The stylish action film How to Rob a Bank, a heist movie for the digital age, pits a group of extremely online Robin Hoods against a ragtag bunch of dispirited foes. Vitally for local audiences: It was filmed and is set in Pittsburgh, and there’s a recognizable location in nearly every shot.
The Redistribution of Wealth Is Trending in David Leitch’s New Movie How to Rob a Bank
Nicholas Hoult stars as Ryan, the leader of an online anti-capitalist collective known as Who’s Hungry. Their frenetic, often hilarious videos provide instructions and advice for other would-be bandits — while also making the argument that an inherently unbalanced economic system makes extralegal means a necessity.
Along with his compatriots — primarily, his partner Emi (Anna Sawai), tech lead Hugo (Rhenzy Feliz) and friend Vince (Pete Davidson) — Ryan picks off small banks surrounding Pittsburgh, redistributing significant portions of the take to charities and even hostages.
John (John C. Reilly), a kindhearted if exasperated FBI agent, is tasked with foiling the troupe’s plans. He enlists the reluctant help of a hacker (Zoë Kravitz) on house arrest, offering freedom in exchange for assistance; the two bond, but never manage to align their intentions. In How to Rob a Bank — and, y’know, the world in 2026 — the good guys don’t seem quite so good.
While Mark Bianculli’s script leans heavily on its messaging — and every available cliche — its heart is in the right place and provides the necessary narrative to thread together Leitch’s action sequences. He’s the man for the job; Leitch is responsible for action-forward winners including The Fall Guy, Bullet Train and Deadpool 2. He knows his way around a car crash.
Pittsburgh Co-Stars in How to Rob a Bank
For viewers in Pittsburgh, it’s a feast of local references and locations. Much of the movie takes place in the heart of Downtown — including a climactic sequence involving a certain parking-garage feature recognizable to anyone who’s ever parked in the Cultural District — and Leitch (and cinematographer Jonathan Sela) use the city’s buildings and bridges as evocative backdrops.
It’s not mere scene setting. Pittsburgh’s topography — and its city-of-neighborhoods composition — factor into the plot itself. It’s a smart move for a crime thriller; the 2010 film The Next Three Days used the city similarly, making the geography an obstacle for its characters to overcome.
If it occasionally feels like pandering (Primanti Bros. features somewhat prominently) … well, we do like to be pandered to, don’t we?
While Pittsburghers may have outsized affinity for How to Rob a Bank, anyone should find it an enjoyable and easy watch with the glimmer of social commentary. It’s unlikely it’ll end up in anyone’s Top 10 when the year wraps up, but there’s always plenty of room for a sturdy action flick.
Scrooge Gets Spooky, in More Ways Than One, with Ebenezer — and More This Weekend
Director Ti West — who recently completed the superlative slasher trilogy consisting of X, Pearl and Maxxxine — makes a significant pivot with his follow-up, a ghostly adaptation of Dickens. In Ebenezer, the spirits are more frightening, London looms sternly over the characters and the imagery exudes coldness. West, however, is not the name most closely associated with this adaptation; its star, Johnny Depp, has become the subject, as the embattled actor attempts to emerge from the wilderness of scandal and return with a prominent project. Unfortunately, Depp seems to have lost his touch over the past few years; while there are a few momentary glimpses of the actor he once was in the film’s more serious moments, his hammy approach to the character feels like an uncomfortable remix of Captain Jack Sparrow — delivered by an amateur.
A Christmas Carol has been adapted so many times in so many formats that it’s difficult to remain invested in Ebenezer, despite a few bold directorial choices (and a striking Ghost of Christmas Past, played by Andrea Riseborough). Just watch The Muppet Christmas Carol instead — Gonzo is far more human than Depp.
What Else is There to Screen This Weekend?
Another Oscar hopeful gets a streaming bow this week, as the biographical drama Being Heumann drops on Apple TV. An adaptation of the memoir Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist, the film stars the lauded British actress Ruth Madeley as trailblazing advocate Judith Heumann. While the film may be overlooked come nomination time, Apple has surprised before, including by nabbing the first Best Picture trophy claimed by a streamer (for CODA).
Speaking of the Academy Awards, read beyond my review of Godzilla Minus Zero — a likely visual-effects contender in its own right — for some quick thoughts on La Bola Negra, the Spanish epic almost certain to earn some gold on Oscar night. Both are among the many recent films I enjoyed and heartily recommend, though You Can See Everything should be your top priority. Looking for something more fictional than the Elizabeth Holmes saga? Try Martin McDonagh’s colorful and witty Wild Horse Nine, starring an excellent John Malkovich.
Read more of Sean Collier’s movie reviews in our guide to the arts, culture, and entertainment.
About the Author
Sean Collier is the editor-in-chief of Shady Ave and the arts and culture editor of TABLE Magazine. Before joining the TABLE Media team, he spent nearly 15 years as a writer, editor and columnist at Pittsburgh Magazine. As the in-house film critic for the top-rated WDVE Morning Show since 2009, he’s been Pittsburgh’s most widely heard voice on movies for nearly two decades. A Pittsburgh native, Sean has since 2020 appeared weekly on KDKA-TV’s popular Pittsburgh Today Live talk show. He’s the co-founder of Vigilance Theater Group and an active stand-up comedian and event host. He can be found on Instagram and Twitter at @seancollierpgh.
Photos Courtesy by Megan Schoenbachler / Amazon MGM Studios
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.
