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Nick (Robert De Niro) is a very successful thief. He plans meticulously, never repeats himself, nets hundreds of thousands of dollars for each job, and never works where he lives. His fence and friend is Max (Marlon Brando), a character that would have been played in an earlier time by Sidney Greenstreet. Max is well connected, frequently pointing the way to a score. This profitable arrangement has worked well for many years, but Nick is tired; the dangers have eaten away at his soul. He wants to settle down with Diane (Angela Bassett) and simply run his Montreal jazz club. When Max comes to him with an offer of a four million dollar payout, Nick reconsiders.

It seems that Jack (Edward Norton), an aspiring thief, has infiltrated the Canadian Customs House. Taking the name of Brian and feigning retardation, he's been hired as a night janitor. Over the course of weeks, he's accumulated enough information about the discovery and storage of a smuggled French scepter - a priceless antique - to steal the item with a little help from the best. Jack approaches Max; Max approaches Nick; Nick is wary. Ever-cautious, Nick works alone; it minimizes risk. And Jack is arrogant and cocky, the worst kind of risk. Nick and Jack orbit one another, testing and probing; a grudging respect develops. Nick relents and decides to take the job.

What follows is a meticulously written and filmed robbery that smacks of Topkapi and Mission Impossible, but with more credibility. Nick plans. Jack provides much of the inside information. What Jack can't manage, Nick contracts out to one of his very few trusted accomplices, Stephen (Jamie Harrold), a computer cracker (apparently, the term hacker now has a different connotation of which I was unaware). There are satisfying twists and turns that impede our anti-heroes and a moderately predictable ending that remains true to the tone of the rest of the film. To say more would risk giving too much of the plot away.

De Niro, Brando, and Norton provide complex and multidimensional characters that elevate what merely could have been a simple crime melodrama. Frank Oz, best known as Yoda and Miss Piggy, once again demonstrates a skillful hand as director. But if I understand the implications of the commentary track, Mr. De Niro may have been instrumental behind the camera as well, such as requiring two-camera coverage of conversations, a decision normally left in the hands of the director. And it's revealed that the performers were given quite a free hand to improvise and affect the script as shot, all within the context of the written dialog. Such are the serendipitous benefits of having consummate professionals in your cast when you're willing to have collaborative relationships.

Video: How Does The Disc Look?

The film's 2.35:1 theatrical aspect ratio is presented in anamorphic video, and the transfer is a bit of a disappointment. The image is slightly soft, appearing to have been low-pass filtered. Small object detail is only modest and edge halos are clearly visible. The contrast seems slightly high and the brightness slightly low. This may have been a product of telecine; perhaps low-level gamma was a bit off. Or it may have been a product of Mr. Oz's desire for a dark and shadowy film. Whichever it might have been, the unfortunate consequence is an adverse effect on shadow detail. Color information is very fine. For those scenes that were shot with more light, chroma is vivid and noise free. Skin tones are very natural. No mosquito noise or blocking was apparent. I couldn't find a compression credit, but Paramount has certainly provided better-looking DVDs.

Audio: How Does the Disc Sound?

The Dolby Digital 5.1 track features a very pleasant fidelity, particularly the jazz elements in Howard Shore's score. It isn't very often that I hear a slap bass recorded properly for a film score; I was impressed that in addition to the musical note, the string's buzz is audible. This effect (and strings' characteristic rosin-on-the-bow sound) is difficult to capture and reproduce. Surround effects are very subtle, mostly environmental, but almost inaudible. At the airport, during the last scene in the movie, a jet liner pans from the right rear to the right front. The surround channel was barely noticeable. The bass is solid and natural but without any of the enjoyable exaggerations that stimulate your sphincter. Dialog remains crystal clear throughout.

Two additional audio tracks are included, English and French in Dolby 2.0 surround. The audio is supported by both subtitles and Closed Captions in English.

Supplements: What Goodies Are There?

From the cutting room floor, we have Additional Footage. There are three sequences: Brando & De Niro Improvisation in which the two actors perform three takes of the scene in which Nick finally agrees to take the job; Coffee Shop (alternate) in which Nick and Jack discuss enhanced security at Customs House; and Mose Allison, "City Home" (alternate) that extends a musical number as Nick and Diane leave his club. Each is shown in 2.35:1 non- anamorphic widescreen.

The Making of the Score is a 12- minute featurette presented in full screen. Essentially an extended trailer with comments by all of the principals - with the exception of Mr. Brando - this short gives away entirely too many plot points. Do not view this featurette before you watch the film. Also included is the film's 1.85:1 theatrical trailer, shown in non- anamorphic widescreen. There are fifteen chapter stops.

Most interesting is the feature-length scene-specific commentary by director Frank Oz and director of photography Rob Hahn. This commentary leans toward the technical. Camera techniques, lighting, lens choices, locations, set construction and decoration, and editing dominate. Naturally, there is a little gushing. After all, this is the first time that Mr. De Niro and Mr. Brando have appeared onscreen together; and, Mr. Norton comports himself remarkably well in such illustrious company. For those who wish to hear a discussion of filmmaking, this commentary should prove enlightening.

DVD- ROM Exclusives: What do you get when you pop the disc in your PC?

No ROM extras have been included.

Parting Thoughts