enough and cliched (overused and been stereotype), causing it to be less impactive story-telling and it goes on to wonder why everything happens in a snap while disregarding the nature of common senses. It is hard to imagine how to ploy out a plan that involves US$ 30 million in 5 days without much planning details? Are the team too stupid to even think for a second that Ghost is playing a fool on them?
Behold, Takers did something that might just saved the shamble days, a little. You still have to give some credit for some of its effort like the fast pace actioner. Fast-paced story is always been intriguing and Takers is no far differences. The stunt works are great too, particularly Chris Brown's attempt to escape. There are some tiny elements of surprise that the movie may have make you gripped to the seat but with such a hefty turn-offs, will takers still watchable? Yes, but up to a limit. Not even big names and recognizable stars can do to unshamble it. I would say keep it on your DVD list if you may.
THE RATING
Story - 2.5 stars
Casts - 3.0 stars
Cinematography - 3.5 stars
Effects - 3.0 stars
OVERALL - 3.0 stars
GREEN-TEA-O-METER: 11.5
TAKERS is still showing on the cinemas nationwide.
