I Finally Watched Den Of Thieves. Why I’m Kicking Myself For Sleeping On The Gerard Butler Crime Thriller

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Being an ardent admirer of Gerard Butler’s work, regardless of whether it includes his Scottish accent, I find myself somewhat annoyed at my own oversight for delaying the watch of Den of Thieves for such a long time. This 2018 crime thriller, which centers around a complex cop pursuing a tight-knit gang of bank robbers aiming to execute the century’s most monumental heist, was unfortunately left untouched by me for far too long, and I can’t quite figure out why. However, that situation has now been rectified…

Before the highly anticipated premiere of “Den of Thieves 2: Pantera” in 2025, I felt it was high time to catch up on the original film to understand the buzz surrounding it. Frankly, while it might not compete with the greatest heist movies ever made, I can assure you that I thoroughly enjoyed the ride. With pulse-pounding action sequences, impressive set pieces, captivating character interactions, and a mind-blowing twist at the end, there was plenty to appreciate. Allow me to elaborate…

I Thought Den Of Thieves Would Be Some Mid-Tier Heat Knockoff, But I Was So Wrong

In January 2018, the reception for the movie “Den of Thieves” wasn’t fantastic; TopMob only gave it a rating of two out of five stars in their official review. So, when I went to see it, my hopes weren’t particularly high, thinking it would just be another average imitation of movies like “Heat”. But boy was I mistaken!

Absolutely, there are shared elements between Christian Gudegast’s 2018 crime film and Michael Mann’s 1995 masterpiece, but make no mistake, these films are distinct entities. Both share intense robbery sequences and high-speed pursuits through the Greater Los Angeles landscape, yet it’s important to note that Den of Thieves didn’t seem to be copying Heat, but rather acknowledging its influence or drawing inspiration from it.

The Dynamic Shared By Gerard Butler And O’Shea Jackson Jr.’s Characters Was Incredible And Really Made The Movie

In the movie “Den of Thieves,” the captivating bond between Detective Nick “Big Nick” O’Brien, portrayed by Gerard Butler, and Donnie Wilson, a bartender and getaway driver for the Merrimen bank robbery gang (played by O’Shea Jackson Jr.), takes center stage. Although Pablo Schreiber’s character, Ray Merrimen from “The Wire,” plays a significant role in the film’s narrative, I was consistently drawn to the heart of the story revolving around the duo, O’Brien and Wilson.

It’s striking that neither of these characters inhabit black-and-white moral universes; they are not purely good nor entirely bad. For instance, O’Brien, a police officer, demonstrates moral ambiguity by resorting to questionable means to solve cases or uncover leads. He struggles with infidelity, has outbursts of violence, and seems to harbor some dark secrets.

On the other hand, Wilson, who has served time in prison and executes violent heists resulting in casualties, doesn’t appear evil but rather complex.

Both characters exist in a moral gray area, making them intriguing and multidimensional.

Despite their differences, there are greater similarities between them than they might care to acknowledge, creating a sense of both tension and excitement throughout the film.

The Opening Robbery Was One Of The Loudest Movie Scenes I’ve Watched In Years

I’m drawn to movies with captivating opening sequences, and it seems that “Den of Thieves” has earned a place on my list due to its intense start. The crime thriller packs a punch right from the beginning, as evidenced by the explosive gunfight that breaks out immediately after the Merrimen gang hijacks an armored truck at a donut shop during the early hours. This action-packed scene is among the loudest I’ve encountered in recent memory.

To put it simply, the gunfire scene in Heat was incredibly loud, if you haven’t experienced it yet, let me remind you. But the opening of Den of Thieves matched it closely. I could feel every single gunshot echoing through my speakers in my living room (even with a regular soundbar setup). There were bangs, shatters, and vibrations everywhere. After that intense start, I was completely captivated.

The Final Heist Felt Like A Video Game, And I Mean That In The Best Way

In simpler terms, watching the grand heist in the movie “Den of Thieves” seemed incredibly like a level from a video game to me. The plot had the crew aiming for the Federal Reserve in downtown Los Angeles, with their goal being $30 million in outdated bills that were about to be destroyed, making them untraceable. To achieve this, they orchestrated a phony bank robbery as a diversion and then, of course, there was another intense gunfight. I found myself on the edge of my seat (and burning the midnight oil) while watching it unfold.

The series of events unfolded much like a grand adventure in a video game such as Grand Theft Auto, with each step leading to another, minor setbacks becoming major challenges, and numerous simultaneous actions taking place. What made it captivating is that not for a moment was I feeling bored throughout this journey.

I’m Glad I Didn’t Read Any Spoilers Because The Den Of Thieves Ending Was Great

Warning: The concluding part of this story reveals significant spoilers about the ending of the film “Den of Thieves”. If you haven’t seen the movie yet, I advise you to pause here and enjoy it with a Max membership subscription.

Sure thing!

Alright, now that we’ve got the spoiler alert covered, let me share my thoughts on the ending of “Den of Thieves.” I’m really grateful I didn’t find out what happened before watching it myself. Essentially, during the climactic gunfight, Donnie managed to break free from police custody and make a getaway, but not with the loot as we, along with Big Nick, were led to believe.

At the climax, it’s unveiled that Donnie successfully evaded capture for the stolen money (which he secretly stashed away in a bank account in Panama) and was, in fact, the architect of the entire scheme. He had provided Merrimen and his team with the details about the job, cultivated friendships with high-ranking officials at the Federal Reserve, and was an accomplished criminal mind preparing for his next grand act: a diamond heist in London. This is where Den of Thieves 2: Pantera continues.

Boy, I’m truly elated that I eventually managed to watch “Den of Thieves“. To be honest, it ranks among the finest films I’ve seen on Max recently, and now I’m genuinely excited about the upcoming sequel.

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2025-01-11 17:10