ARMORED - DVD review

Heist films come and go, yet there's something thrilling about seeing the unthinkable attempted. It's even better when it goes as intended, like in "Ocean's Eleven" or "The Italian Job." The outcomes vary from movie to movie, but often it appears the thrill is what those who attempt a large-scale theft are really after. Actually pulling it off is icing on the cake.

Such is not the case in "Armored," a simple, dirt under your fingernails, money-grabbing approach to this genre from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Hungarian director Nimrod Antal. Rather than come from the outside and hack their way in, the thieves in "Armored" come from within and don't really desire a thrill. Just a payday, is all.

No character is especially deep in "Armored," and as a result the plot is kept very simple during its brief 88 minute run time. If it had been longer, the film would have lost anyone who was able to remain interested beyond that timeframe due to its simple plot. If it had been shorter, some neat elements (an armored truck chase, for example) likely would have been cut, making the film even less engaging. In the end, we see recognizable actors not hitting near their potential in a fragmented structure where cracks are already plentiful.

Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) has been dealt a less than favorable hand. His mother and father are recently deceased, and he gets to deal with their gigantic debts and his younger brother Jimmy (Andre Kinney) while trying to make ends meet as an armored truck guard. His closest friend is Mike (Matt Dillon), a seasoned veteran in this industry who takes Ty under his wing. Matt wants Ty and Jimmy to make it, and for the pair to have everything they need despite the circumstances.

Ty and Mike work for Eagle Shield Security, and their brother-like co-workers are Quinn (Jean Reno), Baines (Laurence Fishburne), Palmer (Amaury Nolasco) and Dobbs (Skeet Ulrich). It isn't the most fulfilling work environment, but these men take pleasure from their responsibilities and the ability to carry guns around as they work. Ty has recently completed his probationary period with Eagle Shield (we learn he got back from Iraq not too long ago), and as a celebration the group fakes a robbery on Ty's truck. Later that night, all enjoy a beer and share heist stories they know, all famous for the dollar amount taken or the number of people injured and killed.

As Mike drops Ty off at home, he shares his concern. Mike tells Ty that the fake robbery was in reality just a test run, and the group plans to execute a real $42 million theft the next day. Ty is offered a role and a cut, but he initially refuses. When he gets home, a child welfare worker is waiting, threatening to remove Jimmy from his custody if his environment doesn't improve along side his school attendance. Ty also reveals that he is in deep debt to multiple banks, all threatening to seize the house.

The next morning, Ty agrees to participate in the robbery should no one be hurt. Mike assures him that there are no bad guys, and he has a rock solid story everyone will stick to. After the trucks pick up the day's cash, they detour into an abandoned steel mill and remove the funds. But an unexpected transient accidentally sees the men moving the cash, and all hell breaks loose.

Baines shoots the transient, and Ty realizes he hasn't done the right thing. He rushes to aid the man, but Mike kills him before Ty can provide any help. Realizing Ty has turned against them, the men try to detain him, but he boards himself up in one of the trucks where half the $42 million still sits. The rest of the film follows Ty's desperate attempt to survive and Mike's pathetic desire to get paid.

As stated earlier, character development didn't seem like a high priority for writer James V. Simpson or director Antal. I imagine this accounts for the film's emphasis on action and violence, both likely in place to mask this gap. I remember very little about Quinn, Palmer and Dobbs except that one commits suicide and the other two are blown up. Fishburne's character is trigger-happy and not that bright, so he sticks out just a bit more than the rest. Dillon is clearly the clan's leader, evidenced by his ability to give orders and have them obeyed without question. After Ty has flipped and doesn't want any part in the heist, Dillon's character looks at him often and utters phrases like, "I would have protected you," or "It's come to this." It is not convincing drama or persuasive acting, nor does it work on any level.

Short's performance is adequate as the one fellow who eventually does the right thing. Still, you have to wonder what made him change his mind. Was it his devotion to his brother, or maybe his selfishness in not wanting to get caught? Perhaps $42 million suddenly felt like a less than enthusiastic payday. Ty is creative and manages to save a life in addition to his own while "Armored" runs its course, but he doesn't dominate because too much emphasis is put onto Dillon and his overacting via soapbox speeches and verbal threats.

For the most part, the film looks authentic. The armored trucks feel real, yet appear a step or two behind what you might see parked near your local bank these days. The abandoned industrial facility where two-thirds of the film takes place is dark, dank and unfriendly. This profession is not glorified as the film plays out, but it also does not appear so miserable that those who take it on daily would be prompted into theft. There had to be some other reason motivating the actions taken in "Armored," but just what that is never comes out.

Which brings us to the cold, hard reality surrounding the film. If you read too much into "Armored," it is likely you will not enjoy a moment. If you take it on the surface and go no deeper, there is some entertainment value to be had. Not much, mind you. But some.

Video:
The desperate situation these Eagle Shield guards encounter is connoted pretty well via the 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen video transfer. More dark colors abound than anything else during "Armored," and throughout they come through with good vividness and clarity. Minimal grain is present, and the lighting helps balance out the emphasis on darks. There is occasionally a creative camera angle or two from director of photography Andrzej Sekula, but not enough to stick in your brain beyond one viewing.

Audio:
No real issues with the English Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track. Expect gunshots, screams, explosions, engine revving and money counters to come through strongly. Dialogue is mostly clear and audible, but there are moments where the film's musical selections take the spotlight. While not spotless (natural background noise has a reserved, even minimal presence), the audio transfer does enough to get by okay. Other Dolby Digital 5.1 options include Spanish, Portuguese and Thai. A French Dolby Surround option is also in place, as are subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean and Thai.

Extras:
A few neat add-ons are here, including a look at the stunts and overall production design. Also available is an audio commentary with a few cast members and a producer, plus a big picture "Making of" featurette. There is average to minimal new insight on the film provided here, so don't feel obligated. If curious, however, dig in.

A Final Word:
I felt this was a neat idea that lacked efficient execution, but will still entertain even the casual action film fan. "Armored" has paper-thin characters and doesn't grab its audience with any cinematic element. Had the PG-13 rating been upped to an R, this experiment could have been more explicit, perhaps even better overall. Instead, it is easily forgettable despite some talented casting and a mildly creative concept.