Film OverviewReleased in 2018, "King of Thieves" is a British criminal activity film directed by James Marsh. The storyline is based on the notorious Hatton Garden safe deposit theft, a historic break-in that happened in London in 2015. The ensemble cast consists of high profile stars such as Michael Caine, Tom Courtenay, Michael Gambon, Charlie Cox, Ray Winstone, Jim Broadbent, and Paul Whitehouse.
The Storyline"King of Thieves" starts with Brian Reader (Michael Caine), a just recently widowed 77-year-old profession crook who puts together a team of aged robbers in their late 60s and 70s to manage one last task. The objective is to rob the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit, reported to house millions worth of gems and money. Reader is joined by Danny Jones (Ray Winstone), Terry Perkins (Jim Broadbent), Kenny Collins (Tom Courtenay), Carl Wood (Paul Whitehouse) and the fairly more youthful Basil (Charlie Cox), who is also the only member with the technical expertise to disable the alarms.
The HeistThe team makes use of the Easter long weekend when security is lax to execute their strategy. They drill through a two-meter concrete wall to access the vault, however the work is harder and more time-consuming than expected. They only handle to get after 2 days of unrelenting drilling, and when in they fill their bags with a number of millions worth of gems, gold, and cash.
Post-Heist Transaction and BetrayalAfter the successful break-in, the problems start. They look for the services of a fence, Billy 'the Fish' Lincoln (Michael Gambon), to sell the stolen loot. Disagreements over dividing the earnings result in ultimate betrayal. Reader, feeling disrespected, takes a share and leaves the performers. The others become paranoid, questioning each other's commitment and exposing their expert misbehaviors to one another. Media attention also grows around the break-in and the pressure installs.
The UnravellingThe stress leads to Perkins and Jones trying to take Collins's share, suspecting that he informed the authorities. Eventually, the cops close in, utilizing CCTV video footage to determine the gang members. One by one, they're each collared. Reader, who had left early, is likewise caught when the police discover his taken booty.
Conclusion"King of Thieves" provides an interesting narrative about a group of grizzled old-timers who engraved their names in history pulling off the most significant burglary in English legal history. The movie weaves in dark humor and psychological depth, encapsulating old age, loyalty, honor, and the criminal mind. The ensemble performance, thrilling scenes, layered story, and elegant execution integrate to make this adjustment an engaging crime drama.
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