No Ordinary Heist (Colin McIvor, 2026) Ireland

Reviewed by Mason Masciangelo. Viewed at the SBIFF Riviera Theatre, Santa Barbara.

No Ordinary Heist, directed by Colin McIvor is a dramatization of a real life event that took place in Belfast, Ireland. More specifically, the Northern Bank robbery, in 2004, in which the criminals involved pulled off exactly what the title of the film suggests. Although there is a disclaimer that the film has dramatized and created a narrative that is not entirely accurate, the actors do a great job at realistically portraying the intense anxiety and challenges their real life counterparts were faced with. The movie stars Eddie Marsan as Richard Murray- the bank manager, Éanna Hardwicke as Barry McKenna- a younger bank worker whose lack of professionalism leads to the robbery, and Michelle Fairley as Mags Fulton- a keen eyed security guard.

The film starts off with a flash forward moment where we see Barry yelling at himself in the mirror of the work bathroom- we aren’t sure what is exactly going on, just that tensions are high, and he’s mad at himself because he can’t remember what he said to someone- then we go back to before everything got out of hand and get more of an introduction to the characters. 

Richard Murray, is a stressed out senior bank employee- a serious guy with a lot of weight on his shoulders, as the higher ups have told him to lay off some of his coworkers right before Christmas. A stark contrast from Barry- a young guy who seems like he just loves to goof off and hit the pub with his mates, but when he is at his place of employment, he is responsible for the keys to the bank’s vault. When a gang of people catch wind of the idea that he doesn’t seem to take that responsibility super seriously, he makes the place and himself an instant target. Next thing you know, armed gang members show up to kidnap Richard and his wife Celine Murray, played by Eva Birthistle, as well as Barry and his Mom, (for some reason, she seems to be omitted from the IMDb credits entirely so I can’t figure out who she is, an unfortunate commonality among these SBIFF films). The kidnappers give the two bank employees some simple instructions, explaining that they are now responsible for the lives of each other’s loved ones and everything will be okay as long as they remain calm and do what they say. Of course, Richard and Barry immediately comedically erupt in anger, yelling about not trusting the other one with their loved ones lives, trying to fight each other while ziptied to chairs. 

These two guys from very different backgrounds and ways of life, who would never get along regularly, now have to work together under extreme pressure to fulfill their kidnappers demands. Those demands being “go to work tomorrow, like normal, and bring the money to the side door when we tell you”- allowing the robbers to get the money without stepping foot in the bank. Mind you, the gang didn’t care to come up with a crazy advanced plan and tell them how to get it past security AKA their colleagues, without raising suspicion, and didn’t care that it would be extremely challenging. This lays the foundation for a thrilling narrative as they navigate through such an impossible situation.

The lighting has a dark cool green tint in the vault, as well as the security cameras green tint, which could be representing the cold harsh reality the gang has forced upon them, all for the greed and love of money- which could be reflective of how the people in the gang experience life in a capitalist society- where the cold hard truth is they don’t have an easy life and have to do what they have to do. Barry has a good line where he says to Richard, “I know it might kill you to admit it, but we’re equals now”, reflecting on how their new shared goal unites them and erases the class differences that kept them from working together and understanding each other. If only it didn’t take something so drastic for people to set aside their differences and come together.

This was one of my favorite films I have seen at the festival. I found No Ordinary Heist to be the most exciting and thrilling film that I had the opportunity to watch. One thing that stood out to me is how the film picks up momentum- and instead of shifting to follow another character or side plot like many shows/films tend to do- the film allows the madness of the heist to keep snowballing. It is an absolutely thrilling story of what can only be described as, No Ordinary Heist!