By Adam Shaw , Special to Bootleg Essential Culture
“The Bank Job”
“The Bank Job”
In theaters March 7
Jason Statham returns to his hard-nosed gangster roots after over-the-top fever dreams like the “Transporter” series and “Crank.”
“The Bank Job” tells the story of the Baker Street bank robbery that went down in 1971 in London. Police didn’t recover the stolen money, and no arrests were made. The British government kept the robbery hush-hush by using a gag order. The film’s release will mark the first time the story is ever told to the public.
Statham plays Terry, a car dealer wary of risky heists. Terry changes his mind after a rendezvous with Martine, a model who tells him about safe deposit boxes ripe for the taking.
From the writers of “Across The Universe,” “The Bank Job” looks hopeful for breathing new life into the British gangster film.
“21”
In theaters March 28
It’s hard not to feel like a complete rube when you sit down at a card table — unless you count cards.
“21” is inspired by the true story of card-counters from MIT who made millions in Vegas.
Professor Mickey Rosa (Kevin Spacey) trains a group of six MIT students in tracking probabilities in blackjack. The group heads to Sin City to put their newfound knowledge to the test. And people say math isn’t useful in the real world!
Spacey’s acting chops are reason enough to see this. Besides, watching some college kids strike it rich can give Ramen-eaters like us something to shoot for.
“Stop Loss”
In theaters March 28
An MTV film that’s actually relevant? Stop the goddamned presses!
“Stop Loss” explores a controversial tactic used by the U.S. military in recent years.
Sgt. Brandon King (Ryan Phillippe) returns to his small Texas hometown after a tour in Iraq and tries to pick up the pieces with the family and friends he left behind.
Just when King is beginning to get love and support at home, he receives a “stop loss” order from the Army that calls him back into duty against his will and contract.
While this story is fictional, “stop lossing” is a reality for many U.S. soldiers. Some politicians have protested it as a “backdoor draft.”
Writer-director of the Oscar-winning “Boys Don’t Cry” is at the helm, and that’s a good sign for the integrity and honesty of this film.
