cinematic roots of: ‘Takers’

No movie springs from a vacuum. There are always influences from past examples of the genre, from the previous work of the filmmakers and stars, even from similar films that don’t quite work. If you want to understand where a movie is coming from, take a look at where it’s coming from.

In Takers, a gang of elegant and mostly nonviolent bank robbers, led by stylin’ Brit Idris Elba, break one of the rules that has made them successful, and so risk getting caught by diligent cop Matt Dillon. This flick sprang from (among other films):

• Quick Change (1990), one of the wittiest heist movies ever made; the robbers’ sneaky getaway trick is mirrored in the Takers’ sneaky trick for getting into a bank.

• The Bank Job (2008), another sophisticated theft by a somewhat more downscale gang; Jason Statham finds the clever break-in he’s leading going wrong in ways he never could have imagined.

• RocknRolla (2008), for more of Idris Elba as a bad guy -- but a much dumber one -- in Guy Ritchie’s mockney crime caper.

• Crash (2005), for more of Matt Dillon as a much less noble cop: he turns in a sharp performance as a racist LAPD officer.