"'Score' One for
Frank Oz"
by Scott Mantz

"The Score"
Robert De Niro,
Edward Norton, Marlon Brando
Directed by Frank Oz

An offer they can't refuse! Edward Norton and Robert De Niro plan the biggest heist of their careers in "The Score"

There's a scene midway through "The Score" where Robert De Niro's character tells Edward Norton, "talent means nothing if you don't make the right choices." Well, amen to that, brother! Talk about making the right choices, Robert De Niro finally made one of his own after a string of so-so performances in forgettable films (I mean, just what the heck was he doing in "15 Minutes" anyway?). The fact is, not only does the acting in "The Score" raise the bar on what would have been an otherwise average film, but it also makes for an extremely effective, intelligent, and engrossing moviegoing experience.

After a career spanning the globe as a professional thief, Nick Wells (Robert De Niro) is finally ready to cash in his chips. All he wants to do is settle down with his flight attendant girlfriend (Angela Bassett) and manage his cozy jazz bar, but not before his old partner Max (Marlon Brando) shows up with an offer he can't refuse. Locked in a safe under maximum security at the Customs House in Montreal is a jewel-encrusted 17th century scepter worth millions of dollars. All Nick has to do is break in and steal it, and he'll be able to get himself out of debt--and out of the "business"--once and for all. The problem is, Nick will have to team up with Jackie Teller (Edward Norton), a shady, overly-ambitious newcomer who first gave Max the idea. Nick has a choice: Will he play it safe and walk away clean, or will he sacrifice everything for the biggest score of his life?

Without a doubt, "The Score" has to be the best heist flick of its kind since 1995's "Heat" (which, ironically, also starred Mr. De Niro). Credit director Frank Oz, a well-established and consistent filmmaker whose hits include comedies like "In & Out," "Bowfinger," and "What About Bob?" What's immediately impressive is just how seamlessly he switches gears from screwball comedy to full-on suspense. What's even more incredible is how he manages to do this without relying on fancy camerawork. In other words, there's no splashy direction or hyper-kinetic editing (a la "Snatch") done here--just a well-written, intensely-paced, character-driven potboiler that pays off with a climax that will leave you feeling more than satisfied.

It speaks volumes that "godfathers" Robert De Niro and Marlon Brando--both two-time Academy Award winners who won Oscars for playing the same role--would choose "The Score" as their first film together. As usual, De Niro commands the screen, and in some ways, his character resembles the one he played in "Heat." Both are consummate professionals, but neither can hold on to a romantic relationship for beans. De Niro's Nick Wells tries a little harder, especially when his girlfriend (Angela Bassett, in what is pretty much a nothing role) gives him an ultimatum--her way or the highway. That conflict gives De Niro the opportunity to deliver a strong-yet-sensitive performance, and as a result, it makes him instantly appealing.

Marlon Brando is a little harder to figure out. Sure, his name alone adds prestige to the film, but since his character is either always out of breath or stuffing his face with peanuts, it's awfully hard to figure out just what the heck he's trying to say. On the other hand, Edward Norton holds his own and solidifies his reputation as one of the best actors of his generation. As he did in "Primal Fear"--his big screen debut--he effortlessly shifts from the handicapped disability he needs to front his cover at the Customs House to the aggressive thief who keeps you guessing with each passing scene.

"The Score" is a perfect diversion for movie buffs who are burned out on emotionally deprived, special effects-laden summer popcorn flicks. Rather than trying to do too much too soon and undermine the intelligence of his audience, Frank Oz lets the actors do the talking with the type of interplay that feels much more natural than forced. Despite the somewhat predictable nature in which the final heist plays itself out, the payoff is big enough to leave you feeling like you've just scored with a rare Hollywood gem.

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