Takers is a 2010 American action thriller film directed by John Luessenhop, starring Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, Idris Elba, Jay Hernandez, and Michael Ealy. This film is a heist movie that revolves around several criminals who plan and execute a sophisticated robbery. The central theme of the movie is how people are willing to go to extreme lengths to earn a living, including resorting to crime.
The Movie Plot
The storyline begins with Detective Jack Welles and Eddie Hatcher investigating a robbery that was executed with great organization. The group of perpetrators, having a keen sense of planning, included Gordon “G” Cozier as the leader, John, A.J., Jake, and Jesse Attica. The limelight of the group, Delonte “Ghost” Rivers, was incarcerated for five years due to a previous robbery attempt.
In Ghost’s absence, Jake started dating Lily, Ghost’s ex-girlfriend. After a long-served sentence, Ghost was released from prison and reached out to his old gang. He raised an idea of robbing two trucks carrying a substantial amount of cash, totalling 12 million USD. Ghost’s proposal was met with reluctance by G, who was against making stealing a yearly activity. G argued that an annual occurrence made it hard for the police to track them. However, G and his team eventually agreed to carry out the robbery.
The group disguised themselves as construction workers and hid themselves underground. They had to act as if they were reputable employees working on a broken pipeline while Ghost pretended to be a policeman. With this strategy, Ghost could keep a close eye on the truck movements. John was wary of Ghost’s intentions and hence kept a sniper rifle to kill him in case he betrayed them.
The group’s plan was to create a bomb explosion on the planned road, causing the truck to fall underground. Unfortunately, just as they detonated the bomb, a cyclist crossed the lane, making the truck stop abruptly. The driver called the police, and this thwarted their plans. Nevertheless, they successfully stole the other truck, and they divided the cash and fled.
Detectives Welles and Hatcher got to the scene of the robbery and discovered that the robbers had fled through an underground tunnel. They recalled that they had found a map of the underground tunnels in the possession of a Russian gang. The two detectives located Jesse, who tried to flee but ended up killing Hatcher. At the same time, Ghost had a vendetta with the Russian gang and, in an attempt to settle an old score, had disclosed to the Russians where the robbers were hiding.
In a twist of events, the Russians stormed the hideout where the robbers were hiding, and they engaged in a gunfight. A.J. sacrificed himself so that his team could escape. Both Jake and Jesse made it home, only to find Lily dead and the stolen money gone. The audience is left wondering whether G and his team will escape successfully, or Ghost would come out on top.
Movie Review
The movie Takers intends to tell a heist story from the eyes of the perpetrators. The plot is unique and puts some serious consideration in the planning of a robbery, making it more than just a superficial action-thriller movie. With the many unexpected twists, the film manages to keep the audience hooked to their screens.
The filmmaker used subdued color tones, which gave the movie a dark and eerie atmosphere, emphasizing the danger that comes with the robbery. The movie’s pacing is commendable, with intense action sequences that are both thrilling and engaging.
The character development, however, could have been stronger, with many characters described as having some personal conflict, but this was not fully developed. The sound editing could also have been improved to make the audio more impactful.
The cast includes accomplished actors like Matt Dillon, Paul Walker, and Idris Elba, and this adds to the film’s allure. The movie, therefore, has a great casting choice, which helps in making the film both engaging and entertaining.
Conclusion
Takers is a movie with an exciting and captivating plot that takes the audience through various unexpected turns. It is an excellent production that goes beyond the typical heist movie, showcasing clear planning and execution of a robbery. The film has its shortcomings, such as underdeveloped characterizations, yet it remains a commendable watch.
