Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

King of Thieves Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf June 25, 2019

There’s always room for a heist movie. It’s an evergreen genre that’s recently been tended to by the likes of “Ocean’s 8” and “Widows,” and now returns in “King of Thieves,” which offers an English take on heavily planned criminal endeavors. From the outside looking in, the picture seems to have it all, submitting a story that takes place around London’s diamond district, and the cast couldn’t be better, with Michael Caine leading an ensemble of older actors playing up age-related issues as their characters participate in an elaborate theft. At least half of the film seems to understand the feisty appeal of Grumpy Old Men dealing with a new world of surveillance and security, but “King of Thieves” (based on a true story) doesn’t stay lively long enough, suffering some dramatic balance issues as director James Marsh (“The Theory of Everything,” “Man on Wire”) peaks too soon with seemingly surefire material.

Brian (Michael Caine) is a reformed criminal who’s been tamed by love, enjoying a lengthy marriage to his wife. After she passes away, Brian suddenly lacks purpose, permitting young Basil (Charlie Cox) to step in with a special offer. Suffering from anxiety issues, but interested in robbing the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit Company, Basil comes to Brian with hope that he could plan a heist capable of breaking into a secured building and removing mountains of gold, diamonds, and cash from its basement. Sensing a chance to feel alive again, Brian agrees to the responsibility, bringing members of his old crew to help, including John (Tom Courtenay), Terry (Jim Broadbent), Carl (Paul Whitehouse), and new associate Danny (Ray Winstone). The men set out to plan and execute an elaborate effort to penetrate the building’s defenses, but during the mission, tempers flare and doubts are raised, creating unexpected complexity as trust issues threaten to sabotage the division of the stolen loot.

“King of Thieves” presents a simple motivation for Brian, who’s lost his wife and his drive to experience life, staying inside his house, content to watch weeds overtake his property. Basil isn’t a slick character, quite the opposite, but he does know what’s going on, aware of Brian’s past, which might tempt the older man into action once again as a proper thief after years spent creating gold bars for specialized clients, trying to regain respectability. The seed of misbehavior is planted, and “King of Thieves” takes off in a familiar direction, observing Brian as he gathers the old gang, making contact with men who are stuck with retirement and health issues, eager to do something to help get past their unfulfilling lives. Marsh remains with expectations, but he cooks up compelling reconnaissance scenes, following the men as they enter the diamond district to figure out security coverage and find gaps in the routine to help them stay out of sight.

“King of Thieves” retains a lighter presence, and the film holds attention as it transforms into procedural mode, observing the gang execute their master plan, which involves the timed cutting of wires, electrical manipulation, and the use of a diamond drill capable of working through three feet of concrete wall. Along the way, complications ensue, but from unexpected angles, with John falling asleep while on lookout duty while Terry requires a shot of insulin in the middle of all the drilling, keeping his energy up. Character particulars are amusing, especially when processed by all these professionals, who offer a casual feel to urgent criminal business, selling established interplay, which Marsh reinforces through visual flashes of their younger selves, using footage from other movies. “King of Thieves” is just fine remaining with the veterans and their pronounced Englishness, creating appealing chaos as the plan is soon undone by bickering and, eventually, paranoia.

King of Thieves Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation leads with detail, providing a sharp viewing experience that carefully examines aging lead actors. Facial surfaces are exact, and costuming has its fibrous highlights, surveying formal wear and domestic comfort attire. Locations are dimensional, and interiors are open for study, including the Hatton Garden vault, which is filled with concrete and steel textures. Colors are appealing, with strong greenery and clothing, while more varied hues emerge during nightclub visits and computer displays. Skintones are natural. Delineation is acceptable. Banding is periodically detected.

King of Thieves Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA mix follows a jazzy mood, with soundtrack selections and scoring loud and crisp, capturing snappy percussion and bass slides. Fullness is felt through surround activity, pushing out music and adding adequate atmospherics, with room tone noted. Dialogue exchanges are defined, giving heavy accents definition (subtitles are recommended to navigate the slang). Low-end isn't taxed, but some weight is felt. A brief audio dropout is encountered around the 28:00 mark.

King of Thieves Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "A Bloody Good Idea" (12:15, HD) is a short making-of for "King of Thieves," collecting interviews from cast and crew, recorded on-set. The origins of the story are recounted, with the script inspired by journalistic efforts. Casting is celebrated, requiring some research from the actors, while a few, including Caine, feel their parts are nearly them in real life. Camaraderie is detailed, and kind words are shared for director James Marsh. Set authenticity is assessed, with the production granted access to the real Hatton Garden to help with design.

• A Theatrical Trailer has not been included.

King of Thieves Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The aftermath of the heist introduces a few problems to "King of Thieves." Tone is darkened by angrier attitudes from the men, who push Brian out and bare their teeth to Basil, making distribution of wealth problematic. Such entanglements can't compete with the brighter first half of the feature, and when the cops begin closing in, the whole endeavor starts to cycle through talk of double-crosses and alternative plans, becoming more about tepid threats than action. "King of Thieves" begins to feel one-sided and uneventful, with the screenplay dragging out the real-life outcome of the crime, eventually reaching a conclusion instead of nailing an ending. There's plenty of personality and thespian skill on display here worth enjoying, but the talent can't sustain the film in full, with Marsh missing necessary emphasis when it comes to the true pressure points of the heist.