The Bank (2001)

61% of critics liked it
(36 reviews)
66% of users liked it
(1,298 ratings)

A young man fascinated with the workings of the world of banking forms an alliance with an unscrupulous corporate predator in this drama. Jim Doyle (David Wenham) developed an interest in finance while he was a young boy growing up in a small Australian town, and as an adult he and his partners have… More A young man fascinated with the workings of the world of banking forms an alliance with an unscrupulous corporate predator in this drama. Jim Doyle (David Wenham) developed an interest in finance while he was a young boy growing up in a small Australian town, and as an adult he and his partners have developed BTSE (Bank Training Simulation Experiment), a sophisticated computer program that can anticipate the ups and downs of the world's money markets. Jim's program attracts the interest of Simon O'Riley (Anthony LaPaglia), the head of a major Aussie financial services corporation, Centabank; O'Riley is looking to cut costs and increase profits, and he's convinced BTSE can help him do just that. However, O'Riley has other, more aggressive ways of boosting his bottom line; Centabank has been shutting down small-town branch offices that have been faithfully serving customers for decades, and has developed a new enthusiasm for foreclosing on loans from smaller customers having trouble making ends meet. Two such customers are Wayne and Diane Davis (Steve Rodgers and Mandy McElhinney), who obtained a loan to start their own business building houseboats; when the local economy went into a nosedive, the Davises found themselves under the thumb of Centabank, and the bank's hounding of the couple led to an unfortunate accident that took the life of their young son. Determined to make Centabank pay for their son's death, Wayne takes on the corporation with the help of Stephen (Mitchell Buell), an activist lawyer. Jim, meanwhile, becomes romantically involved with Michelle (Sibylla Budd), a Centabank employee, and through her gets a clearer idea of just what O'Riley is trying to do. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 43 min.
Directed By: Robert Connolly
Written By: Robert Connolly
Genres: Drama, Horror, Art House & International

In Theaters: Jan 1, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Jun 24, 2003
Studio: Footprint Films

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
A hokey but highly entertaining tale of corporate greed that should be especially satisfying if you're pissed off at big business.
Ty Burr, Boston Globe
It looks to be something less than the sum of its quite interesting parts.
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times
As it is, the film takes too long to become truly compelling. It could have benefited from a shot of good old Hollywood pizazz.
Philip Wuntch, Dallas Morning News
Skillfully combines the seemingly disparate worlds of Frank Capra and Oliver Stone.
Emily Nunn, Chicago Tribune
Like the film itself, Jim Doyle is smart enough to be engaging and lovely to look at, but he's too one-dimensional to be satisfying.
Megan Turner, New York Post
Despite a crafty premise and a clever kink in the tale that almost saves it, Connolly isn't dexterous enough to achieve the Hitchockian level of suspense the movie needs.
Clint Morris, Moviehole
An excellent thriller with two bravura performances
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International
Connolly has coaxed terrific performances from all his players.
Oz, eFilmCritic.com
Junk science, plot holes and an ending you can see coming from a long way away spoil the potential and leave the film sitting firmly in 'weekly rental' territory.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
The film looks better than it sounds because of script oddities that don't work.
David Elliott, San Diego Union-Tribune
LaPaglia firmly anchors a slick, cynical thriller that relies too much on twists, computer screens and zap graphics.
Marty Mapes, Movie Habit
The Bank may be more approachable than Pi, but it's not more highly recommended
Bob Strauss, Los Angeles Daily News
A movie that you want to get into, whether you can believe it or not.
Paula Nechak, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The film is not without its flaws, but it sports a terrific production design that integrates magically into the story -- as well as another top-notch performance by Anthony LaPaglia.

Read all 14 critic reviews

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Cast

David Wenham
as Jim Doyle
Anthony LaPaglia
as Simon O'Reily
Mitchell Butel
as Stephen

Kazuhiro Muroyama
as Toshio
Stephen Leeder
as Billy
Bruce Myles
as Ben

See full cast