This is a quality thriller with Fincher's trademark sophisticated camera work and inventive use of slow motion and editing raising the standard. Jodie Foster and Forest Whittaker do dependable work. Between them they take what would have been a fairly routine film up a notch.
However.... For some reason this movie seems to be getting a lot of extra hype. Fincher, Foster and Whittaker have all done better work. The fact that they are so talented means that this film rises above all the shortcomings that remain visible. (The three criminals are all stereotypes, the crook with a heart, the unpredictable nut case who joins the team at the last minute and the leader who is actually the weakest). Some fairly obvious ways for the bad guys to achieve their goal are overlooked. (In fact, late in the film one of the crooks says "Why didn't we do that?")
The best way to think of it is that Fincher and Foster needed to pay the rent before doing their next "proper" projects and they at least had the good grace to make an effort for us.
A strong *** out of *****
However.... For some reason this movie seems to be getting a lot of extra hype. Fincher, Foster and Whittaker have all done better work. The fact that they are so talented means that this film rises above all the shortcomings that remain visible. (The three criminals are all stereotypes, the crook with a heart, the unpredictable nut case who joins the team at the last minute and the leader who is actually the weakest). Some fairly obvious ways for the bad guys to achieve their goal are overlooked. (In fact, late in the film one of the crooks says "Why didn't we do that?")
The best way to think of it is that Fincher and Foster needed to pay the rent before doing their next "proper" projects and they at least had the good grace to make an effort for us.
A strong *** out of *****