Bank in Vancouver, still under construction, is the target for robbery by a slick computer programmer/con-man (Donald Sutherland, with fluffy strawberry-blond hair) and his computer genius pal (Paul Mazursky), who's a hypochondriac; the "woman" of the title is professional photographer Brooke Adams, whom Sutherland falls for after she mistakes him for an executive and snaps his picture (the two are reunited here from 1978's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"). Somewhat dippy, but not-bad crime-comedy from screenwriters Raynold Gideon, Bruce A. Evans and Stuart Margolin, from a treatment by Gideon and Evans, was the first and only film to come out of teen actress Kristy McNichol's niche production company, McNichol (although she doesn't appear). There's a gross, scary neighbor of Brooke's I could have done without (he's into whipped cream sex!), but the star-trio are a very smooth combination. Director Noel Black and cinematographer Jack Cardiff show a breezy touch with scenes that include movement (particularly in the graceful opening), and the logistics of the caper are well-considered. **1/2 from ****
A Man, a Woman and a Bank
1979
Action / Comedy / Crime
A Man, a Woman and a Bank
1979
Action / Comedy / Crime
Plot summary
Two novice thieves are plotting to rob a bank in Vancouver. A photographer snaps a shot of one thief as he is carrying the bank building's blueprints. The would-be thief then begins a relationship with the photographer and attempts to retrieve the photos. Meanwhile, the thieves' plot consists of this: one man will enter the bank building after dark, while the other man sits in a van and uses a computer to unlock the building's doors. The final step involves transporting the cash to a freight ship waiting on the docks, for transportation to a money launderer in Macau.
Uploaded by: FREEMAN
June 21, 2020 at 04:48 AM
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Top cast
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Inconsequential but fun...
This didn't leave me in a depression, but I should have withdrawn.
It takes a long time for this Caper comedy to get started, and you know from the very beginning that the character played by Donald Sutherland is up to no good. He is amusing in small doses, but he made too many films in a short period of time, taking the money and running like he does here in character. Along the way, he finds romance with photographer journalist Brooke Adams, but he wants nothing more than for her to be innocent of his activities. Along the way, he posted several times as a priest, pretending to be sending clothing for his mission to Macao, a useless detail that only serves to get him caught by her when she has to bail him out of jail.
Also involved in this often dull movie is director Paul Mazursky, here an actor, and perhaps he's better behind the scenes. I didn't think that Adams and Sutherland (reunited from the previous year is remake of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers") really had much romantic sparkle on screen, and I really didn't find much plot in the effort to pull off this ridiculous scheme that seems like an afterthought in the plot even though it's a major part of it. Good location footage (allegedly Vancouver) does help a bit. Allan Magicovsky is another obstacle thrown in the mix as Adams' allegedly suicidal boyfriend, another plot distraction to hide the fact that really nothing is going on. There's also a very dull theme song that's supposed to be Sutherland and Adams' love ballad over the credits, but Sutherland's character here isn't worthy of having a romantic theme.
Very good
A breezy rom-com that includes a bank heist but without the usual tension and action.
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1 Deliberately botched (for the "it's so bad it's good" crowd)
2 I don't want to see it
3 I didn't finish and or FF'd through it
4 Bad
5 I don't get it
6 Good
7 Great but with a major flaw
8 Great
9 Noir with moral
10 Inspiring with moral.