KING OF THIEVES (15)
★★★★★
THIS dramatisation of the 2015 Hatton Garden safety deposit box robbery offers an expletive-laden version of events.
Considering the rich source material and an Oscar-calibre cast, director James Marsh’s film is curiously devoid of suspense or engaging characters.
Career criminal Brian Reader (Sir Michael Caine) is devastated by the death of his wife, who made him promise he would “stay out of mischief” when she was gone.
He commiserates in the company of friends and associates including technical wizard Basil (Charlie Cox), who hopes to persuade Brian to lead a daring heist.
Basil claims to have insider knowledge about the security system and layout of the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Ltd, which holds millions of pounds in cash and uncut diamonds in its vault.
Brian considers breaking his promise to his wife as he chats with associates Terry Perkins (Jim Broadbent), John Kenny Collins (Sir Tom Courtenay) and Danny Jones (Ray Winstone), who urge the veteran thief to listen to Basil because, “If you don’t have a go, someone else will”.
The men start their reconnaissance and involve another friend, Carl Wood (Paul Whitehouse), plus a fence called Billy “The Fish” Lincoln (Sir Michael Gambon), who will shift any jewellery and gems through his underground network.
King Of Thieves struggles to pickpocket our undivided attention for 108 minutes.