User reviews

A fairly good heist movie with 3 outstanding mega stars in Robert De Niro, Marlon Brando & Edward Norton. It really is the generation game with 3 different generations represented. De Niro & Norton are on top form and it's good to see them going back and forth. Marlon Brando is fine but it's clear to see he is being his usual awkward self as he spends most of the movie sitting down in large robes, it's obvious he was just doing his own thing with little effort or requirement. The biggest failure in the movie is Angela Bassett. It's hard to see why she took such a nothing role other than to work with the talent on show. Her character is reduced to 3 or 4 scenes with absolutely nothing to do. The ending is ok but seeing De Niro walk off into the sunset with Bassett doesn't feel earn as there has been hardly any development between the 2 characters to make us care. A solid heist movie which should have been a great one with the talent it had.

Excellent acting is the attraction in this low-key heist movie, which only gets into high gear in the last 30 minutes of the two hours, and features some nice twists. Otherwise, it's a bit talky with a few lulls.

However, I still found it interesting thanks to Edward Norton's superb acting. His character, "Jack Teller" was very intriguing. Robert De Niro, as "Nick Wells" also was good to watch. De Niro rarely is boring. The third major player here is the even-more famous Marlon Brando, who only is referred to as "Max." This certainly isn't one of his more appealing roles but then, how many did he play since the '60s anyway? He - like Norton and De Niro - always grabs your attention regardless of the role, too.

Set in Canada, there were great shots of Montreal in this film, and a sharp DVD picture to show off the city. For those looking for a lot of action, skip this, but for those who are more interested in great acting, check this movie out.

Yes, it's a cliché script, but it's a good one. De Niro, Norton and Brando in a classic heist movie from 20 years ago. What do you want more? It's 2 hours of oldschool moviewatching. Not too deep, no psychology, just a plan to rob an artefact and everything that can go wrong with that. De Niro and Norton team up with Brando on the background doing his cottonball in mouth dialogues. The movie delivers what it promises.

`The Score' is a fun, stylish return to the `Rififi,' `Topkapi' school of crime drama. The object of this particular heist is a 17th Century royal scepter from France that happens to be languishing in the basement of the Montreal customhouse just asking to be taken. One of the would-be takers is Nick Wells (Robert De Niro), a seasoned heister dreaming of the quiet life of retirement but compelled to do this one last job as a favor to Max (Marlon Brando), an old buddy in hock to some pretty dangerous mob figures. Completing the triangle is Jack Teller (Edward Norton), a brilliant but brash young criminal mastermind whose high-risk temperament is placed in direct counterpoint to Nick's cool, levelheaded demeanor.

Perhaps the most amazing triumph for director Frank Oz is his success at pulling together this impressive cast of stellar heavyweights who cut across three generations of movie acting. Of course, one might wish to see them in roles more demanding of their thespian talents, but we moviegoers will take these three superstars any way we can get them. And `The Score' is certainly very entertaining on its own terms. The technical elements involved in the planning of the heist are beautifully detailed from start to finish. And Oz generates genuinely nail-biting suspense in many sequences involving close quarters and close calls. In addition, the Montreal setting is novel and fresh and it is enhanced by some very impressive wide screen photography.

A film like `The Score' lives or dies based on the intricacy of its plotting and the expertise of its craft. In both cases, `The Score' excels as an outstanding example of this noble and time-honored genre. And watching these three acting giants doing their thing in a movie together is OUR well-earned reward.

What's the point of having a 'dream' cast when they are mostly sleep-walking through their roles? DeNiro has a CALM screaming scene with Norton? Back in his day, he would've turned the room upside down. Brando, at first, looked like he was doing a Truman Capote imitation, ascot and all, but then seems to have changed his mind. Edward Norton delves into Arnie Grape territory with his janitor alter ego, but Leo still did it better. Angela Bassett is along as The Girl, as she has no identity outside DeNiro. She also doesn't seem to be having the time of her life.

