Above: Poster for 'The Vault' (C) 2021 Saban Films, all rights reserved, image not monetized.
Greetings
valued Dan's Movie Report and Action-Flix.com readers. On a whim and
due to the fact that one of my favorite actresses Famke Jannsen is in
it, I checked out the 2021 Saban Films release 'The Vault'. This is not the same
as the 2017 film with the same name, starring James Franco. The 2017
film is about 20 minutes shorter, although both films revolve around
some of the same themes, this one is far more thought out, and has no
supernatural elements.
Obvious
comparisons to the big budget 'Ocean's 11' series of films will be
made, however what is interesting is, given the setting, a backdrop
of 2010 Madrid, pre- ultra high tech, pre-drone, much of this film's
revealed science is quite plausible.
The
film opens in 2009 with Liam Cunningham as Walter captaining a
salvage mission off the cost of Spain to locate treasure in the sea.
Actually the film-makers including Director Jaume
Balagueró take their time to establish the connection between
past events and present day. The treasure is taken and sealed in an
vault in Madrid.
Then
the opening credits roll and the team is assembled as we fast forward
to 2010. Freddie
Highmore as Thom and Astrid
Bergès-Frisbey as Lorraine are the main characters in the vault
maneuvering process though the entire team plays an important part.
Revealing other characters and their role will basically spoil the
plot, which I will not do. Suffice to say all of the acting is really
solid, the movie plays itself quite seriously and The head of
security at the bank and the CEO of the bank are not portrayed as the
bumbling idiots as in so many other films.
The
movie is really riviting, the nearly 2 hour movie flies by with a
dialogue intensive explanation, followed by action. What is great is
that 'The Vault' seems to know that an episode of 'Numbers' provides
a solid back science, yet they can expand it to the tense action over
the course of two hours.
The
bank vault itself it quite interesting, always providing puzzles and
forcing the team to come up with solutions. I like the fact that
things go wrong, again, no spoilers!
The
team is forced to find creative ways to enter the vault, including
ladders, zip lines, and due to the fact that their ingress occurs
during the day, we get to see everything, no dark muddy scenes in the
shadows! Great work to the camera people and prop-makers!
Incidentally
Famke only plays a minor role here as the friend of Walter and is
seen in the beginning, a short time in the middle and end, no matter,
this is a great film. On IMDB there is listed a series of 6 writers,
normally that is a sign that the plot has been reworked and not
always good, this time it works. I am sure that some technological
advice was added to make things plausible.
Camera
work, lighting, editing and the rock soundtrack spice things up. The
entire cast and crew is to be commended, the movie is great and ends
in a way that could possible lend itself to a second film. The
question arises here of rewatchablilty, I watched 'Ocean's 11' one
time, as once you see it, the process is just not as entertaining.
Heist movies are tricky with regards to inherent long term watching multiple times.
As
much as I love the film, I can suggest a definite rent, as the film
once you watch it carefully and uninterrupted you will have the sense
of satisfaction. I find that although you may get out a bit more
upon second watching. unless you live in a home filled with
distractions, it is not needed. That said if they ever put out a
detailed Blu-Ray with behind the scenes, deleted scenes, director commentary etc... and such, it may be worth it. 'The Vault' from
Saban Films rates a very strong 8.5 out of 10.
For further information: https://www.sabanfilms.com/
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9742794
