The Score (2001)

The Score: Directed by Frank Oz. With Robert De Niro, Edward Norton, Marlon Brando, Angela Bassett. An aging thief hopes to retire and live off his ill-gotten wealth when a young kid convinces him into doing one last heist.

“There really is nothing wrong with u0026quot;The Scoreu0026quot;, though, for that matter, there really isnu0026#39;t a lot right about it either. Considering that the film is Marlon Brandou0026#39;s last and it also stars Robert De Niro and Edward Norton, I would have expected some magic. Instead, itu0026#39;s a mildly entertaining heist film. It also has a performance by Norton that is bound to offend many.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNick Wells (De Niro) is an aging thief who wants one final score before he gets out of the business. His bizarre buddy, Max (Brando) contacts him about a great heist–a jewel-encrusted golden scepter. However, Nick will have to have a cocky (and annoying)young partner, Jack (Norton)–and Nick is obviously not happy working with the guy.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs for Jack, heu0026#39;s a guy who thinks long term. He took his present job some time back in order to infiltrate the place. And, since being hired, he has behaved as if he has cerebral palsy in order to convince everyone heu0026#39;s harmless. Little do his co-workers know that itu0026#39;s all a brilliant (and politically incorrect) disguise.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eTo me, the film never piqued my interest and never made my pulse change a single tick. Some of this might have been due to Brandou0026#39;s weak performance, a bit of irritation about Norton behaving as if heu0026#39;s mentally challenged and a very ordinary plot. All I know is that I didnu0026#39;t hate it nor did I like it.”