![]() In fact I don't see how the cops' stories are that compelling to be included in Takers other than to highlight that the world isn't made out to be black and white, but always with that constant opportunity for grey. Even the token cops in the film doesn't get spared, with the story squeezing some time out to showcase how dogged Matt Dillon's Jack Welles is to his job at the expense of previous quality time with his daughter. Director John Luessenhop slaps together scenes that tried to go beyond just a simple heist film, and dwells at length to the background of these characters, where we have one who's about to get married, and another grappling with his sister's drug rehabilitation. They don't kill unless necessary, and they don't see themselves as desperate robbers. They follow a strict regime of communication and the reliance of unique skills they bring to the table, and we see how that all come together in concert with their money making objectives. The thieving bunch here comprises of a close knit group of brothers real and sworn who take a year to plan their large heists, in part to have some time off to allow for their latest escapade to cool off and fade off from the police's radar, to spend their ill gotten dough and of course, to allow for the meticulous planning of their next hit. but there were moments which stood out and made it noteworthy, and hey, an ensemble cast (even if for a few scenes only) with the likes of Paul Walker, Hayden Christensen, Matt Dillon, Jay Hernandez, Idirs Elba, Zoe Saldana and the notorious Chris Brown doesn't hurt either. This film has it all which makes it pretty average. Takers is a heist film that's pretty much the same as other heist films, where there's plenty of room for loud action, camaraderie, the elaborate planning stage, and how Murphy's Law enters to screw everything up. TAKERS is an example of Hollywood cookie-cutter movie-making at its worst. ![]() The best performance goes to Idris Elba as one of the gang members, but he's given so little to work with that you wonder why he showed up. Hayden Christensen (STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH) shows up, but has such a lack of presence that I didn't realise it was him until late on in the proceedings. Paul Walker's here in a minor bit of tokenism to draw in FAST AND FURIOUS viewers. All of the crime and heist clichés are present and correct here, but the characters aren't the team of scriptwriters fail to make anybody in the least bit likable, so you just can't muster up the enthusiasm to care about what happens. The story features a couple of weary cops (a tired-looking Matt Dillon and a 'remember him?' Jay Hernandez from HOSTEL) as they track down a large gang of robbers planning to carry out their latest audacious heist. It's hard to know what's more disappointing here, the clichéd story or the entirely unremarkable direction. ![]() This film tries so hard to be hip that it hurts - it's obviously targeted at a black demographic with its casting of various uninteresting rappers-turned-actors and the like - and yet it plays out a tired old story which has been told time and time again. TAKERS is a repackaging of HEAT for the young, urban, male crowd. I found it highly entertaining, the story helped by a strong cast. There is room for this type of adventure flick - good thing, because there are plenty of them. ![]() As someone mentioned, not every film is Shawshank Redemption or Citizen Kane. The last half hour of this movie is one of the longest and best chases on foot I've ever seen, followed by a massive shootout - it's nonstop action all the way. A slip-up by the drug-addicted sister of one of the crooks puts the cops hot on his trail. Dillon and Hernandez are the two cops who are working to take them down after a recent bank robbery. He has an incredible plan to take down an armored truck full of millions. A professional group of robbers is approached by a member (T.I.) who was just released from prison. The film stars Matt Dillon, Jay Hernandez, Idris Elba, Paul Walker, T.I., Hayden Christensen, Michael Ealy, Steve Harris, Johnathon Schaech, Zoe Saldana, and Marianne Jean-Baptiste. Every once in a while, I like a nice, mind-numbing adventure film that is pure entertainment.
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