"B+" Rating by Robert W. Hammerle

If Hollywood gave out an Oscar for the best film released in any year before April 1, this year's winner would clearly be Roger Donaldson's "The Bank Job." Based on a true story concerning a massive bank robbery in London in the early 1970's, it is fun, inventive, sexy, violent, humane, full of twists and turns and in every sense a true cinematic treat.

Mr. Donaldson's fine film reminds all of us why we go to movies in the first place. No matter how you slice it, we want to be entertained. A good drama will gradually draw the audience in to its web, with the viewer gradually forgetting that he or she is a member of the audience. And let me tell you that this is far more than a good drama, it indeed dances on the edge of being a great one.

The very underrated Jason Statham leads a stellar cast as the leader of a group of misfit petty crooks who are convinced that a local bank will be an easy mark. The convincing is done by another member, the sensuous Ms. Saffron Burrows.

Mr. Statham and his gang believe that a fortune can be had by tunneling into the bank's safe deposit box vault. However, and unbeknownst to our likable group of outlaws, the British government is blackmailing Ms. Saffron in order to obtain compromising pictures of a member of the Royal Family that is being kept in one of the safe deposit boxes. These pictures are being used by a black militant (played with great flare by Peter de Jersey) to blackmail the police so that he can keep his organized crime operation afloat.

Escaping with over four million pounds of currency, Statham and his gang realize to late that they have been used, and are now pursued not only by the British secret service but by various underworld crime figures. The mayhem that results is as intriguing as it is uncompromisingly violent. Extraordinarily bad things happen to our lovable losers, and their demise is not for the weak of heart.

Remarkably, there are no good guys in this movie. Some are just less bad than others, and those are the ones you root for.

I loved this movie in every respect. While it earns its "R" rating with its sexual and violent content, these elements are necessary to the overall story. Not only is there nothing gratuitous about the scenes of two British government officials patronizing houses of prostitution, but as the recent Governor Eliot Spitzer scandal has reminded us, sexual hypocrisy exists at the highest level of government in all countries.

Furthermore, an "R" rating frequently gives a good director far more leeway in presenting a compelling drama. For example, think of Bruce Willis' last "Die Hard" entry, "Live Free or Die Hard" (2007), which was rated "PG-13." While fun in parts, it clearly lacked the hard realism reflected by the first two "Die Hard" films, "Die Hard" (1988) and "Die Hard 2" (1990), both of which were rated "R."

Mr. Statham continues to demonstrate that he is on the verge of major stardom. For those of you who have yet to take the time, I encourage you to go rent both "The Transporter" (2002) and "Transporter 2" (2005), not to mention "War" (2007).

In many ways, Mr. Statham reminds me of a young Steve McQueen. He clearly exudes a raw, rebellious persona, and he continues to exhibit a vulnerability that made McQueen so sensational.

This is one fun movie and you should keep it on your radar screen for future rental if you miss it in the theater.