One of the top ten depictions of a bank robbery inspired by a true event, the movie 211 is chilling, and mesmerizing. The backstory and set up to the horrific event keeps you on the edge of your seat until the final shot is fired. The production value becomes the winner here, but the acting of the main cast certainly deserves accolades as well.
It’s another day on the beat for Police Officer Steve MacAvoy (Dwayne Cameron) and his wife Lisa (Sophie Skelton) has given him the good news that she is pregnant. Pumped up about it, he gives the news to Lisa’s estranged father and top cop Mike Chandler (Nicholas Cage) who coincidently has been riding with him as partner. The day gets a little on edge when Mike and Steve have been given a teen ride-along Kenny (Michael Rainey Jr.) who is serving a detention for decking a bully at his high School.
The day is going usual until they get a call to the scene of a suspicious car in front of a bank. When they decide to get closer to the vehicle things start to go south finding themselves in the middle of a 211 (armed robbery).
Director York Shackleton turns up the heat with one of the most action packed robbery with Mike, Steve and Kenny in the middle of the skirmish. His very smart set-ups and delver of the fast moving assault and battle is edge of your seat magnificent. With bullets flying everywhere and police dropping like flies it’s not enough for Shackleton as he adds more terror and chaos to the plot involving the hostages.
Although scenes using substandard support acting does come into play early on, the main stars and reliable backup takes over to make the film work. In control Nick Cage does his usual best to carry the rest of the cast and makes the film a winner. As Mike his character has to be calm and yet return as much violence as the back robbers in order to get out alive and save as many police as he can in the attack.
Shelling out the vicious fight are four ex-military vets who have chosen this particular bank knowing it is harboring millions in its safe from a foreign embezzlement scheme. Luke (Weston Cage), Jacobs (Sapir Azulay), Hyde (Michael Bellisario) and Tre (Ori Pfeffer) give realistic performances waging a war as if they were cornered in Black Hawk Down. The four actors are some of the reason why Director Shackleton pulls off one of the best on-screen depictions of a bank robbery.
211 has been rated R for violence and language throughout. It’s not for the squeamish as the killing looks very real especially during the chaos of the bank escape.
FINAL ANALYSIS: One of the best depictions of an actual true bank robbery on film, but that’s it. (3 out of 5 stars)
Additional Film Information
Cast: Nicholas Cage, Dwayne Cameron, Michael Rainey Jr., Sophie Skelton, Weston Cage, Sapir Azulay, Michael Bellisario, Ori Pfeffer,Amanda Cerny, Cory Hardrict, Mark Basnight,
Directed and written by: York Shackleton
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller, History
MPAA Rating: R for violence and language throughout
Running Time: 1 hr. 26 min.
Release Date: June 8, 2018
Distributed by: Millennium Films
Released in: Standard
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
