Based on one of the biggest crimes in British history, a group of unseasoned criminals are lured into a heist, thinking they are going to rip off the safety deposit boxes of some of London’s wealthiest citizens. Instead, they are unknowing recruits on a top-secret mission to steal photos of a Royal princess who was snapped in some compromising situations.

It was strange to see a film set in 1970s London where militant black pride criminals, prominent white politicians, MI-5 or MI-6 operatives and your run of the mill low-level criminals intermix on screen whether in bar settings, parties or back alleys. The setting of the 1970s usually bore me to tears in American films, but woke my senses in The Bank Job, probably because the film is based on a true story of a bank job gone very wrong.

I love bank robbery films especially when they involve unlikely criminals ala Out of Sight or The Thomas Crown Affair. Jeremy Stratham’s Terry Leather, the leader of the unlikely bunch of criminals is his usual charming and hot self. Saffron Burrows’ Martine Love, who introduces the “once in a life time” bank robbing opportunity to Leather’s crew, is a gem as always. The Bank Job is just a fun, smart and complex film as intricate as Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels but as unexpected as Out of Sight. With a cast of British actors acting effortlessly, nostalgic cinematography, excellent writing and a plot based on actual historic events, The Bank Job is a winner and worth, dare I say, full price admission.

• Directing: [rating:4/5]
• Acting: [rating:4/5]
• Casting: [rating:4/5]
• Cinematography: [rating:4/5]
• Writing: [rating:4/5]
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