Who doesn’t love a good heist scene? When done right they can capture our imagination and harken back to the days of playing cops and robbers in our backyards. There have been a plethora of bank heists in films throughout the years, but the best ones have a way of sticking with you long after that initial viewing is over. But what makes a bank robbery scene great? They say the devil is in the details and I think the saying rings true here. The little things are what truly separates the great scenes from the mediocre. They give each one its own unique flavor and memorable moments. With that in mind, let’s take a look at three of the most memorable bank robbery scenes of the modern era.
The Dark Knight Rises is taking a page out of its predecessor’s book by attaching a 6-minute prologue to IMAX screenings of Ghost Protocol. The Dark Knight, of course, gave us this doozy of a scene before I Am Legend:
With the death of Heath Ledger and the fact that this was a highly anticipated sequel, the buzz for this film reached absolutely insane heights. Bearing that in mind, the opening seconds of this scene are that much more brilliant. Starting off with an unnerving track playing over all of the logos really sets the tone from the get-go. The long, aerial push-in that opens the film only heightens that sense of anticipation as the audience is just bursting as it waits for something to happen. And the accompanying stinger in the soundtrack amplifies this feeling. We're barely thirty seconds in and Nolan already has us right where he wants us. What makes this all even more impressive is the fact that it was scripted:
Two shots I want to talk about come fairly close to each other. The first takes clear advantage of the fact that this scene was shot in IMAX. When two of the men zip-line to the next building, the camera immediately tilts down to capture the serious drop below them. Talk about vertigo, especially on a gigantic IMAX screen. For me, it’s one of the best shots in the film and the first (of many) holy shit moments I had when watching The Dark Knight. The next is the first shot of the Joker. We only see him from the back as the camera pushes in on his mask. Again, Nolan understands that everyone has been waiting to see Heath Ledger’s Joker in the film. He builds on this by making us wait even longer for this reveal, while simultaneously teasing us with a glimpse of what we’re all waiting for.
I talked about details earlier, so let’s get into a few more. The biggest thing that sticks out is the fact that Nolan casted an actor like William Fichtner in such a small role. It really gave the scene that much more gravitas. As I said earlier, Nolan was very aware of the ace in the hole he had with the Joker. All of the Joker’s men talk about him, building him up to an almost mythical status. The fact that he has each of his men execute another once their role is complete also reveals so much about the Joker’s character before you even meet him. Combine all of this with the masks, school bus getaway, the mob bank, and final reveal of the Joker and you have one hell of a bank heist.
Let’s take a look at another scene (sorry it’s only a partial clip):
Affleck is quickly becoming one of the better directors Hollywood has to offer. The first thing that really sticks out to me in this scene are, surprise, surprise, the small details of the robbery itself. Things like the cooking of the hard drives in the microwave, tossing bleach on the counters, and triggering the silent alarm with a bare foot. They may seem almost inconsequential, but they’re what give all of this a real sense of authenticity. They breathe life into what could have easily become a bank robbery you’ve seen a thousand times before. Scenes, however, are nothing unless they have some sort of emotional and story weight behind them. This is where this scene truly becomes special, because it’s able to set up so much.
Doug MacRay’s relationship with Claire and his desire to get out of his life of crime to be with her is what’s at the heart of this film. All of this is set in motion in this scene. Not only do we get both characters interacting with each other right off the bat, we also see shades of the relationship to come when Doug helps Claire calm down as she opens the safe. They always say to have characters define themselves through their actions and Affleck makes this scene a prime example of that. Think about how much you learn about the main players of the story. Doug helping Claire reveals not only a moral code, but also a true sense of humanity underneath his rough exterior. Gem nearly beating the bank manager to death and taking Claire hostage show his reckless nature. We immediately know he’s the wild card in this story and is willing to do whatever it takes to stay out of the pen. Claire tripping the silent alarm also says just as much about her. Not everyone has the courage to pull off something like that. And, getting back to the details again, the lasting image of the scene to me is Affleck seeing her do this and keeping it to himself. That one small moment captures the essence of the film.
I’ve saved the granddaddy of them all for last. Of course, I’m talking about what, in my mind, is the greatest bank robbery in film history:
Everything about the robbery is calm and collected, something that mimics the style of the crew itself. One of my favorite parts is when De Niro jacks the manager in the face. We’ve seen this before in other films, but what makes this one so great is how smoothly De Niro pulls it off. He doesn’t hit the guy out of anger; he does it to make a point… make life more difficult for us and there will be consequences. There are no wasted movements or unnecessary risks taken by this crew (one-time member Waingro excluded). And, of course, he tells him to, “let it bleed,” which is just icing on the cake.
Like the previous two examples, Heat also captures the moment exceptionally well through details. The image of Val Kilmer loading a huge brick of cash into a duffel bag is forever ingrained in my mind. Again, Michael Mann keeps everything precise here. The crew resembles a bunch of businessmen in their suits, which allows them to blend in perfectly. They also walk in and out without masks on, and, once the robbery is complete, stride out like nothing’s happened. It’s all in stark contrast to the chaos that’s about to unfold.
Without a doubt, the one thing everyone remembers about this sequence is the shootout. The crew’s carefully calculated plan goes to shit when the cops show up. The soundtrack playing over the robbery is great, but Mann wisely decides to go with only ambient sounds from here on out. It’s a small thing, but it really heightens the intensity and realism of the moment. Every gunshot seems to reverberate across the street even more, making it feel like you’re in the middle of downtown LA during this crazy shootout. One thing that’s often lost in film is just how loud a gunshot, especially from a high-powered rifle, actually is. You definitely don’t get that here.
They say context is everything, and this scene is proof of that. First, is the fact that this was supposed to be the job that got everyone out of the game… one last big hit to sail off into retirement with. Knowing this as you watch the robbery get jammed up brings that much more tension into the scene, because Mann has invested so much time into making you actually care about the “bad guys” (for lack of a better term) in his film. This sequence also marks the first direct conflict between De Niro and Pacino and it’s made all the more powerful after their meeting at the diner. Check out this scene:
That’s how you end a scene! Like I said at the top, these details are what really make these scenes work. Great directors are all perfectionists to some extent and it really shows here. But, how about you? What are your favorite heist scenes?
