As a self-professed fan of all issues Gerard Butler (even when he doesn’t use his Scottish accent), I’m somewhat pissed off at myself for sleeping on Den of Thieves for therefore lengthy. This 2018 crime thriller a couple of morally ambiguous cop making an attempt to stop a close-knit group of financial institution robbers from pulling off the heist of the century was one thing I admittedly postpone for approach too lengthy, and I don’t actually know why. Nicely, that not too long ago modified…
Forward of the long-awaited launch of Den of Thieves 2: Pantera on the 2025 film schedule, I made a decision to return and eventually watch the unique to see what all of the fuss was about. Let me inform ya, whereas the film isn’t within the dialogue of the greatest heist film of all time, I had a ton of enjoyable in the course of the expertise. With intense motion, nice set items, electrifying character dynamics, and an exquisite twist ending, there was rather a lot to like. Let me clarify…
I Thought Den Of Thieves Would Be Some Mid-Tier Warmth Knockoff, However I Was So Incorrect
The vital response to Den of Thieves wasn’t all that nice, with CinemaBlend solely giving the film two out of 5 stars in our official assessment again in January 2018, so I didn’t have the best of expectations going into the film. If something, I believed it might be nothing greater than some mid-tier Warmth knockoff like so many different motion thrillers since one of many greatest ‘90s films first hit the massive display, however I used to be so improper.
Yeah, there are some similarities between Christian Gudegast’s 2018 crime movie and Michael Mann’s 1995 epic, however the films are two fully completely different beasts. Regardless of each having loud-as-hell theft scenes, and cat-and-mouse chases by means of the streets of the Better Los Angeles space, Den of Thieves by no means felt prefer it was ripping off Warmth, however as an alternative paying homage or utilizing it as inspiration.
The Dynamic Shared By Gerard Butler And O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Characters Was Unbelievable And Actually Made The Film
On the coronary heart of Den of Thieves is the unimaginable dynamic shared by Gerard Butler’s Detective Nick “Massive Nick” O’Brien and O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Donnie Wilson, a bartender and getaway driver for the Merrimen financial institution theft crew. Although the chief of the staff, Ray Merrimen, performed by Pablo Schreiber from The Wire forged, does have an integral position within the plot of the movie, I saved discovering myself being drawn to the connection on the core of the O’Brien/Wilson story.
I can’t recover from how neither of those guys stay in worlds of absolutes, as neither is fully good whereas additionally not being fully unhealthy on the similar time, if that is smart. O’Brien, although a cop, is a morally ambiguous one who’ll do something he can to resolve a case or at the least get a lead. He’s untrue to his spouse, vulnerable to violent outbursts, and looks as if he has some severe skeletons in his closet. And Wilson, who has been to jail and carries out some violent heists the place a number of individuals get killed, doesn’t appear evil.
Although not the identical, they’ve extra in widespread than they’d wish to admit, which provides stress and pleasure to the film general.
The Opening Theft Was One Of The Loudest Film Scenes I’ve Watched In Years
I’m a sucker for films with nice opening scenes, and I assume I’ve so as to add Den of Thieves to that checklist as a result of the primary 5 minutes or so of this crime thriller go arduous within the paint. Significantly, the shootout that instantly follows the Merrimen staff hijacking the armored truck at a donut store within the pre-dawn hours is among the loudest scenes I’ve watched in years.
Okay, keep in mind simply how loud the shootout scene in Warmth was (if not, right here’s a reminder)? Nicely, the Den of Thieves opening is correct there with it. I may really feel every gunshot that got here by means of on my audio system in my lounge (and this isn’t a top-of-the-line setup, however as an alternative a soundbar). I’m speaking thuds, shatters, vibrations galore. After that, I knew I used to be hooked.
The Last Heist Felt Like A Video Recreation, And I Imply That In The Finest Approach
I imply this in the very best approach, however the last heist in Den of Thieves felt an entire lot like one thing out of a online game. With the Federal Reserve in downtown Los Angeles because the goal the place the crew will take $30 million in previous payments retired from circulation earlier than they are often destroyed (primarily making the cash untraceable), a plan that includes a faux financial institution theft as a distraction, after which one more shootout, I used to be on the sting of my seat (and staying up approach too late) ending it.
The way in which that one factor led to the following, the small victories, the minor mishaps that become one thing giant, the a number of planes of motion, all of it felt like one thing out of the ultimate mission of a Grand Theft Auto sport. By no means as soon as was I bored all through this.
I am Glad I Did not Learn Any Spoilers As a result of The Den Of Thieves Ending Was Nice
Spoiler Warning: The ultimate part of this story incorporates main spoilers for the Den of Thieves ending. In the event you haven’t watched the film, please cease and test it out with a Max subscription.
Okay, with the spoiler warning out of the way in which, I’ve to speak concerning the Den of Thieves ending and the way I’m glad I didn’t have it ruined for me earlier than watching. Mainly, within the chaos of the ultimate shootout, Donnie escaped police custody and was capable of get away, however with out the money. Or, so Massive Nick and the viewers are led to consider.
Within the last scene, it’s revealed that not solely did Donnie get away with the money (which he despatched to an offshore account in Panama) however that he was truly the mastermind behind the entire plan all alongside. He gave Merrimen and his crew the small print concerning the gig, he was buddies with insiders on the Federal Reserve, and he was a prison mastermind on the point of pull off his subsequent heist: a diamond change in London. And that’s the place Den of Thieves 2: Pantera will decide up.
Man, I’m actually glad I lastly obtained round to watching Den of Thieves. Actually, it was one of many greatest films on Max I’ve watched shortly, and now I’m all jazzed up for the sequel.