Question: How much did Mini Cooper give to the Italian Job for the publicity in the movie? The movie casts a very good light on the car.
Answer: While the exact amount of money is hard to find, the MINIs used in the 2003 movie are a direct homage to the Minis used in the 1960s movie, which is the main reason they are used. MINI (the company owned by BMW, as opposed to the company which owned Mini by Austin and Morris in the 60s) was happy to have the remake use MINI as a direct link to change the perception of it from a "girly" type car, to a more sporty one.
Question: When Charlie and Steve have their discussion about the gold and Charlie punches Steve in the face, Charlie takes several bills out of his pocket, puts them on the table, then leaves. What does he put money on the table for? It's not like he broke anything with his punch, and surely not to pay for Stella's meal, and especially not for Steve's meal either.
Answer: Actually, it almost certainly is to pay for Stella's meal. It's a point of principle - they don't owe Steve anything, so they won't even let him pay for the meal that she ate. He's the one who owes them, big time - paying for the meal makes the point that there's no debt of any kind going the other way.
Question: When the gang is discussing how to steal the gold in transit, when Charlie says, "We'll do it like The Italian Job", was he referring to the their Italian heist in Venice or to the original Italian Job movie, where the gang creates a chaotic traffic jam in Turin?
Answer: He's referring to their Italian heist where they have the item they're stealing drop through the ground. There's no indication that the original film is supposed to exist in the universe of the remake.
What were your sources? I agree with you.
The original film is on a TV in the background.
Question: When Steve and Stella are at the restaurant on a date, Steve catches on that Stella is John Bridger's daughter because she says the phrase her father always said (about not trusting the devil inside of people). But then, after he has grabbed her wrist, he says "I knew I recognised you from somewhere" or something like that. The thing is that if Steve had recognised her before (obviously when she went to his house as the 'fake' cable engineer) why did he not do anything?
Answer: It was more a nagging thought at that point. Just like when you see someone on the street that you think you've seen before but you can't quite place where. It wasn't enough for Steve to act on at that time. He didn't even know it was someone he'd *want* to act against; for all he knew, she could have been a friend's sister he met once.
Answer: To add to the other person's previous answer, Steve does state when Stella comes over as the cable woman, "Haven't we met somewhere before?" to which Stella says "I don't think so." I am paraphrasing from memory but that was the essence of what was said. So he had already established that he was trying to place her. Could have met her at a club or something for all he knew. He also thinks Charlie and company are dead at this point. They only reveal themselves after he confronts Stella about being Bridger's daughter.
Question: In the beginning when John and Charlie crack the safe and make away with the gold, there is a third diver present to get away with the gold. Who is the third person? Every other crew member was accounted for during the robbery.
Chosen answer: It was Left Ear.
Question: What is the song thats being played when Charlize Theron is driving to work, and who's singing it? It starts with something like "I came, I saw, I kicked some...".
Question: On the DVD where are the hidden easter eggs, e.g. the gag reel?
Answer: Go to Special Features, and choose the first feature (but don't select it). Then, click left on your remote, and a small picture of a Mini Cooper should appear above the list. Select that, and you'll get to the gag reel.
Question: During the Venice boat chase at the beginning of the film, a large number of vessels are flying a flag which looks more like the flag of Mexico than that of Italy. Or are they perhaps flying the 'Kingdom of Italy' flag which looks similar from a distance to the Mexican National Flag? Can anyone help?
Answer: They are flying the Italian Civil Ensign, which is used by civilians on water. The emblem in the center of the Italian flag when used on water are the Arms Of Savoy, the former royal Family of Italy.
Answer: The Mini Cooper for the movie was also made as an electric car for the chase scenes in the tunnel because gas-powered cars were not allowed to be used in the tunnels. I heard that from the director's cut.