Mark Wahlberg is a busy golden boy of the movies, as he stars in Martin Scorsese’s “The Departed” this week while his sports movie “Invincible” still is playing the multiplex.
Go back just a few years to find an adrenaline-rush of a Wahlberg movie for your older kids, a classic heist-and-double cross: “The Italian Job,” that 90-minute commercial for the Mini Cooper.
Your kids might recognize some of the heist-flick clichés: Wahlberg is the Brad Pitt-
George Clooney part from “Ocean’s Eleven,” and the sidekicks look familiar too. Mos Def has the Don Cheadle part, Jason Statham has the Scott Caan part. You could say Charlize Theron has the Julia Roberts part, but “The Italian Job” gives the Oscar-winning South African a little more burglary work to do.
“Job” is a remake of a 1969 Michael Caine movie with the same title, which is almost unwatchable now with all its mod pants and slow pacing. There’s a reason Austin Powers sent up that era of filmmaking.
Director F. Gary Gray, who had made a name for himself on music videos by OutKast and Ice Cube, has signed on with much of the crew for “The
Brazilian Job,” skedded for 2008.
Each week, Michael Booth uncovers a movie gem for rewarding family viewing. Reach him at mbooth@denverpost.com; find the “Screen Team” blog at denverpostbloghouse.com.
“The Italian Job” (2003)
Rated: PG-13, for violence and some language
Most appealing: Children 10 or older
