I’ve often been told that running has real value, but I never saw any proof until now — a movie about a bank robber who literally runs away from the police and escapes with his loot.
Based on a true story, “The Robber” is a rather stark, but interesting tale of Johann Kastenberger (Johann Rettenberger in the book and on the screen), who ran marathons and road races, and who planned his robberies to the nth degree.
Rettenberger (a lean, superb Andreas Lust) is shown winning races and holding up banks, wearing a Ronald Reagan mask, but there’s little other characterization in the screenplay by director Benjamin Heisenberg, working from Martin Prinz’ novel. Unless he has future plans, undisclosed here, Rettenberger doesn’t seem to want anything immediate for his cash, but unless he’s saving up for a major purchase, it all seems rather unnecessary.
“The Robber” is a fine action movie, as far as it goes. It just doesn’t go far enough.
The Robber is playing at the Plaza Frontenac.
—Joe