If a single detail were to be changed I think this film would have been a massive failure. However, as it is, this is one hell of a heist film masterfully carried out by Spike Lee and an excellent cast. The story is laid out in front of you in the opening moments via an excellent monologue by Clive Owen resulting in an entertaining montage getting us inside the bank, from there the perfect cast of actors hired to carry out the story take over. My initial reaction to this film left me wanting, but after repeated home viewings I have really grown to love this film.
It’s as if the Count of Monte Cristo decided to rob a train. The Great Train Robbery was obviously inspired by plenty of films before it, but I dare Steven Soderbergh to tell me he didn’t obtain inspiration for Ocean’s Eleven from this film, specifically the laying out of one man’s daily routine as well as the ending. The joy of this film is the time period in which it is set as Sean Connery plays a Victorian con man of sorts out for one hell of a major heist as he has his eyes set on 25,000 pounds of gold bars, which are securely confined inside a four-key safe aboard a moving train. As the plot is rolled out, and Connery and his partner played by Donald Sutherland begin copying the well guarded keys you begin to respect the level they go to obtain their anonymity and innocence. The picture above should be enough to prove that.
There is so much more to Rififi than the fact it is a fantastic heist film. I could go on for ages talking about it, from the inspired use of an umbrella to the 100% dialogue free heist, and even the fact that it was made by the HUAC black-listed helmer Jules Dassin, Rififi has all the marks of a classic film. The tension mounts and the ending is spectacular. If you aren’t against reading subtitles you should definitely give this movie a shot.
Using comedy, the best looking guys in Hollywood and a well-devised plan Ocean’s Eleven is an absolute classic of the modern era when it comes to heist films. Sure, the sequels didn’t really amount to much, but when you consider the original film they had a lot to live up to. I could watch this movie on a daily basis without complaint.