In all honesty, the movies best moments were provided by Jamie Harrold as a computer geek/nutcase who helps DeNiro out. He lives in cyberspace and, unfortunately, his mother's basement too. His character was by far the most interesting in the movie and the crowd I saw the movie with appreciated him too. At least he was alive. Congrats to Jamie, who I'd seen in 'To Wong Foo' as a stutterer, and in 'Erin Brockovich.' To make an impression in a movie with three generations of screen giants, he does the near-impossible by making a huge impression..on this viewer, at least.

The movie had one good twist but was nothing new. 6/10.

There really is nothing wrong with "The Score", though, for that matter, there really isn't a lot right about it either. Considering that the film is Marlon Brando's last and it also stars Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, I would have expected some magic. Instead, it's a mildly entertaining heist film. It also has a performance by Norton that is bound to offend many.

Nick Wells (De Niro) is an aging thief who wants one final score before he gets out of the business. His bizarre buddy, Max (Brando) contacts him about a great heist--a jewel-encrusted golden scepter. However, Nick will have to have a cocky (and annoying)young partner, Jack (Norton)--and Nick is obviously not happy working with the guy.

As for Jack, he's a guy who thinks long term. He took his present job some time back in order to infiltrate the place. And, since being hired, he has behaved as if he has cerebral palsy in order to convince everyone he's harmless. Little do his co-workers know that it's all a brilliant (and politically incorrect) disguise.

To me, the film never piqued my interest and never made my pulse change a single tick. Some of this might have been due to Brando's weak performance, a bit of irritation about Norton behaving as if he's mentally challenged and a very ordinary plot. All I know is that I didn't hate it nor did I like it.

The movie is entertaining, but due to reasons, other than the performances of its stellar cast: Angela Bassett has just a few and dull moments on the screen. Marlon Brando is helpless with the trite role assigned to him. Though De Niro plays the lead role in this flick, even his performance is limited by the action-oriented role, he plays. The starry-cast fails; but the suspense, the gizmos, and of course, Edward Norton save the day.

Edward Norton is full of life, zest, and enthusiasm. The dual role played be him, as a retarded housekeeper and as an adept thief, is pretty convincing and smartly enacted. The gadgets seem like con-jobs, but are however, pretty well-done and detailed. The computer-hacking part and the part about stealing the codes regarding the security system are overdone, and seem factitious and fatuous. The hacker-geek with a baneful mother is a lot more baneful than his squalling mother herself. Amidst of the many imperfections in the movie, it builds up steadily and interestingly to a well-written and well-directed climax. More than anything else, it is the climax of the movie, which makes it complete as an entertaining thriller.

With the kind of the star-cast it has, the movie is deceptive: It doesn't have substance, it doesn't have style, and it lacks maturity. If watched with keeping the brain aside to rest, it is thrilling and entertaining, and can be savored at best. Along with its healthful entertaining value, the score itself, of THE SCORE, by Howard Shore is good music for the ears.

7/10

Naturally, Robert DeNiro and Edward Norton can't DO a bad job, but the story here is kind of hackneyed and clichéd. DeNiro replays his role from HEAT as a veteran thief willing to retire for his beautiful girlfriend (a pitifully small role for Angela Bassett). Norton plays the young punk wanting to learn at the master's feet. This movie could have been a lot smarter and a lot more intriguing, but it just sticks to the lowest denominator. However, I do now want to visit Montréal, because this film makes it look absolutely beautiful!

The caper doesn't have a perfect plot -- either as a movie or a crime. Too much is left to chance or quite formulaic. How many times have we seen a soon-to-retire/just-retired master thief called up by a life-long friend/partner/lover for one last job with a huge pay-off and forced but whatever means to work with a young, arrogant unknown? But despite my best efforts to dismiss this movie, the three main actors are captivating ... passing the viewers' attention around as effortlessly as the Harlem Globetrotters with a basketball. It's well-worth seeing just for the acting, but it's sad to think what was missed by not giving these guys a better script.

Seven of ten from me.

