Nimrod Antal’s Armored feels like a film from a different time; specifically, an
action thriller from the late 1990s. It’s the kind of second tier B movie that
might have starred Cuba Gooding Jr. in the lead, Michael Keaton in the Dillon
role, and Laurence Fishburne in the same role he’s got here. Due to the
shrieking chaos of most modern action films, this fact actually proves to be a
good thing.
Under the skilled direction of Antal, Armored trades up shaky cam and overcooked
editing for expertly shot and nerve-jangling chase sequences that feel inspired
by 1970’s crime thrillers. The second string cast, including Dillon, Fishburn,
Ulrich and the always dependable Ward, all deliver down-to-earth performances
that fit the characters.
Unfortunately, a predictable plot rife with holes and inconsistencies and a
script banged together from old heist clichés shoots the movie in the foot
before it can pull off the big caper.
The basic set-up has been highlighted in the film’s far too revealing trailer; a
group of blue collar armored-car guards decide to rob their own vehicle and
abscond with the money. Ty Hackett (Columbus Short) is the rookie who has taken
the job because he needs the money to take care of his adolescent brother after
the death of their parents. Dillon plays Hackett’s godfather Michael, and the
leader of the gang. Fishburne is Baines, the boozy loudmouth; Reno the tough and
shady Frenchman (what else?); Ulrich the flunkie; Nolasco the born-again
Christian who carries a bible but who isn’t above stealing if they can get away
with it. The timing is perfect, the haul is an obscene amount of cash, and
Hackett is about to be foreclosed on and his little brother taken away to foster
care. There it is then. In a time of economic hardship it’s a dream plan that
doesn’t involve a single fired shot or anyone being harmed.
If you have seen enough movies—probably two—then you will know that things don’t
go as planned, and after a too long set-up that gets the pair of armored cars to
an abandoned warehouse everything falls apart. What happens next is described in
explicit detail in the film’s promotional materials, but I’m not going through
it here. Armored has so few secrets and surprises that far be it from me to take
them from you. Columbus Short, as Hackett, comes into his own during the second
half and he has enough charisma and presence that he distracts from the
silliness that follows.
Antal retraces similar steps he made with 2007’s Vacancy, which found Luke
Wilson and Kate Beckinsale at the mercy of a gang of snuff filmmakers at a
remote hotel. Both movies work just fine as cracker-jack thrillers, and Armored
does its job with considerable less nastiness than its predecessor. Action fans
who have recently been fed an over-abundance of flashy, loud chaos might be
rightfully pleased with this one. Just don’t go in expecting it to fulfill many
of its promises outside an hour and a half of decent thrills.
