RATING: A-

Epic Pictures presents a Film Eireann/Picture Locked Productions film in association with Epic Pictures, Blue Ink Films and Next Wednesday Productions. Directed by Colin McIvor. Produced by Ruth Carter, Johanna Hogan, and Damon Lane. Written by Aisling Corristine and Colin McIvor. Cinematography by Damien Elliott. Edited by John Walters.

Stars Eddie Marsan, Eanna Hardwicke, Eva Birthistle, Andrea Irvine, Patrick O’Kane, Paddy Jenkins, J.B. Moore, and Michelle Fairley. 

Inspired by the biggest bank heist in UK history, this film is an emotionally charged story of two men who are forced to work together to save their families. 

Richard Murray is the manager of a bank in the UK and his stern composure puts him at odds with safe keeper Barry McKenna. The two find themselves constantly at each other’s throats to the chagrin of the bank employees and security. With Christmas looming, the duo just want to get through the rest of the year with no drama and to return home to their families. However, a night is set to change their lives forever. 

When Barry is out at a pub, he talks to some locals about his job at the bank. The group decides to go after Barry and use his mom for leverage. Then they go after Richard and his wife, using her as leverage. They have the plan set in motion: use Richard and Barry to extract a massive amount of money from the bank on the last working day before Christmas. Richard and Barry, rivals, must become allies and attempt to find a way out of the situation. They soon enough find themselves left with no other alternative. 

The 2004 Northern Bank Robbery was one of the biggest bank heists that happened in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. There was no one ever convicted of the crimes despite numerous interviews over time. What director Colin McIvor and co-writer Aisling Corristine did was craft a film inspired by the heist and bring the story of two bank employees who have an internal rivalry forced to overcome their differences when they become the pawns in the heist. 

Eddie Marsan is great in the role of bank manager Richard Murray, a family man who when at work, has a no-nonsense attitude and tends to have an issue with safe keeper Barry. This is noticeable when he sees Barry with a friend and worries that he will give said friend access to the safe, which shows a sense of mistrust. However, Barry, who is excellently played by Eanna Hardwicke, assures him that he cares about the job and ensures him that he can be trusted. 

Of course, that all falls apart after Barry opens his mouth and it leads to the gang kidnapping Barry’s mother and Richard’s wife in order to force them to help them get the money out of the bank. Game of Thrones star Michelle Fairley plays it cool as a no-nonsense security officer who questions everything when she is forced to watch Richard and Barry figure things out. There are also some tense moments when we see Barry’s mother and Richard’s wife in their predicaments as they attempt to either reason with the “watchers” or attempt to escape from the hands of them. 

No Ordinary Heist is an emotionally charged drama inspired by the biggest bank robbery in the UK and Northern Ireland. Eddie Marsan and Eanna Hardwicke are great in the roles of rival employees forced to work together to save their families. If you like heist films and want something more grounded, then add this to your list.