A robber, Nick (Robert De Niro) wants to retire and marry his girlfriend (Angela Bassett). But a friend of his Max (Marlon Brando) convinces him to do one last job with young brash Jackie (Edward Norton). Naturally something goes wrong. Nothing new or inventive here but very well-done and engrossing. Also it's a pleasure to see three exceptional actors doing good work and enjoying themselves (especially Brando). Only complaint--Bassett (another great actor) is completely wasted. Worth catching. Also, it needs to be seen on a wide screen--director Frank Oz uses the whole screen inventively more than once.

Robert De Niro plays a semi-retired thief , living a quiet life running a Montreal jazz club , he's Nick Wells, a professional safe-cracker deciding to leave the business for good, since he nearly got caught on his last job. Until his fence (Marlon Brando) and a wannabe thief (Edward Norton) talk into pulling off an other job in Montreal's customs house . The job, worth a $4 million pay off to Nick, is to steal a valuable French scepter, which was being smuggled illegally into the United States through Canada but was accidentally discovered and kept at the Montréal Customs House. Meanwhile, De Niro's squeeze (Angela Basset) wants him out of the life . There are no partners in crime !.

Excrutiantly painstaking but realistic in its portrayal of the preparation and events leading to the hold-up , but when things eventually get going , it crackles with tense moments , crosses and double-crosses aplenty . This is a laborious piece of genre mechanics , a robbery movie so standard some have persuaded themselves it's a welcome throwback to old-fasioned entertainment . However , everything here here is dated , lazy and predictable . De Niro is solid , as always , playing master cracksman, but he seems like he may be getting to old for his role . Edward Norton gets most of the screen time and uses it well , performing a cunning thief manipulating everybody around with his already overfamiliar schizo act . And Marlon Brando is surprisingly understated in an amusing way as the jackpot booty and finangling of mentor who seduces De Niro into one last job.

It displays a thrilling and suspenseful musical score by prolific composer Howard Shore who always provides tense soundtracks. As well as adequate and colorful cinematography by cameraman Rob Hahn. This heist movie was professionally directed by Frank Oz. He has a succesful career as puppeteers responsible for the development of Jim Henson's films .Frank began a career of behind-the-camera puppet and live action filmmaking by co-directing Dark Crystal (1982) with Henson. He went on to direct The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984), The little shop of horrors (1986), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), What about Bob? (1991), The Indian in the Cupboard (1995) , Bowfinger (1999), The Score (2001), The Stepford Wives (2004) and Death at a funeral (2007) , among others .This is a nice stuff , but only for De Niro , Edward Norton , Marlon Brando fans. Rating : 5.5/10 . Acceptable film but neither notable , nor extrardinary , but passable.

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I found The Score a very rare treat in the era of Kill Bill 2 and Die Hard 9. In The Score there is plenty of suspense but very little violence. If I explain this too much, I will spoil.

Except for lots of swear words, this is clearly PG-13, and provides a strong lesson in how to craft an action movie without a lot of explosions and gunfights. Plus: three generations of Method actors is a real treat, with Brando playful and seemingly content, DeNiro cool beyond cool, and Norton riffing away the whole movie. [Regarding DeNiro: what's cooler than a) managing a sleek jazz club, in b) sleek Montreal, with c) Angela Bassett as your sleek flight attendant girlfriend?!] Rent it soon >> it's a sleeper.

