Anna Sawai (left) stars as Emi and Nicholas Hoult (right) stars as Ryan in “How to Rob a Bank” (Photo Credit: Amazon MGM Studios)
(“How to Rob a Bank” trailer courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios)
Wow!
Poet Gil Scott-Heron once boldly declared that the revolution would not be televised.
But apparently, no one ever promised the revolution wouldn’t one day be live-streamed.
And if someone did make that bold claim, they must not have seen “How to Rob a Bank,” the perfect heist movie for the social media age and a warning to the greedy vultures of corporate America.
Many people grow up aspiring to become wealthy.
Whether that wealth is accumulated because of sports, entertainment or investments, becoming a millionaire is probably on many people’s wish lists.
Hopefully, a career as a bank robber is not on many people’s list of goals.
But based on the statistics provided in “How to Rob a Bank,” it is much more likely that a person will successfully rob a bank than it is that they will become a millionaire.
In fact, “How to Rob a Bank” suggests that 90 percent of bank robberies are successful, while only one in 100 people will become millionaires in their lifetimes.
With those odds, it is odd that more people do not try their hand at bank robbery.
Sure, death might result.
If the bank robber escapes death, then decades in prison might be the result.
But as the movie “How to Rob a Bank” suggests, what is the difference between an early death or life in prison and a life of paying off student debt, while insurance companies and banks rip people off, even when fighting deadly diseases?
Whether a person continues spinning on the wheel of debt or faces a potential early death through no fault of their own, the results might be the same.
So, why not stick it to the man before it is too late?
Furthermore, why not livestream the revolution and the demise of the man so that millions of followers can see what an evil game the powers-that-be are playing on the common man and common woman?
In “How to Rob a Bank,” the title of the movie is not just the title of the movie.
It is also the title of the livestream that instructs people on how to rob a bank and get away with it.
The livestream teaches viewers how long it takes for police to arrive on the scene of a robbery.
The “How to Rob a Bank” livestream teaches about the importance of bulletproof vests.
Additionally, the livestream teaches viewers about setting up distractions for bank robberies, such as fake bombs and bomb threats.
But most importantly, the “How to Rob a Bank” livestream teaches future bank robbers the importance of charity and philanthropy.
Yes, no one robs a bank if they do not need the money or at least want the money.
But based on the “How to Rob a Bank” livestream philosophy, robbing banks has a deeper purpose.
Obtaining large sums of money is for helping those struggling to make ends meet, like the pregnant woman at the bank or the disabled neighbor in one’s apartment complex.
Lastly, robbing banks can be fun because robbers do not have to just hand money to those in need; they can make it rain in the bank like rapper 2Chainz might do if in the same situation.
Despite the Robin Hood nature of the “How to Rob a Bank” thieves, law enforcement will not like their capers, even if they are helping struggling people.
Therefore, an FBI agent (John C. Reilly) chooses to team up with a social media app creator (Zoe Kravitz) to help bring down a group of thieves, whose fame is beginning to rival the popularity of Bonnie and Clyde during the Great Depression.
Filmmaker David Leitch (“Bullet Train”) directs “How to Rob a Bank” like it is a short-form TikTok, YouTube or Instagram video with captions, filters and graphics popular on social media.
The approach makes total sense when it comes to how the younger generation currently consumes media.
But what does not make sense is why these robbers broadcast their crimes on social media.
Why do the robbers revel in mainstream media attention?
The key to getting away with crimes is keeping a low profile.
The key is not to change one’s habits and lifestyle, even if they hit a huge lick.
The way to get away with robbery is to live one’s life as if nothing significant has happened.
But the name of the movie is “How to Rob a Bank.
The name of the movie is not “How to Get Away with Robbery.”
Therefore, maybe the motive is not the money.
Maybe the motive is the message behind the need to rob a bank and stick it to the man.
Although many people will not go to the extremes that the characters in this movie go to vent their frustration with the system, many will understand how the characters get to that point.
“How to Rob a Bank” has elements of other heist movies too.
The scenes outside the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ballpark will remind moviegoers of “The Town.”
The family element will remind many of “Set It Off.”
And the “bombs” will remind moviegoers of “Takers” and “The Italian Job.”
But the way Leitch visually presents “How to Rob a Bank” will not remind moviegoers of past heist movies.
The excellent movie will set a new precedent for new-age heist films, with the potential for similar movies to come.
REGAL RATINGS
FOUR CROWNS=EXCELLENT
THREE CROWNS=GOOD
TWO CROWNS=AVERAGE
ONE CROWN=POOR
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