The Score | | Cast : | Robert De Niro, Edward Norton | | Director : | Robert De Niro, Frank Oz | | Studio : | Paramount Home Video | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen, Dolby | | Released Date : | July 13, 2001 | | DVD Released Date : | December 11, 2001 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Dubbed), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | August 06, 2005 | | Summary | "The Score" really scores! | Content
 | Anything Robert DeNiro does has to be tops and always worth watching. "The Score" is one of the tops of the tops. DeNiro is superbly rational and fearsome, Ed Norton was a relative newcomer in this movie and with all that talent will be a star for years to come. An added plus is Marlon Brando in his last movie role, and he was, as always, great - and always Marlon. A super treat, even if it did come out years ago. An edge of your seat thriller, without all the gratuitous violence so loved by producers as a coverup for bad movies. This is not a bad movie - it stands on its own as a wonderful entertainment. |
| Rating | | | Date | July 29, 2005 | | Summary | Vito Corleone's everywhere | Content
| Great performances by DeNiro and Norton are almost lost when scene stealer Brando has his short scenes. Looking enormous with a tiny head, Marlon looks ready to be stuffed on a wall. But, his performance seems more carefree and loose than anyone else's in the film. DeNiro has played this role before and well and Norton performs well enough that he is not lost amongst the two giants. The Director Frank Oz, shows a new side with this film. Using lots of shadows and grit is new for his work. But, his use of focus is a positive element he has brought forth from his previous films... Surprisingly light on plot (these things are usually plotty), the first hour of the film shows our criminals setting up the final heist. A good film overall, but, barely a blip on the year and quite forgetable on the resumes of DeNiro and Brando. |
| Rating | | | Date | May 19, 2005 | | Summary | THE SCORE: DEAD HEAT | Content
| THE SCORE has a pretty impressive pedigree: Oscar winners Robert DeNiro and Marlon Brando; Oscar nominees Edward Norton and Angela Bassett; Oscar winning composer Howard Shore. Under the astute direction of Frank Oz, THE SCORE is an intelligently made heist film. Unfortunately, the only performance that goes beyond the conventional is Norton's. As egocentric young Jack Teller, Norton actually plays a double role: that of Jack and also of Brian, a seemingly retarded young man who works as a janitor at the Montreal Customs House. Norton is perfect as the cordial, friendly young man who uses this ruse to find the location of a rare French scepter smuggled into Canada via a piano leg. DeNiro is the veteran thief out to do one last score before settling down with his girl Angela Bassett and his nouveau jazz club. Brando huffs and puffs his way through the role of DeNiro's compatriate who enlists his aid in stealing the scepter. THE SCORE is like its jazzy background score: smooth, silky, but ultimately bland and derivative. Bassett is wasted in her role, and DeNiro merely seems to be playing himself. As for Brando, any actor could have played the role just as well. It is the combination of these actors, however, and especially Norton's bravura that makes THE SCORE entertaining in spite of its blandness. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 18, 2005 | | Summary | The Perfect Combination | Content
| Until this film, I'd never heard of Edward Norton. He is an exceptional actor and I have since discovered him in "Primal Fear" (even better than "The Score").
DeNiro and Norton make the perfect team; young turk vs. old pro, combining their talents to pull off one last major heist. The story line, the exceptional acting and the superb use of understated music and sound make for an outstanding thriller-drama. Don't even hesitate buying this (or anything Edward Norton is in) on DVD. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 13, 2005 | | Summary | Score! | Content
| Nick Wells (Robert DeNiro) is an aging thief that is looking to retire. He has enough money, owns a nice jazz club in Toronto and just wants to settle back. His occasional girlfriend, a flight attendant, (Angela Bassett), is thrilled to hear the news and offers to get her route transferred to Toronto. Nick's longtime fence, Max (Marlon Brando), comes to him with a proposition. There is an item in Toronto's Custom House that a customer will pay very handsomely for. Nick is initially reluctant. He never does a job in his hometown. It is too risky. But Brian (Edward Norton) has an inside connection.
"The Score", directed by Frank Oz, is the type of summer film that adults crave, yearn and salivate for. An intelligent film, with good to great performances, an involving story and great technical work. If you were brought up on MTV-style editing, forget about it. 'The Score' unfolds at a very deliberate pace, which some people have already commented is too slow. I disagree. The story unfolds slowly, in the first act, to incorporate a way of life that Nick is used to. As things gear up, so does the action. Oz has crafted a film that looks great, but doesn't push the style envelope too much.
DeNiro is, as usual, great. Nick Wells is tired and desperate to retire, but he wants to live a certain lifestyle and the lure of a sizable score brings him back into the fold. His character's relationship with Bassett's character is also good, but Bassett's character has about 15 minutes of screen time, if that. I found it interesting and fascinating to watch this character work and to get to know his life, likes and habits.
Norton creates a very unique and interesting character. To reveal too much about the character would reveal secrets about the film. Secrets that, unfortunately, the trailers and commercials reveal. Jackie is an interesting character, a novice thief who seems to bristle at the direction of the more experienced Nick. Norton is a great actor and he more than holds his own against DeNiro and Brando.
Brando is also very good. After a series of bizarre roles, he has toned down the theatrics quite a bit. Max Baron is a man afraid of losing his lifestyle as well. Since his lifestyle largely hinges on the work of Nick, he is hesitant to let Nick give up the work. Brando plays the role fairly simply. Occasionally, he does a bit of theatrical business but thankfully, no more wine buckets on his head.
I love caper and heist films. I love trying to figure out what is going to happen and to find out how the people carry the heist off. 'The Score' leads to a climatic robbery which is plotted extremely well. We follow Nick as he prepares for the heist, never revealing all of the plan, so that when the heist actually happens, there are still some surprises. This reminded me of a French film, from the 50s, called 'Riffifi'. Both films spend a lot of time detailing the preparations for the heist. Both films are very good and worth watching.
"The Score" is a handsome film, filled with interesting performances and an engaging story. Go see it. Go. Stop sitting at your computer reading web postings.
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