The Score isn't something I'd put on my hit parade of films. May'be cause most of it has been done all before. All four players are great, especially Bassett who's performance rises above the other three, who are bloody great actors don't forget. What we've got here is professional thief, De Niro, and you'll love the way he works, being suckered in to do one last job, surrendering to temptation, a big score that will set him up for life, where his thieving days are truly behind him, and lets face it, he's not getting any younger. An impulsive young punk, (Norton) full of initiative, who doesn't liked to be warned off. De Niro, reluctant, to work with him, eventually does, and the big score is set, Norton, amusingly funny, feigning retardation while working at the building they're gonna rob. The big twist comes up near the end where like De Niro, underestimated Norton, it's becomes vice versa, where everything works out sweet for Deniro, his relationship with girlfriend Bassett, kind of mirrors the one he shared with another black woman in 15 Minutes, before he was so suddenly and shockingly disposed of. Nonetheless The Score is still very entertaining, but it's a "nothing new" story, hiding behind style, and that, to make it look better than it is. We know the story and where it's going, save for that twist at the end, that gives it a bit more merit. This was Brando's last pic, where to be honest, from the physical state of this weathered and wrinkled man, it was almost a silent goodbye signature to a legend. And Norton too helps in the humor department with his little dog and pony show was fun. Watch for Timothy Hutton in one scene, exchanging information with Deniro, where too Robert has a computer whiz kid, who feeds him stuff which makes for another thankful and funny scene. Change of Pace for Director Frank Oz, who I must say impressed me with this one, trying new directorial waters.

A by-the-numbers heist movie.

You won't find anything innovative here. A veteran thief looking for his "last job" so he can retire. A young "know-it-all" thief. The bankroller who brings it together. The girlfriend who wants the veteran to retire.

The roles are comfortable, the characters familiar. At least they're acted well. De Niro turns in one of the performances he *always* turns in of late. He breezes through the scenes providing satisfactory drama but doing *nothing* memorable. You will forget the character's name by the time the credits are done.

Brando... I'm not sure why he was in this, other than to place him in a movie with De Niro. He was fine as the money man but, given his legend, you just expect so much more.

Norton did the best. Maybe he's young enough to still give the extra effort and not just play the role adequately but try to breathe life into it as well.

The job itself is also routine. We have the valuable target. The nearly impregnable holding spot. The plans, the tunnels, the cameras. *yawn*

Oh well. If you just need an evening movie to relax with, this will do. As I said, all elements (acting, story, direction) are fine and you won't feel like you've wasted your time.

You also won't remember it tomorrow.

5 out of 10.

Nick Wells is a patient, professional, old school thief who works alone. A narrow escape convinces him that it is time to pack it up and settle down with his casual girlfriend Diane. However his middleman Max comes to him with a big score worth millions each and begins to try and convince him to do it. Acting as a downside to the job is Jack Teller, the guy with the insider information who Nick must work with as partners on the job. Even as trust is built between the three men, little things begin to be revealed that could put the whole job at risk.

Very few films are excellent in every regard, some have great plots but low production values where others have multimillion budgets but awful stories. The Score is rightly sold on it's cast for it as little else to offer an audience other than that. The plot is overly familiar and, while not bad, certainly doesn't hold any great surprises for anyone who's seen any `one last job' movies before. The telling is a little slow but holds the attention pretty well, while the job itself is unspectacular but enjoyable.

What makes it worth watching over many other similar twisty heist movies is the cast, who manage to make the material seem better by their inclusion. None of them really have anything special to work with but they all do well and do professional jobs. Norton is probably the standout of the film as he plays several types of character and is good in them all. De Niro does a reasonable job without being flashy or looking like he's making too much of an effort. Brando is OK but now always seems to have a half smile on his face to suggest he isn't taking anything seriously. I don't understand why Bassett bothered to be involved as her part is very small and doesn't add very much to the film – maybe it was a bigger part in the script?

Overall this film is basically nothing new and can be seen in many different forms at video stores world-wide. The thing that helps lift this a little above the rest is not the plot but the talented cast that have been assembled to run it. I enjoyed it and think it is worth watching for that.

Just when you thought you were stuck with the 'oldest new release' at the video store late Saturday night, you come away a winner!

This movie had great acting and actors, some pretty neat Montreal street scenes, and a lot of hard work by cast and crew. And a surprise ending that really satisfies!

