The Score (2001)

Plot Summary: Nick Wells, a veteran safe-cracker ready to retire and settle with his girlfriend Diane, is pulled into one last heist by his fence Max. Partnered with ambitious thief Jack Teller, they aim to steal a priceless French scepter from the Montreal Customs House, facing tension, trust issues, and betrayal.

Director: Frank Oz
Producers: Gary Foster, Lee Rich
Screenplay: Kario Salem (story and screenplay), Daniel E. Taylor (story), Lem Dobbs, Scott Marshall Smith

Starring:
Robert De Niro as Nick Wells
Edward Norton as Jack Teller/Brian
Marlon Brando as Max, 
Angela Bassett as Diane

 

***SPOILER ALERT***

A Heist Worth the Hype

Finally got around to continuing my Frank Oz film journey, and tonight’s pick was The Score. A two-hour-and-forty-minute heist flick that I had been saving for when I had some serious spare time. With a powerhouse cast featuring Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, I figured nothing could go wrong. And thankfully, I was right. The runtime flew by, and by the end, I had chewed my nails down to stubs. The suspense really messed with my nerves, maybe I’m just a bit too basic, but the plot twists had me genuinely shocked. When Edward Norton left De Niro hanging on top of that safe, I almost bit my fingers off. "Wait, hold up! Is this dude a cop?!" The story takes its time building up, but it never drags, keeping just the right pace to get you fully invested in De Niro’s Nick and Norton’s Jack.

The Cast Steals the Show

Norton’s performance as both the fake mentally challenged janitor and the slick, arrogant thief is just awesome. When Danny (Paul Soles) realized he had been duped by him, my heart broke. And then I burst out laughing when he tried, in absolute panic, to tell everyone that "Brian the handicapped guy" was actually robbing them. Norton is just one of those actors who makes everything feel natural, his delivery, his mannerisms, everything. And of course, De Niro is effortlessly cool as the calm, calculated veteran thief. His relationship with Angela Bassett adds a nice emotional layer to his character, making him more than just a career criminal. Then there’s Marlon Brando, who was apparently such a pain on set that he refused to be in the same room as director Frank Oz, so much so that De Niro had to direct him at times. Either way, seeing three acting legends tackle a high-stakes heist was a real treat. And for every Spider-Man nerd out there, learn that Paul Soles, the guy who played Danny, was actually the very first voice of Spider-Man in the 1967 animated series. Yep, the OG web-slinger himself was in The Score!

Criminally Good Fun

One of the coolest things about The Score? The method they use to break into the safe is actually plausible. MythBusters even tested it! (check it here) Granted, it took way longer and a bunch of extra thermal rods, and, small detail: their loot got burned to a crisp... But still, points for realism! The music was another highlight, with a theme so catchy I found myself humming it during the movie. Plus, the soundtrack features jazz legend Mose Allison, which adds to the stylish, laid-back vibe of Nick’s club scenes. Loved the Montreal setting, those unfamiliar streets were a refreshing break from the same old New York grind. Montreal’s streets made the film stand out visually. But here’s the real question, why do I always find myself rooting for the criminals in these movies? There’s something almost noble about this kind of theft, right? Maybe we should start a petition: if you can pull off a heist and stay hidden for a week, you get to return the goods and collect a reward. No? Just me? Either way, The Score is a slick, tension-filled heist film that’ll keep you on edge and thoroughly entertained.

🎥 Cinematography (9/10):

Montreal was a nice change of scenery, and the film looked solid overall.

📖 Story (9/10):

The slow build worked, the twists got me, and the heist itself was tense as hell. No complaints.

🎬 Direction (9/10):

Frank Oz did a great job, even with Brando basically refusing to work with him.

👥 Characters (10/10):

De Niro was cool, Norton was a chameleon, and even Brando showed up (begrudgingly).

💥 Visual Effects (5/10):

Not a VFX-heavy film. Just good ol’ practical heist tension with a nice explosion at the end.

🎭 Acting (10/10):

De Niro, Norton, Brando—come on, how can you go wrong? They killed it..

💬 Dialogue (9/10):

"Nice working with you, ace. Okay, bye-bye.".

🌍 Setting/Atmosphere (9/10):

Montreal looked great, and it was refreshing to escape the usual NYC setting.

🎵 Music (9/10):

The theme was catchy as hell!

😄 Entertainment Value (10/10):

Had me glued to the screen, biting my nails, and even laughing at times. Solid ride.

🎬 You Might Also Enjoy:

➤ Frank Oz Filmography: Ranked Best to Worst Complete filmography breakdown and rankings

➤ The Dark Crystal (1982) Groundbreaking puppet fantasy masterpiece

➤ In & Of Itself (2020) Must-watch documentary by Frank Oz