The Sixties ... The Swinging Sixties .... aaah, the nostalgia kick, how lovely!
Let's play a game - name ten things you associate with the Sixties.
My list would be as follows - Carnaby Street, The Beatles, Julie Andrews, Dr Zhivago, England's World Cup win, London, George Best, Minis, hippies and Michael Caine. What about yours?
Oh, what an extraordinary coincidence this is! I've named three things which you'll find in 'The Italian Job' in an opinion about the film. What a stroke of luck!
Okay, I know it's a bloody crap intro, but I couldn't think of anything else and 'The Italian Job' is just THE archetypal British film from the Sixties. It's also the archetypal Michael Caine in the archetypal wide boy movie - plus an absolute bleedin' delight, altogether now, "YOU’RE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BLOW THE BLOODY DOORS OFF." Catchphrase a-go-go, not many people know that.
It was a wonderful combination of Sixties romanticism - an England football team at the height of their powers used as cover by a bunch of English crooks, modern day Robin Hoods, planning a heist in Rome using a bunch of souped up Mini Coopers, with Caine as the field lieutenant, carrying out the schemes of the jailed Mr Bridger (played by the inimitable Noel Coward), with Benny Hill as The Mad Scientist ... Bloody brilliant stuff!
It was the best car chase of all time, with probably only Steve McQueen in Bullitt being more memorable, classic Brit Cinema of a kind revived with verve and elan by Guy Stevens and Vinnie Jones in 'Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels'.
Caine, fresh from his breakthrough into superstardom with 'Zulu', 'Alfie' and the Harry Palmer epics, was Charlie Coker, the small time crook who led a happy go lucky bunch of British villains (a la 'The League Of Gentlemen') in a motorised assault on Rome to lift the biggest load of gold bullion you have ever seen ... The Self Preservation Society, We're the Self Peservation Society.
Absolutely cracking stuff this with so many wonderful memories, very evocative, if only we hadn't seen it on TV so many times, but I have to admit that I've very rarely seen the opening half hour, but I've seen the last half hour so many times I can join in on the script. It looked a really enjoyable film to make and Caine has never been more Cockney or clipped or stereotyped as cheap London crook, the eternal loser with the heart of gold and the National Health horn rimmed specs.
This film was in the grand tradition of lovable rogue movies. You know the ones I mean ... 'Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid', 'The Sting', that sort of thing, but this is the best of the English versions, absolutely gripping stuff.
I can't believe anyone out there doesn't know the basic premise of this film, but I won't spoil it for you if that is the case, just watch and wait and revel in the set pieces and an absolutely marvellous conclusion, gloriously unsatisfying and yet absolutely bleedin' typical ... Get yer skates on, mate!
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Production Year: 2007 - Action/Adventure - Director: Paul Greengrass - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Matt Damon, Julia Stiles, Joan Allen, Edgar Ramirez, David Strathairn, Paddy Considine, Albert Finney
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Good opinion. I do get rather twitchy seeing cars I would give body parts for getting smashed to pulp, though.
Sad but I would love an E-Type!
Stan.
Sheriff_Clow 13.08.2001 13:12
great op. I love this film! Especially when they drive through that shopping mall place and he nicks some chickin off some ones plate. Never fails to make me laugh! Clow x x x
Though it bears little resemblance to the celebrated 1969 original starring Michael Caine, ... more
this 2003 remake ofThe Italian Jobstands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles jo...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Though it bears little resemblance to the celebrated 1969 original starring Michael Caine, ... more
this 2003 remake ofThe Italian Jobstands on its own as a caper comedy that's well above average. The title's a misnomer--this time it's actually a Los Angeles jo...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 10 to 13 days...
This stylish and contemporary update of the 1969 Michael Caine classic sees mastermind ... more
Charlie Croker (Mark Wahlberg) and his team - inside man Steve (Edward Norton) computer genius Lyle (Seth Green) wheelman Handsome Rob (Jason Statham) explosives ...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
The plan was flawless. The execution was perfect. Charlie Croker pulled off the crime of a ... more
lifetime. The one thing that he didn't plan was being double-crossed. Now he wants more than the job's payoff...he wants payback. Mark Wahlberg is electrifying a...
Advantages: Brilliant cast, superb soundtrack, funny moments, well-written script Disadvantages: The original might be spoilt if Hollywood suceed in making a modern remake of this. The Italian Job without Michael Caine would suck!
Disillusioned 03.08.2001 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Italian Job (DVD)
Advantages: One of my favourite films of all time, an absolute classic film still enjoyed today. Disadvantages: It has taken its time to arrive in DVD format.
hepialid 20.12.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The ItalianJob (DVD)
![The Italian Job[DVD] [2003]](http://picnica.ciao.com/uk/78523706.jpg "The Italian Job[DVD] [2003]")
Aug 3rd, 2001
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