There are plenty of reviews of it already. If you haven't taken it off the shelf at your local video store already, don't be afraid. I'll give you your money back if you're unhappy! (err, yaaa) :-)) 7/10

This was a pretty good movie. I think that Edward Norton and DeNiro did a pretty good job with what they were given. It seemed a bit slow at times and DeNiro didn't really seem that convincing as an aging thief, but again, his mere presence made me overlook that fact.

I enjoyed Edwards performance. I would have liked to have seen more of Angela Bassett and her relationship with DeNiro. The story line was a bit on the "done before" side, but I still liked it none the less. What really did it for me was Norton's performance.

Pretty good, but not fantastic. A good watch for a "nothing else to do" evening.

The Score is a smart crime drama. I enjoyed this one for the most part. It was very detailed and believable. DeNiro was excellent as Nick but at times he seemed a little arrogant. However, that holds with his character. Edward Norton's character, Jack was very well played. However, he was a idiot. It seemed he felt he already knew everything he needed to know but at least he got his in the end. Marlon Brando's character was also a good addition. However, they should have casted someone else in that role. I felt they could done better with a different actor.

The planning for the big score was well done. However, they could have made it flow a little better. I also felt the planning stages seemed to drag a little just before the final heist began.

Over all, pretty good (7 out of 10).

The Score is a movie that holds many elements together that makes is a highly watchable and ultimately suspensful crime movie. These elements are the cast, which has 3 of the finest American actors to ever grace the screen- Robert DeNiro, Edward Norton, and Don Vito Corleone himself, Marlon Brando. Also though another elements is from director Frank Oz, who is a household name (at least for me) by being a muppeteer since 1963 and has also directed some hits (Bowfinger, What About Bob) and misses (In and Out, Stepsitter). Now he tackles his first crime drama, and he does it exceptionally well in holding the suspense in a way that will hold it all together, unlike some thrillers that always pop up suspense and by the time the end comes your tired out from it all. While The Score holds a couple of things also that keep it from greatness (Angela Basset's character isn't really needed for DeNiro's motivations and also the trailer revealed too much of the movie so that the movie had to try extra hard to be thrilling), it also holds controlled and outstanding performances and crackerjack suspense throughout. One of the few real must-see movies of the summer. A

Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Angela Bassett, and Marlon Brando star in "The Score" from 2001.

De Niro is Nick Wells, a successful Montreal club owner who actually is a master crook. However, he's ready to retire and settle down with his girlfriend, flight attendant Diane (Angela Bassett).

An associate, Max (Marlon Brando) prevails upon him to do one last deal - steal a valuable scepter from the Montreal Customs House. He refuses, but finally agrees for larger than his usual take.

The inside man is Jack (Norton), an assistant janitor who on the job pretends to be mentally challenged. He manages to get Nick everything he needs to do the theft -- codes, kind of safe, everything. They carefully plan it.

But you know how things are.

Though the script is derivative in parts, Frank Oz directs with a briskness that keeps it moving. And he has a first-rate cast. The last part of the film is white-knuckle suspenseful.

De Niro is very good, but he really has the least flashy role. That belongs to Norton, who does an excellent job as Danny.

Marlon Brando looks like Rod Steiger in this and has trouble breathing with the slightest exertion - I really don't think that was the character, it was Brando.

He created an interesting character, but it's sad to see him in a small role and in such bad condition.

I interviewed Rod Steiger and asked him about the big scene in "Waterfront" when Brando didn't show up and Steiger had to do his scene without him. Steiger told me that it didn't matter anymore, that Brando had suffered so much, he could only feel sorry for him. Well, you can see this film and feel sorry for him too.

De Niro and Norton play two crooks who form an uneasy alliance under the supervision of Max, the character played by Brando. Brando appears only on a handful of scenes that could have been played by any supporting actor, even if much was said about his presence.

The real clash is between older thief Nick (De Niro) and cocky young newcomer Jack (Norton). Norton follows again the Primal Fear route, which makes his part a bit predictable.

The film shows all the details of planning and executing a complex heist, which makes it interesting from a practical point of view - if you're planning to bust open some safes, maybe you will reconsider...