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Heist can be summed up as … predictable and overdone. No amount of action-packed, high-speed chases or twists and turns could save this low budget crime thriller. Quite frankly, there was nothing original about it.
The name itself has been recycled. In 2001, David Mamet directed a movie called Heist about a gang of jewellery thieves starring Gene Hackman, Rebecca Pidgeon and Danny DeVito.
Fourteen years later, the movie resurfaces with amateur burglars robbing a riverboat casino owned and managed by Robert De Niro.
What in the world was the Godfather doing in a B movie such as this? I guess after being in more than 90 films over the years he was bound to make a mistake. You have to hand it to director Scott Mann for featuring somebody like De Niro. That’s why I watched it and even encouraged my husband Sam to join me. Needless to say, after this bore fest, I’m not allowed to pick the movies anymore.
It starts off with a pregnant lady getting on bus 657 late at night. All seemed normal. The lady fumbled for change, found a seat and plopped herself in for a long haul. Little did she know that within minutes the bus was going to be hijacked by three armed robbers.
Gasps and screams fill the bus and then the scene cuts to a week before the takeover occurs. The Swan casino head of security, Derrick ‘Dog’ Prince, appears in a dark room torturing a couple into telling him where they stashed the $10,000 they stole from casino owner and gang-lord Francis ‘The Pope’ Silva (De Niro). After getting the answers, The Pope gets Dog to do his dirty work and wastes (kills) the duo.
You’d think casino dealer Luke Vaughn (Morgan) would have gotten the message but then again, desperate times call for desperate measures and a dying daughter with a $300,000 hospital bill would drive a father to do unspeakable things.
Vaughn was originally The Pope’s henchman and was next in line to own the casino. But he stepped down after falling in love, getting married and wanting to become a better father. Angered by his decision, The Pope demotes him to a dealer. Things turn for the worse when the bills begin to pile up and doctors tell him that his daughter was going to lose her spot in the hospital if the bills were not paid.
In a touching John Q movie moment the daughter looks up to her father and says: “Daddy, I want you to save me.” What’s a father to do? Vaughn reaches out to The Pope in hopes that he would lend him the necessary finances to which the cold-hearted boss refuses, reminding him that he didn’t get rich by giving away his money.
Although you don’t bite the hand that feeds you, Vaughn agreed to partner up with casino bouncer Cox (Bautista) and his friend Bernie to steal $3,000,000 of the Chinese mob’s money that was being laundered through the casino.
This is where the movie starts to pick up the pace as Vaughn concocts what he thinks is a fool-proof plan. Just like in the movie Armored it obviously goes wrong. Vaughn and his two masked men make it into the vault but they’re interrupted by a gang and the Dog’s flying bullets.
Spooked by the gunshots, their getaway car drives off. Vaughn, Cox and Bernie are left running for their lives with the Dog hot on their trail. That’s when the three come across bus 657 and force their way in, terrifying passengers. Police officer Krizia ‘Kris’ Bajos hears the shots and signals the bus to pull over. The Dog pulls back but not before seeing that Vaughn was the culprit and tells The Pope that he will retrieve the money.
Meanwhile on the bus, Bernie is bleeding after getting shot during the escape. Cox is freaking out and scaring passengers with his temper. Vaughn, who was meant to be making his own exit after the robbery, is trying to stay cool and ensure that the passengers are unharmed.
This is where the movie turns from a heist to a sequence from Speed. Originally the movie was to be called Bus 657, which would have been more appropriate.
I’m sure you can guess what happens next. Officer Bajos chases the bus. The hijackers refuse to stop. Vaughn, the hero, begins to communicate with Bajos on how to keep the bus going and protect the passengers.
Hearing a change of tone in Vaughn’s voice she decides to co-operate for the sake of the hostages. This doesn’t go down well with the chief of police, but cocky detective Marconi takes over the investigation and works with Bajos and the SWAT team.
Meanwhile, Mann tries to show a softer side to The Pope. He is dying of cancer and wants to leave his casino empire to his daughter Sydney (Bosworth) who hates him and his criminal ways.
There is so much happening in so little time. As the bus rolls on, Vaughn has to find a way to deliver the funds to the hospital before it’s too late, save the lives of hostages from his crazy companions, escape the wrath of The Pope and avoid getting arrested.
While it sounds exciting, I was disappointed by the story line. Such a shame, as it was a great concept just badly executed. Nonetheless, if you like never-ending chases and mind-numbing action then give it a go. Just keep a good book handy or your phone in case you get bored.
Showing at Cineco, Seef II
Rating: 2/5
