Today’s quick review: Getaway Plan. Victor (Alain Hernandez), a demolitions expert with a cautious streak, joins the crew of a bank robbery led by Nikolay (Jaroslaw Bielski), a Russian mobster. But Nikolay is stingy with the plan’s details, and a police investigation led by a determined lieutenant (Luis Tosar) could spell disaster. Meanwhile, an old friend with a bad drug addiction (Javier Gutierrez) reappears in Victor’s life looking for a favor.
Getaway Plan is a Spanish crime drama about a criminal caught in a precarious situation. Getaway Plan takes a close look at Victor’s life in the weeks leading up to the bank robbery, including his professional challenges, his personal relationships, and his suspicions about the job. The film aims to be an engaging personal drama with heist elements, but significant storytelling mistakes keep it from having the proper impact.
Getaway Plan is a hard movie to follow. Few of the characters are named onscreen, key plot points are never explicitly stated, and the film’s extensive supporting cast contains several pairs of look-alikes. The film has the right instincts for dramatic revelations but the wrong ones for how to set them up. Between the film’s lopsided plot structure and its confusing presentation, even its most interesting plot twists and personal moments fall flat.
Try Getaway Plan only if you’re willing to put up with some story incoherence in exchange for a more subdued, personal take on the crime genre. Solid acting and a couple of neat plot twists make the film watchable, but the story never comes together the way it should. For another dramatic heist movie, try Heist, The Score, or Inside Man. For a crime drama with a strong personal component, try Donnie Brasco or The Departed.
5.6 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 for decent ideas and acting held back by weak storytelling.