The Bank Job - A Lesson In British History

The Bank Job was a movie made in 2008 that I overlooked. I thought it was another Jason Statham movie that was the likes of Crank and never gave it much thought. Well this weekend, I decided to give it a shot, and wow was I wrong.

The movie is based on the little known (at least in the US) Baker Street Bank Robbery back in 1971 in London England. The robbery was controversial, because it has been suggested that the robbery was a setup to steal disparaging items of high ranking British or Royal members that were stored in safety deposit boxes.

I researched the robbery after watching the movie. What the movie tries to do (quite well I might add) is provide a semi-autobiographical account of what happened. The British government has sealed documents until 2054 so that this generation will never quite know what truly happened. However, the director had a private consultant close to the robbery that helped explain why the robbery was so controversial. The movie will absolutely blow you away with details that explain how the British Secret Service, MI5 and local law enforcement had no other choice, but to allow the robbers to keep the goods from the robbery in exchange for secrecy.

I do not want to give away too many spoilers. However, I want to encourage people to watch the movie. For anyone that might question government secrets, or conspiracy theories, this is a must see.

Freeway: Crack In The System

Freeway Crack In The System is a complicated documentary. This is the story of the rise of Freeway Rick Ross. The movie is a bit disjointed at times, however compelling. The main theme is the involvement of  our government in the drug trade during the 1980s to help fund the Contras in Nicaragua. While the Iran-Contra connection is just a faded memory for some, the movie will surely encourage viewers to relook this page of the Reagan legacy. 

The reason this is so powerful is the strong connection to a lack of empathy or feeling for the devastation of South Central Los Angeles. Economically, the area was devastated. The economic  collapse lead to a vulnerability for the drug trade. The connection was that the CIA was going to utilize this vulnerability to help fund the contras due to funding being cut off by Congress.

The movie explains the rise of "Freeway" Rick Ross's empire. Rick Ross, as you will see in the movie is a victim of not only economic poverty, but also social injustice. Ineffective schools and a lack of a safety net destroyed the entire community.

What is compelling is the exhaustive details. How one person, can rise from so little to be a gangster is just part of a very compelling plot. It is the exploitation of this vulnerability that captures the attention of the viewer. My only criticism is the focus on a rapper stealing the identity of Rick Ross. While interesting in it's own rite, I found myself intrigued by the connections to injustice and poverty. Some may find this part of the story interesting.

For cerebral thinkers, this documentary is excellent. It shines a light on the social injustices that lead African Americans to mistrust our government. I highly recommend this film.

The documentary would  be a great combination to watch with the movie, Kill The Messenger.